Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-02-23
COL. BROWNING
STARTS SOMETHING

Colonel James s. Browning. the
well known Roanoker, who created
something of sensation several
weeks ago by speaking out in meet
ing when the State Republican
committee met here and endorsed
President Taft for denomination, is in
the field to represent Roanoke at the
State Republican convention next
month. Colonel Browning declares
himself for the nomination of Colonel
Roosevelt and attacks boldly the acti-
witty of the Office holders of the Fede-
raj administration. His statement
follows:
TO the Republicans of the City of
Roanoke:
will be candidate for delegate
from Highland ward to your city con-
vention and from that body to your
State convention.
am not well acquainted with the
politics of Roanoke, but as l am now
citizen and voter, l purpose in the
future to take an active interest in
whatever contest shall come before US
AS you we'll know my choice for
President, you will vote for me with
out fear of being fooled. but my per-
sonal choice has nothing to do with
this, for before all things wish the
success of the party and to that end
favor an uninstructed delegation.
favor the exclusion of federal
office holders from active participaa
ton in party conventions, as they al.
ways have and always will represent
only the power that appointed them
andato that extent suppress the true
sentiment of the party as to candi-
dates and platform.
The rotten Dor oughs of the South
are the disgrace to the Republican
party and the present State organiza-
tion of Virginia is the worst example
of that system we have ever seen.
MIR. Taft, in his Greensboro speech,
led US to believe that this vicious
system would be abolished, but being
now in his fight for a continuation of
power, the whole machinery of the
post office and the internal revenue
department is turned loose on the it,
tie party we have in Virginia to CAL
ole, to threaten, to intimidate the
voter into an unwilling endorsement
of Mr.. Taft.
The question for the President to
answer is, was he sincere in his
speech or in his order of few weeks
ago, taking postmasters and other
office holders out of politics?
If he was, then he can while away
an idle hour catching postmasters
and Internal revenue collectors violat-
ing his orders all over vi ginia. All
he has to do is to walk over TO the
office of collector of internal revenue.
MIR. Cabell, and he cen get the infor-
nation, for Roy certainly "were
thar; seed him myself"
The miserable farce of the late
State committee must be repulsive to
a man of MIR. Taft's sensibilities.
The State committee has no power to
pass resolution of that kind and
they usurped prerogatlve not given
them.
If, when Mr.. Taft was Judge, a
Jur yhad been packed he would have
put them in Jail, and yet this State
convention was packed with office
holders and prearranged resolution
adopted, and the funeral CEREMONY
was concluded by my friend, Mr..
Summers, collector of revenue, prais-
ing the man from whom he got his
job, and objecting to me making a
few remarks in -avor of MIR. Roose-
welt, and yet we Republicans ON the
stump are always talking about the
Democrats gagging usl 1t is stated
IN the press that Mr.. Slemp went dir
city to Washington and informed the
PRESIDENT of this overwhelming en-
dorsementl
How touching must have been that
scene, as he and Roy and Alvab Mar
TIN plotting, informed the President
that his official family had endorsed
hlm. He could no. bu. think of the
fellow in South Carolina who ran for
office at the earnest solicitation of his
wife and children, and yet an unbiased
vote of that committee would have
been against the President
The city of Roanoke was once a
Republican city and is today living
exponent of the main doctrine of the
Republican party, and yet we are an
insignificant factor in that develop
ment.
We all know the reason why. AS
to my position as to candidates.
urge only a delegation uninstructed.
MY personal choice is Mr.. Roosevelt.
wherever you go, in farm, furnace
or factory, you will find five Repub-
licans for Roosevelt to one for Taft.
but the party has many men equally
qualified. An instructed delegation
from the South is what heat Ron;,