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

claim they are being conducted?
Was not the constitution made with
the svowed purpose Of getting rid of
dishonest elections and corrupt politics
II that was the purpose, why did the
democrats put partisan suffrage and
election laws in the new constitution
and why will they persist in having the
courts and the ELECTORAL boards refuse
to administer these laws as impsrtially
and fairly as the constitution would
permit? The very fact that the Roa-
noke Times treats with scorn the plea
from republicans that they be accorded
the law-granted right of having one
member of each Of the electoral boards.
is convincing proof that the Times does
not want honest elections. The asser-
of the Times that there is no soundness
IN Mr.. Slemp's contention that the re-
publicans should be allowed the selec-
ton of their judges Of elections, and
that "he knows as we'll as we do that
this talk about republican selection of
republican judges is all poppycock and
child's talk" is proof conclusive that
the Times is trying to entice Mr.. Slemp
into so-called honor compact, with Sc
cret intention of avoiding and violating
its conditions or requirements.
Did not the democrats pass what they
termed ''pure election law" as a sup
plement to the constitutional provisions?
And haven't they been violating it both
IN their own primaries and at general
elections? Have they not been cheat
ing and stealing from each other ever
since the Barkesdsle law went into
force; and do they not admit that thew
fagrantly violated this law by whole
sale bribery of voters in the election in
this district two years ago?
Does the Roanoke Times imagine it
can convince republicans or fair-minded
democrats that it is sincere when it de-
clares: 1--WE say for the democrats Of
the district that they are willing to
meet the republicans on fair ground and
agree to have an election honestly
clean!" That's the way you talked
after you made your new constitution;
but you have never yet met the repub-
licans on halfway fair ground; and you
never will, until you get them helpless
ly fettered, like your own machine fac
ton has gotten the opposing faction in
your own party hopelessly enchanted.
Does the Times think that it can fool
anybody by asserting that the demo-
Gratis of the Ninth "can get money, but
they will not use it for buying votes"
and only as rewards for the detection of
bribery? And does the Times believe it
adds anything to the credibility of this
assertion by proclaiming its willingness
to subscribe as much as $500 to a fund
for detecting and furnishing bribery in
the Ninth?
The Virginia democracy entered into
a compact of honor with the people to
submit the new constitution to them for
ratification or rejection. That compact
was dishonorably violated by the demo-
Gratis, and the Roanoke Times and every
other democratic paper in the state
sanctioned it.
The democrats entered into a COM
pact with the people to give them hon
est congressional apportionment by in
sertlng section 55 In the new constitu-
ton. That compact was viciously vio-
lated by dishonest reapportionment of
the Fifth and Sixth districts. And less
than sixty days ago an effort was being
made to have the democratic legisla-
ture redistrict the Ninth and Sixth dis
tricts in manner that violated every
provision of section SIS of the constitu-
ton. The Roanoke Times shamelessly
boosted of being the originator of the
nefarious scheme.
Honorable men should be careful to
make compacts of honor only with hon
orable men. What virtue would there
be in compact of honor between Mr..
Slemp, if he is half as dishonorable as
the Times would have him appear, and
the democratic managers who have
proven themselves 30 corrupt and un-
that they would hardly
political honor If they met it
n the road7