Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-07-24
FOOL FRIENDS

FOOL FRIENDS
Both candidates in this superheat-
ed campaign for the gubernatoriall
nomination may sincerely pray to be-
delivered from their fool friends.
Whether Mr.. Byrd or Mr.. Mapp is
nominated at the primary on August
4, the loser may console himself with
the thought that had it not been for
his fool friends the result might have
been different, and the winner may
know that his victory came in spite
of overzealous supporters who let
common sense. 1t is not many days
since James NJ. Hayes, Jr., Motor We
hicle Commissioner, occupied the
front-page columns of Virginia news
papers and monopolized the biggest
headlines. He was the fool friend of
Harry Flood Byrd. In his unthink-
the employ of his department a wo-
man worker who had the courage to
tell him she purposed to vote for Mr..
Mapp. 1t is conceded even by his
most ardent proponents that this
brutal action of Mr.. Hayes hurt his
candidate. The hurt has been mini
mized by tn courageous and force
full maner in which Mr.. Byrd met the
issue. His prompt avowal of ignor-
ance of Mr.. Hayes action and his de-
nunciation then, and at every oppor-
tunity since, of so high-handed an
action has done him immense credit
of which the voters are not slow to
take notice
Now it is, or should be, Mr. Maps
turn to pray for deliveranee from
his fool friends. He needs deliver
ance even more than it was needed
by Mr.. Byrd. For Mr.. Mapp has been
made the victim of fool friends who
already have lost to him more votes
than they could possibly have hoped
to bringn to his banner. This news
paper calls Mr.. Mapp the "vcictim'
of his friends for it cannot bring it
self to believe that he had any part
in sending out half-truths in anony-
nous circulars which by inference
innuendoes reflected upon Mr.. Byrd's
personal integrity. If he did sane
ton their distribution over the state,
it cannot be that he realized the in
depreciation that would be put upon
them. This newspaper prefers to be-
/ lieve that he has been victimized by
overzealousness on the part of sup
porters who either did not realize the
inevitable import of their attack, or,
realizing, did not care
All the explanations and asserva-
tions in the world will not convince
the public that the circulars sent out
from the headquarters of the Anti
Saloon League by Mr.. Smithdeal,
with their half-truth as to Mr.. Byrd S
vote on the social evil measure, were
not intended by implication to innfiu-
ence the voters to the belief that Mr..
Byrd had refused to raise his hand
to root out the evil, while Mr.. Mapp
was earnestly working for the puri-
ication of social conditions
Happily for Mr.. Byrd, and quite
unhappily for the authors of the at
tack upon him, his character needs
no defense. This newspaper holds no
brief for Mr.. Byrd any more than it
holds one for Mr.. Mapp, but it does
resent unfair and unclean tactics
against any candidate for so honor
able an Office as the governorship of
Virginia. 1t must be gratifying in
deed to the Valley man to know with
what temper the attack upon him has
been received by the people generally
as voiced by scores of letters received
by this and other newspapers from
writer's who know him personally or
by reputation, and by the editorial
comment even in newspapers which
- AAooSiiC W LIS CduuiudCy. DO lar
as they have come under the observ-
alton of The Times-Dispatch not one
has voiced approval of the attack,
while others have been vigorous in
condemnation. Indicative of how the
attack is benign received, the com
ment of the Newport News Daily
Press, which is supporting Mr.. Mapp,
may be cited: 1.-THE Daily Press is
not in sympathy with some of Mr..
Byrd's policies, but it recognizes him
to be a man of good morals and high
character, and not only will it not
be party to any attempt to be-
smirch him, but will defend him
against any such attacks, from what
ever source they may proceed"
The voters of Virginia like fair
play; they demand it in their politics
and their elections just as they de-
mand 1t in the affairs of everyday 4,
life. Wherefore, Mr.. Mapp's cry for
deliverance from his fool friends
Richmond Times-Dispatch.
SELONE PENCE