Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-05-10
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Euilor tHe NEWS .-Ine tundamen-
tai difference between the two gre at
political parties. is the question of
tariff reform. 1t is conceded by the
lead ers of all shades of opinion, that
the coming Presidential cam paign
will be fought out on this issue. The
Republican party Is hopelessly divid-
ed on this question. One wing, rep
resenting the old order of high pro-
lection, are known as the reaction
aries, or stand-patter, - the other,
which believe in substantial re-
duction of the tariff. are styled
"progressives.
Happily, the Democratic party is a
unit in belief on this question, and
each of the four candidates are in
absolute harmony with the party's
platform, and instead of campaign
of personal abuse, as is witnessed in
the one now waged between the two
leading Republican candidates, we
see the most generous rivalry, with
the hearty participation of MIR. Clark
in the reception to Mr.. Underwood on
his return to his seat in Congress af-
ter hav ing carried the primaries in
Florida and Georgia. and each cand-
date is making his appeal to the
people for support on his record of
service to his country.
Of course, we all have our prefer
ence, and rightly, but the campaign
slogan. so far is "Stay Together and
VIM" To this feeling of "all work
ing together for the common good"
is attributable the wonderful record
of the last Congress. In view of
these harmonious conditions in our
party, | was surprised at the tenor
of the letter from your last weeks
correspondent, Progressive Demo-
craft My letter, pleading for an
uninstructed delegation to the Nor
folk convention from this county,
which appeared in your paper a short
time ago, was written in all SINGER
ity, and purely in the interest of
party harmony, and in that "stay
together and win" spirit, and under
which banner we hope to W in a great
Democratic victory this Fall.
The refusal of the recent mass
meeting, held here to nominate dele
gates to the Congressional Convention
at Bristol, to express some preference
for Presidential candidate, seemed
to show conclusively that all of the
various Democratic candidates had
strong following, but that with one
exception, the partisans of each can
didate believed it was best, at that
time, to sink personal preference in a
common effort to select the most
available man and action was deferr-
ed. The situation has become so com
plicated through the remarka bly, un-
expected strength recently developed
by the then supposedly weak candi-
dates, and the lack of it in the then
strong and formidable ones, that the
wisdom of that convention in refusirp
to endorse any one candidate, has
been fully indicated. Indeed, MIR.
Bryan himself, is unable to make a
| ShoiSC oSIWeeH tHc TWO leaulnR can0l-
dates, and to illustrate the position
of most democrats, / can do no bet
ter than to quote his admirable inter-
view and your editorial comment
which appeared in last weeks News.
Mr.. Bryan says: ~ have studiously
avoided expressing any opinion re-
garding the availability of the two
gentlemen who seem to be dividing
public attention, for several reasons.
The first ISL am not clear in my own
mind as to which of them would be
able to poll the larger vote, and a
good deal depends upon the action
of the Republican convention-that
is, the course of the convention may
effect the relative availability of the
two candidates. think / can have
more influence if l observe a strict
neutrality between them. - Now
your comment: "T'hat is to say. Mr..
Bryan. like many good Democrats all
over the country, will be satisfied
with either Wilson or Clark, and ia
in favor of the man who can win.