Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1914-07-17
IRVINE CONFIDENT
OF BIG VICTORY
Thinks Defeat of Standpatter is
Easy in Ninth District And
Will Push Fight to Finish.

Our correspondent asked Hon. R.
Tate Irvine here today his views on
the nominations made blythe Repub-
lican and Progressive conventions in
Bristol on the 9th. He said:
"The nomination of Mr.. Slemp and
his acceptance was expected by every
one. Had the two conventions COM
bined on strong Progressive, like
Senator Noel or DR.. Daugherty, we
Democrats would have had harder
fight than now. Mr.. Slemp was right
in trying to prevent his own nomina-
ton. 1t would have been better for
him to have been allowed to retire
voluntarily than to be forced into re-
! tirement at the polls. His reelection
In this District is impossible. His re-
cord is purely that of reactionary
and a stand-patter. This District is
strongly Progressive. Roosevelt's
vote was much larger than Taft's in
! 1912. Mr.. Slemp realized that with
his record as a Taft Cannon Penrose
Republican, he could not hope to get
the Progressive vote of the District
and that even with this vote his cleo
ton would be extremely doubtful.
The fact that some of the Progressive
leaders deserted and joined the Re-
publicans will cut but little figure
with the electorate. Mr. Rose, as the
nominee of the Progressive conven-
ton, will get respectable vote, but
| believe if that party had made no
nomination | would have gotten more
Progressive votes than Mr.. Slemp. |
will get many as it is. The Demo-
cratic party, under President Wilson's
superb leadership, is giving the coun-
try an administration that should sat
isfy every man of true Progressive
principles.
Mr.. Slemp's platform is thing of
shreds and patches, the weakest and
most bare-faced effort / have ever
known to ride at the same time two
horses going in opposite directions.
Mr.. Slemp, with all his acrobatic agi-
lily, cannot do this. 1t endorses the
economic policies of Lincoln and Nc
kinley, but is as silent as the grave
on the iniquities of the Payne-Ald-
rich Law, which was enthusiastically
supported in Congress by Mr.. Slemp,
and which drove his party into dis
reputable retirement. There is not a
word in the platform against the
Democratic Income Tax Law, nor the
Banking and Currency Act, nor the
Antitrust Laws now in process of
enactment. Silence on these great is
sues must give consent. 1t condemns
the Presidents Mexican policy but is
too cowardly to declare for interview
ton or war with Mexico, the only al
tentative, which would mean the sac
rlhce of numberless American lives
and the loss of countless treasure.
1t commends Mr.. Roosevelt upon his
return home from South America for
his prompt and courageous condem-
nation of Mr.. Wilson's policies, but
is as dumb as an oyster upon his
equally prompt and courageous con-
demnation" of the policies of the Re-
publican party as conducted by Pen
rose, Barnes, Slemp & Co. 1t con-
dennis Democratic State laws and the
! administration Of State affairs, not
withstanding this election has nothing
to do with those subjects, and further
notwithstanding that last year when
these subjects were in issue before
the people of Virginia, the Republican
party, under Mr.. Slemp's leadership
had not the courage to nominate a
candidate for governor, or any other
State office, and on these same issues
which were fought out before the
electorate of the Ninth District they
lost every contested legislative and
senatorial seat. The platform is silent
on the subject of fair elections. This
is significant in view OF certain we'll
established facts connected with the
last congressional race in this dis
trict, and in view of the unequivocal
stand ON this subject taken by tho
Democratic District Convention.
The Democracy of this District is
good and ready for this contest and
welcomes it in its present form. The
issues and the right are all with us.
The party is organized and deternin-
ed as never before, and we shall win.
Bristol Herald Courier.
Virginia already has Statewide
Prohibition, except in cities and towns
of not ess than 500 population. Why