Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-04-18
STAND UP, BEFORE WHOMP

vice, wherein it almost continuously
wanders, and force its way into the do
main of honest politics. Solicitude for
the success, at any price, of it's party in
the Ninth district, coupled with an ur-
gent desire to indoctrinate our elector-
ate with its own unrighteous political
doctrines, has moved the Times once
more to don robe of purity. Read the
editorial from the Times of the 9th inst
ant, headed: "Stand Up, Mr.. Slemp,"
published on this page. and see if we
are not right in our conclusions.
The editorial in question is imperti-
nent and offensive, because the Times
elects to assume that Mr.. Slemp has
been engaged in vote buying and other
crooked methods, just as the Times has
so frequently admitted its party and
candidates have done. 1t is reckless
and silly because it is sn unblushing
confession that the democrats of the
Ninth district, with the sanction and
cooperation of the Roanoke Times,
have for years been corrupting tie cleo
torate by vote buying. This confession
IS extended and enlarged upon by an
editorial which appeared in the Times
Of the 18th instant, wherein it is admit
ted that a large corruption fund was
raised in the district. IN Richmond, Roa-
noke and Lynchburg to carry the Ninth
Tor Mr.. Stuart two years ago. The
Times might have told that every coun-
ty, town and city in the state contrib
uted to this Stuart corruption fund, and
that the Times was all the while urging
that every democratic dollar in Virginia
should be sent here to purchase the dis
trict for the democratic candidate. The
pzosumptuous Times declares that Mr..
Stuart did not contribute to the vote
buying fund, though, it says he turned
IN an expense account of $40, 900 or
$4,000, expended solely for organiza-
ton purposes. Yet, the assumptive
Times endeavors to show that though
Mr.. Slemp spent only about half as
much as Mr.. Stuart did, he used his
money for vote buying instead of for
organization purposes. Such a state
ment, coming from confessed corrup-
tionists, will not be credited by any in
telhgent, honest man.
The Times, most brazenly referring to
MIR. Slemp, says:
Now let him stand right up be-
fore these people and answer like a
man.
''Will he obligate himself solemn
ly on his honor as a man, gentle
man and a representative of the
district not to spend dollar in this
coming election or suggest or sane
ton the spending of dollar he will
not be willing to account for under
LIZ OoSA anu OAl Ills QuQcI
the laws of the state of Virginia
and these United States, provided
Rufus A. Ayers, the democratic
nominee, will take the same obliga-
toni"
Stand up before and answer what
people? Make compact of honor, with
whom?
Is the Roanoke Times daring enough
to ask Mr.. Slemp and the other honor
able republicans of the Ninth district to
enter into compact of honor with it
and with the democratic managers and
leaders with whom it trains and whom
lit serves? Have the Times and the
democratic leaders made a sufficient
record for honesty in politics to entitle
them to claim even presumptive right
TO ask either honorable or dishonorable
men to enter into a compact of honor
with them, expecting it to be honorably
executed? Did they not for many years
previous to the making of the new con-
stitution take ignorant and reckless
men and train them to commit perjury,
to steal ballots, To forge poll lists and
alter election returns?" Did they not {
Gle for them" and prostitute the courts G
10 save their trained criminals from con-
viction and punishment? And did not
the leaders and even the rank and file of e
the party assert upon their honor as p
gentlemen. that elections were being o