Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-09-26
A PROGRESSIVE
CENSURES GRAHAM
Candidacy Announced 10 6Tatify 0iSappOint-
ed Office Seekers and Political Sore
Heads Outside The District and Not
Al the Solicitation Of Friends.


The following letter from K. L. Gil
iispie, Of Graham appeared in the Roa-
noNe Times Of last Thursday and is re-
published to give it general circulation
throughout the Ninth district:
Graham, Va, Sept. II.
! Editor Roanoke Times:
As Roosevelt supporter and as a
member Of the local Progressive club,
was very much surprised to read in
The Roanoke Times the announcement
from Radford that our fellow ,ownsman
and neighbor. Mr.. Walter Graham, was
a candidate FOR congress from the Ninth
district. True, there have been reports
from Roanoke and from perhaps other
points outside Of the Ninth district to
the effect that Mr. Graham would pro-
badly become . candidate But the
matter was never taken seriously here
at Mr.. Graham's home town, and I had
given the subject very little considera-
tion, not believing that Br. Graham
would think Of allowing himself to be so
used by the democrats and by q few dis
gruntled eX-republicans without first
comforting with his home people. But
since the local Roosevelt club appears
60 have been practically ignored by Mr..
Graham. beg space IN the Roanoke
Times to state my position as a proges-
sive republican.
First, l want to enter my sincere pro
test Against the candidacy Of Walter
Graham for congress in the Ninth dis
trict and will state my reasons there
for:
First, l wGs one Of the Roosevelt de-
legates to the Bristol convention from
Tazewell county and l saw and took
part in the deliberations of That con-
vention. I cast my vote for Ur. j. NJ.
Dsugherty from the floor Of hat con-
vention. Every other progres sive dele
gate in that convention was riven the
opportunity TO do the same thicg. Why
did they not 90 it if they did not want
Mr.. Slemp nominated? Surely they
were foil grown men and capable to
vote tbcir sentiments. I. for one. take
it as al insult to the intelligence Of the
men composing that great convention to
say that they. the proRressives, were
tricked and / venture the opinion that
not one single delegate sitting in that
convention will admit that they were so
stupid as 20 permit any unfair. or even
/ clear, political trick pulled Off over
them. No. Mr.. Editor, the situation
was simply this: A large ms jority of
the delegates composing that conven-
tion favored the nomination # Cong
ressmsn Slemp over any other man in
the Ninth district and they got whst
they wanted against what l believe to
have been the sincere protests of Mr..
Slemp. and now it becomes the solemn
and honor bound duty Of every progress
sive republican in the Ninth district to
support Mr. Semp as against General
Ayers and free trade. If the few men
claiming 70 be republicans, bus who are
allowing themselves to be made stool
pigeons Of by the Democratic partv
can't support the nominee of the Bristol
convention why are they not men
enough to come out in the open and vote
the democratic ticket minus any frills
or subterfuges? That is exactly what I
would do If l wanted to bring about the
/. defeat of the republican candidate in
November
Again, the candidacy of Mr.. Graham
at this late date aud ir the manner his
announcement was brought about is
, grossly unfair to the Roosevelt men and
to the great progressive move nent. not
only in the Ninth district but in the na-
tion as well. Mr.. Graham knows. or he
should know, that he can only hope to
poll a very small per cent of tho progress
sive vote in the district and the moor
showing he is bound to make at tre mills
will cause great joy to the enemies of
the progressive movement, ard do far
more to lnJure the cause than if no pro-
Rressive candidate should appear. As
proof of this, it is a very significant fea-
ture of Mr.. Graham's candidacy that he
not only made no attempt to call a meet
) ing of the Roosevelt club here in his
home town and ask their sentiment.
with reference TO his candidacy. but he
practically ignored the whole banch hers
and took trip to New York aAs Rns.
noke ana blossomed out a full hedoed
candidate for congress upon his return
My information is that every progress
sive delegate attending the Bristol con-
uention will repudiate Walter Graham
e ss a progressive candidate for congress
and gives his support to the nominee of
5 the Bristol convention.
y Mr.. Editor, the above communication
. correctly and honestly stated, is nv
+ position in the present campaign and
object in appearing in the public prints
e is TO give other progressives in the Min
tn district who really is Roosevelt man
= from principle and not from selfish mo-