The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-14
.SLEMP PLATFORM THING
OF SHREDs AND PAT TCHES
Weak and Barcfaced Effort to Ride
Two Horses Going in Opposite
Directions at Same Time.
THAT IS IRVINE's VIEW OF IT
Democratic Candidate for Congress
i'm Ninth District Out With Broad
side Against Present Holder Of
Seat, Whom He Expects to Defeat.

tSrcClai TO Inc IlmcS- Dispatch
Bristol. Va. July l3.--In an inter
view here this evening. Il. Tate Ir-
zine. the Democratic nominee for Con-
Sress in the Ninth District. gave his
view" on the nominations made by the
lter rublican and Progressive conven-
tions here last Thursday. He said:
The nomination of MIR. Slemp and
his acceptance vas expected by every
one. Had the two conventions com
uired on a strong Progrcssivc Senl-
tor Noel, or DIR. Daughcrty. we Demo
crats would have had ii heavier fight
than now; MIR. Slcmp was right in try
ing To prevent his nomination. 1t
would have been better for him TO havL
been allowed to retire voluntarily than
10 bc forced into retirement at the
polls. Ills reelection In this district
Is impossible. His record is purely
that of reactionary and standpat.
ter This district is strongly Progress
sive kocsevelt's vote was much
larger than Taft's in 1912. Mr. Slcnp
realized that with his record as n
TAFT Cannon -Penrose Republican,, he
could not hope &c get the Progressive
vote of this Republican district. and
that even with this vote his election
would be extremely doubtful
DESERTION WILL CUT
nut LITTLE; FIGURE
THE fact that some OF the Pro-
grcssive leaders deserted and joined
the Republicans will cut but little fig
ure with the electorate Mr.. Rose. AS
the nominee of the Progressive con
Tcnt'on. viii get al respectable vote.
nut believe II that party had made
n" nomination would have gotten
more Progressive votes than MIR.
Slemp. ! will get many as II is Th,.
Democratic party. under President
Wilson's superb leadership. is giving
the country an administration that
should satisfy every man OF true pro-
gressive principles.
MIR. Slemp's platform is thing OF
shreds and patches. the weakest ana
most barctaced effort have ever
known to ride at the same time Two
horses going In opposite directions.
MIR. Sienp. with all his acrobatic
agility. cannot do this. II indorscs the
economic policies OF Lincoln and Nc
kinley, but Is as silent as the grave
on the iniquities OF the Payne .>ldric,,
law, which was enthusia stically sup
ported In Congress by Mr.. Slcmp. and
which drove his party into disrcputable
retirement. There is not 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 Issues must give con.
sent 1t condemns the Presidents
Mexican policy, but Is too cowardlv
10 declare for intervention or war WIN
w
would mean tho sacrifice of humber
less American lives ana the loss Of
countless treasure. 1t commcnds NJ.
Roosevelt. upon his return home from
South America, for his PROMPT ana
courageous condemnation of Mr. Will
sons policies but Is as dumb as AN
oyster upon his equally prompt ana
courageous condemnation of the poli-
cles or the Republican party Us CON
Quoted by Penrosc. Barnes, Slemp &
Co
HAD NOT COURAGE
no NAME CANDIDATE
1T condemns Democratic State laws
and the administration of State affairs.
notwithstanding this election has moth
ing TO do with those subjects and,
further, Notwithstanding that last
year, when these subjects were in is
sue before the people of Virginia the
Republican, party under Mr.. Slemn's
leadership had not the courage TO
nominate candidate for Governor or
any other State Office. and on these
same Issues, which we're fought out
before tho electorate OF the Ninth Dis
rict, they lost every contested lcgis-
lative and senatorial seat.
THE platform is silent on the sub
ject OF fair elections. This is signif-
cant, In view OF certain well-estab-
congressional race In ;his district and
IN viow or the unequivocal stand on
this subject taken by the Democratic
District Convention.
Tho Democracy of this district Is
Scod and ready for this contest and
welcomes IL I'm it's present form. The
issues and tho right arc all with us
The party is organized and deterInin-
ed as never before. and We shall win"