The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-06-24
SATURDAY. JUNE "a. 1911.
TOO GOOD TO BE ELECTED

TOO GOOD TO BE ELECTED
A new candidate making the fifth
has turned up for the treasurerShlI
of Rockingham county. now held by
Senator Keezell, and from his card
of announcement we fear that he Is
too good and too generous to stand
much show of election. This gen
tleman tells the people of the county
that, if elected, he will give proper
guarantee for the safe handling OF
the county's funds, which by law he
would be required to do anyhow
but goes on further to promise one
tenth of his pay each year to be di-
vided among the churches of the
county and ends by guaranteeing not
to drink drop of either whiskey or
brandy during his term of office. Tie
fails to say whether he proposes to
attend church each Sunday OF
whether he expects to eschew back
CANNON. finch and similar wicked
games, neither does he tell the peo-
pie that he will abstain from trlfiIng
with that Rockingham cider, which
is far more dangerous than some
other drinks. We take it for grant
ed that the average voter won take
very kindly to this gentleman, be
cause the boys who white sticks at
the cross roads stores and decide the
count on election day are never par
tial to the fellow who makes too
many promises. and the man who
promises to cut out whlskey and
brandy in order to catch votes ism I
apt to make much of a success talk
ing to the boys around the store
house corner. Seriously speaking
however, about this Rockingham
contest, Senator Keezel is not only
splendidly qualified for the office Of
treasurer, but in addition. To an out
slider, it appears that the county
owes him something.
PUBLIC INTEREST INCREASING
Democrats in the House by a solid
party vote repudiated on Wednesday
the obnoxious Bristow amendment
to the resolution providing for the
direct election of United States
Senators and as a result the resOlu-
ton goes to conference. What the
conference committee may recon-
mend is of course predetermined, but
as the friends of the unamended re-
solution in the Senate need only one
vote to defeat the Bristow provision
giving the general government power
to regulate these elections it is almost
certain that this vote will be secured
and that the original resolution as 1t
passed the House will be adopted by
the Senate. In the meantime interest
in congressional proceedings grows
apace and will become more intense
as a result of the overwhelming de-
feat Of the Republican regulars by a
combination of Democrats and In
surgent Republicans. as a result Of
which it now seems highly probable
that the Underwood bill reducing
the duties under the wooden schedule
of the Payne-Aldrich law will be
passed by the Senate and the presi-
dent thereby placed in an embarrass-
ing position. His approval of the bill
will drive from him the Senate regu-
lars while disapproval will ALLEVIATE
the entire insurgent band. As mat
ter OF fact the vote on wednesday
whereby the wooden schedule revision
was sent to the Senate Finance Com
mittee with instructions to report
not later than July 10th demon
strates the fact that the Republican
party holds only nominal control in |
the Senate, which can be destroyed /
at any minute by combination Of /
Democrats and insurgents. With this
existing and the Demo
Gratis in the House acting in perfect .
harmony the prospect is good for re-
lief from some Of the tariff burdens
we are now laboring under.
Regular Republicans in the Senate
opposed TO reciprocity are threaten