Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1914-10-30
G. W. BLANKENSHIP
FOR PROCRESSIYfS
"Bull Moose" Orator Flags Re-
publican Party for Chicago
Steal and Pays Respects to
BascOm Slemp and Others.
advertisement.

ana TO address you upon the issues in
volved in the present campaign.
There are three political parties
now in the field, asking for your sup=
port, Each party has it's duly and
regularly selected and nominated
candidate.
This country belongs to the people
who inhabit it. It's resources, its bus
mess, its institutions and laws should
be utilized, maintained, or altered,
In whatever manner that will best pro-
mote the general interest and welfare
of the people. Whatever is best for
the greatest number should be done.
Political parties are created and
maintained to secure responsible gov
ernment, and to execute the will of
the people. Before entering upon my
discussion of the political issues, /
desire to say, that | am one of you.
mean that it is my present inten-
ton to again become Il citizen of this
Great Commonwealth" Old Do
minion"; the mother of States, and of
statesmen.
1t has been many long years
weary to some; happy to many, and
sad to others, since 1 have had the ex-
treme pleasure of speaking to a Vir-
ginia audience. l say l am one of
you. l was born and raised in the
Grand Old County of Lee There my
parents lived, and died, and in Lee
county soil their sacred bodies are
buried. "Dust Thou Art" so saith
the Great Am, "And Unto Dust Shalt
Thou Return" and it was-from this
my native land-that the spirits of
my beloved departed parents ascended
as verify believe-to Heaven-to
God, and to that eternal home-of
peace, happiness and love; promised,
made and prepared by our Blessed
Savior and Creator-for the faithful.
Many changes have taken place dur
ing the past IL years, that l have
been absent from my native State.
Many. of my neighbors, friends and
associates, of my youth and early
manhood, have been called to their re-
ward. l, myself, have had many and
varied experiences since my departure
from here, and during that long pc
riod-I have been blessed, and like
wise have been afflicted, suffered.
racked with pain, and reduced in
strength and weight, from a strong,
healthy man to very weak and emac-
lated one, mere shadow of my for
mer self. AT times within the past
two years, it was thought impossible,
and highly improbable, that / would
ever again enjoy my former health,
and be favored with the happy privi-
lege of seeing and associating with
the people of my former acquaintance,
and to again be allowed once more to
visit this part of the county-to me
the dearest place on earth; but l am
sincerely and truly thankful that am
here again.
My countryymen, 1 came to talk to
fn tA fnn h-
the questions in which we are ali most
vitality interested. 1t has always been
said, and was taught to believe from
my earliest remembrance this is
free country, and as before stated,
the country belongs to the people,
and the people rule it. By your vote
and mine, our policies are formed.
laws enacted, Representatives elected,
and not only representatives elected
to make laws to govern our people,
but officers elected to enforce said
laws, and to control our affairs. In
order that the weak may be protected
from the strong, we must have laws,
rules, and regulations, and to main
tain, and protect the interest of our
people, our property, and our individ-
ual rights we must have law makers
as well as officers to enforce the law.
hold with the great men of this
country to the old theory and princi-
pie, that the people are the masters
of their constitution; and to safe
guard our rights and privileges we
must be protected under the law. The
people must use their sovereign right
and power to establish and maintain
equal opportunity and industrial JUS
tice. We, of the Progressive Party,
nave dedicated ourselves to the full
fillment of the duty laid upon our
forefathers, to maintain the govern
ment OF the people, by the people, and
for the people. We believe in equal
rights and justice for all. 1t is our
policy, and our purpose, to give, and to
request square deal.
AS stated, it is necessary for the
best interests of our people and our
government, that we have laws. 1t is
also for the best interests of our peo-
pie that we have political parties, and
as said in the beginning, there are
three parties that have candidates
asking for your support: Democrats
Republicans-better known as "stand-
pats, and the Progressive Party; of
ten called the "Bull Moose Party:
and to the latter party, belong, anJ
its principles and policies l advocate
am not so narrow minded and pref.
udiced as to believe, or assert before
you,. as an intelligent people that al
parties are not patriotic. give cred
it to the Democrats and to the honest
Republican, and to any other party
or party leaders as being at heart a.
patriotic, as am patriotic. 1t is onl,
question of policies, of means, O.
measures. of rules, regulations, ant
principles, upon which we differ. Som,
balieva in 81 hiOh nrntactiva tor;f ntb
ers believe in low protective tariff
and others believe and advocate fire,
trade-no tariff at all. In many re
spects and measures, disagree witt
the. policies and principles of the par
ty in power in this nation today; an,
yet do. not say, or deny for one mo
ment, that the party in power an