Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1914-09-11
JACK WARD after
GOVERNOR STUART
"Rakes the Governor Over Goals"
For Siding With Vets at the
Eleventh Hour.

The Daily Telegraph, of Blufeld,
printed the following in It's yesterdays
issue:
Hon. Henry C. Stuart, governor of
Virginia, was i'll the city for few
hours last evening enroute to Rich
mond from points in the ninth district
where he has been for several days
delivering speeches in the interest of
II. Tate Irvine, of Big Stone Gap, the
democratic candidate for Congress.
Governor Stuart was not in the best
of humor when he arrived in Blue
field, and his brief stay here did not
serve to put him in II more cheerful
frame of mind. In fact, Virginia's
chief executive was disposed to be
peevsh over the reception accorded
the announcement of his views on the
question of statewide prohibition and
aid not radiate good cheer as he
boarded train No. l6 for Richmond.
1t seems thnt during his tour of the
ninth district counties some of tho
governors friends have been rnking
him over tho Goals, as tho result of
the recent announcement that he
would vote against statewide prohi-
bltion in the election of September
-, and after his arrival here he was
given no respite. Rev. j. b. Ward,
presiding elder of the Blueiield dis
trict oi i0lston conference of the
Mthodist church and lifelong friend
OF Governor Stuart, was among those
who engaged the Virginia executive in
conversation here last evening, and
Mr. Ward did not hesitate to express
Strong disapproval of the governors
stand. lie dld not attempt TO deny the
governors right to vote us he saw fit,
nut dId critlcise his action in max
ing public announcement of his views
NJ this time.
When Mr.. Ward asked klr. Stuart
why he had waited almost until the
eve oil election To publicly announce
his position, the governor explained
that the question had been put square
ly up to him and that he could not
dodge the issue. He was strongly op-
posed to the whiskey traffic, he said,
nut as between local option and state
wide prohibition he Favored the for
mer plan. The governor here took
occasion to state that he felt sure
Virginia would give majority for
statewide prohibition and that nil the
whiskey mon now hoped for was to cut
down this majority as much as possi-
Bile.
The governor seemed plainly dis
pleased when Rev. Mr.. Ward told him
ne had made serious mistake by
making public his position, and his
reply tht it had been put up to him
might be described rs rather tart.
when Mr.. Ward suggested TINT the
simple announcement that, i'm view of
the fact that II heated fight was ON
thoughout Virginia, the governor of
the state would mther not take sides.
would have been sufficient. Mr.. Stu.
art curtly replied that he had no de-
sire to straddle the question.
MIR. Ward, taking up the governors
remark that the WnIsISey men only
hoped to cut down the dry majority
told Mr.. Stuart that they would have
had better chance had he kept quiet
on the subject. Now, Mr.. Ward in
formed the governor, the fire of pro-
hibitlon sentiment has been rekindled
ana those who would have STAYED at
nome on September 20, contentinr
themselves with the belief that Vir-
gina would vote dry anyhow, without
their help, would now go to the polls
determined to lend their support In
statewide prohibition.