Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-05-08
SENATOR BYRD GAINING

AS the gubernatorial primary
campaign progresses the state wide
solidifcation of sentiment for Sem
ater Harry F. Byrd places his NOM
nation beyond the pale of doubt.
However, this feeling should in
nowise persuade his friends to be
less active in making doubly sure
victory in August by continued and
continuous activity in his behalf. and
the majority of the Valley candidate
should be made so large and so tell
ing that future efforts to increase the
bonded Indebtedness of the state
will face disapproval before they
/. develop.
As the campaign progresses there
is an appreciate dimunition in the
strength, at first developed, by Sem
ator Byrd's opponents, both of
whom, politically, like the humble
bee were larger at birth than at
maturity.
The apparent collapse of Lee
Moore's efforts to move from the
Auditors Office to the Governors
Mansion indicates misplaced ambi-
ton nthe part of the Alexandria
candidate, while Senator Maps
myopic survey of state sentiment was
so far from existing conditions that
the Tidewater statesman must neces-
sarily feel the creeping paralysis
which is Gripping his hopes.
Paraleling the primary positions
of the three candidates places both
Mapp and Moore in unenyiable posi-
tions, for neither of these candidates
have not met fairly and squarely the
issues Joined.
Particularly is this true of Sem
ator Mapp, whose Inconsistency may
be measured by his failure to state
definitely what prescription he pro-
poses as a panacea for state prob
lens, after having made his diagno-
sis. Given a golden opportunity to
N0fONoSO q aCAAltC anu kCdclDAC pldU
for road betterment he INDUCES in
innuendo, passes out platitudes and
wobbles in words
Personally the Senator is a
high type gentleman, with a spotless
life, and considerable ability. But
his virtues in private life, while
commendable, cannot offset his vari.
ableness in public life, and just now
We need an anchor instead of a float.
ing buoy for the ship of state.
Virginia has too much at stake tt
place her economic future in the
hands of governor whose attitude
toward vital policies would be vacil.
lating, and certainly the intelligent
voter, having in mind the best inter.
ests of the Commonwealth, will
rather choose to cast his lot with
that candidate who stands four
square nthe problems presented.
At the recent Good Roads Conven-
ton in Richmond all three candi-
dates were invited to address the
meeting-Senators Byrd and Mapp
and Auditor Moore spoke. OF the
three, only one took definite stand
and stated in unmistakable language
his attitude. This one was Senator
Byrd, and friend and foe alike ap-
preciated his fearlessness and praised
him for his frankness.
However, this was characteristic
of the Valley candidate, for coupled
with his consistency on public mat
tiers there is a determination to stand
for what he conscientiously believes
to be the best for the state, which
cannot be altered by expediency or
changed for political preferment.
And so. as the primary day draws
near, the people of Virginia are
scrutinizing the records of the sew
eral candidates and measuring their
fitness for the high Office of Govern
or. They are building their hopes
for safe, sane and economical man
agement of state affairs on the past
records and present promises of the
principals in the triangular fight.
In doing this they are naturally
grayitating toward Senator Byrd, for
in him, with his eminently success
ful past as criterion, they know
that what is best for the Comon-
wealth in the future is assured.