Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1913-09-05
Calls Mir. Smythe's Hand.

Continued From First Page
Mr.. Smythe, you say further,
For the first time during this
altogether" crusade Mr.. Sex
ton has introduced the sinister
terms Machine" and "Anti-
Machine, "Reactionary and Pro-
gressiye." The political grave
yards are full of the misguided
democrats whose impious machi-
nations made the first division
in the party possible. the second
lis buried fathoms deep by the
splendid administration of
Woodrow Wilson" Holy Mos
es," if this be true, when did
you come to life? What Archan-
gel of a misguided Majesty roll
ed the stone from the door of
you sepulchre and babe you
stand forth? 1t seems to me that
once upon a time you edited a
paper at Bramwell, w. Va, and
afterwards at Pocahontas, call
ed the "Coalfield Headlight"
"Pocahontas Headlight" or
"Coalfeld Progressive" some
or all of these titles, and that
about the first time l ever heard,
read or saw the word Machine"
as applied to political oroganiza-
tons, was in the columns of
that paper, when you were
pouring forth your vilifications
against Thos. S. Martin and the
Virginia Machine" proclaim
ing your regeneration into an
independent" and progress
i've" and forever abjuring your
allegiance t." Machine methods"
in Virginia politics. Hast thou
so soon forgotten? Did your
political burial, in the grave
yard you referred to, necessitate
a retraction in order to secure
the resurrection and bind you TO
keep the faith?
Don't forget, | learned the
word from YOU. Why is it that
no one will attempt to deny the
Machine" except those who
profess to love it best? Is it be-
cause history repeats itself?i
The Roanoke Times, in an editor
ial of Saturday defending the |
Hon. Carter Glass from an attack
made on him by the Marion
American, admits thc.existence
of the socalled Machine" and
it is admitted generally through
out the State. and accepted as
a fact. Again Mr.. Smythe, you
show you inconsistency when
you say, in anwser to the ex-
preston in my letter that | hop
ed Mr.. Higginbotham would
oppose the effort to reflect him,
you say, THE matter is not in
Higginbotham's hands, it is
settled so emphatically that he
is as powerless in the matter as
you are" and then in answer to
the suggestion that Bob William
son be elected Chairman, you
say, "but Williamson has already |
refused the doubtful honor. I'll
would seem to me to be more
consistent to allow one democrat |
the same privilege as another,
and if one can be allowed to de-
cline, see no reason why the |
other should not enjoy the same
consideration at the hands of |
the party. Now can you?
Now, to conclude. If the indie
pendent action of the committee
results in the selection of Mr.. |
Higginbotham as it's chairman,
| have no further objections to
offer, nor criticisms to make. Ifl
his reelection to that position
is influenced by any other motive
than what the judgment of the
committee deems to be best for
the party or results from an
erroneous Interpretation of your
resolution, which you are trying
to hoist as an election instead of
a recommendation, l say it will
be unfortunate for the welfar G
OF the party organization, but
at the same time it need not
discourage democracy's effort
for a united and Altogether"
pull. | have exercised my rights
as free born American citizen
and a Democrat to express my
views on the subject and now
1T is up to the committee, and
whatever the result of the COM
mittee's action, shall cheerfully
abide bV. Yours very trulv