Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-10-20
CHALLENGE TO JEFFERSON
COUNTY DEMOCRACY.

have been made in its ranks, that it
Will receive its death blow at the
coming election, and its votaries will
be left with no other duty than to
wife its epitaph. This would be bad
enough, If true: and worse, much
Wfose, where no great issue is in
vowed. when the seeming difference
between the two dominant parties is
TO whom shall be apportioned the
spoils. If the rumor be true, then
Jefferson county democracy is in an
unenviable fx-shorn of her past
glory, denied her present influence,
and left without hope for the future.
While no Jefferson county Demo-
erat will admit justification for the
rumor, and while everybody knows
that it is but one of the political
tricks designed to catch the unwary,
yet it has its uses. Whatever other
uses it may serve, certain it is that
it will disclose to the rank and file
who hold party fealty above partizan
advantage the insidious attempts to
sap the vitality of the Democratic
organization in the county at this
time, and thus. by weakening it,
make it easier to destroy entirely two
years hence. For is it not known that
the Chief Executive of the State, and
as such the titula leader of his par
ty, was recently prevailed upon by
partizan politicians to 'tsave" the
dominant party in the district by
naming one of the faithful to fill a
vacancy in the judgeship Of this cir
cut held for more than half CEN
fury by Democrats? And that, too,
when this county had learned and
able men who would have graced the
oihceE was he not bombarded by
his party associates with the threat
that it would endanger their person
al success at the polls in the district
this fall should Democrat be NAM
ed as successor to Judge Woods?
Was he not importuned at length,
and with much emphasis, to appoint
Republican. no matter who he was
nor whence he came? Was he not
promised on the faith of his politi-
cal spokesman in Berkeley county
that if .his man" should be named
said spokesman would guarantee, >"
as compensation therefor, that the
23d judicial circuit would be secure
~ placed in the Republican column?
And was not CHS man" named?
Thus, as it is reported, the record
is. There is the guarantee upon the
part Of one Of opposite political
faith to deliver the body of democ-
racy in Jefferson county to its chief
est political antagonist. There is the
contract. But it is more than con-
tract; it is a challenge to the loyalty
of the Democrats of Jefferson coun-
ty, men who have never submitted
to dictation. men who cherish party
pride above persoal preference or
personal gain. Deplorable as it is
that the Chief Executive of the State
should surrender his independence to
partizan expediency in filing an Of
flee that should have no place in poll
tiles, it IS conceivable that its effect
will be other than to arouse the de-
moeracv of jefferson county 20 the
expression of Just resentment at
such unwarranted interference, and
by an overwhelming vote for its
candidates fittingly rebuke those who
would thus seek to trade upon its
credulity. The Chief Executive knew
when his appointment was made that
no candidate for the iudgeship in
this circuit could hope to be elected
without the vote of the Democrats
Of Jefferson county: his appeal there
fore is 70 pure partnership. His
Berkeley county spokesmans appeal
is to pure partnership. His candi-
dates appeal is to pure partizanship:
in his speech of acceptance before
the convention by which he was
nominated he pledges his utmost en-
deavors ''to carry the banners Of
HIS "partv to success" assumes the
leadership Of his party in the circuit,
and fares forth to fulfill for his
spokesman the contract to deliver
Jefferson county, and the judicial
circuit of which it is part, to the
adversary.
VIII Jefferson county democracy
submit? VII it by inaction, indiffer-
enee. or otherwise permit itself to
be lassoed hog-tied and branded
without protest? WIN it by its ball
lots resent the insidious propaganda
poured increasingly into its ears:
Vote for me and | viii secure
bridge across the Potomac at Paw
Paw and d bridge across the Shenan-
doah. If YOU feel that YOU would do
violence TO your convictions in vot-
ing the Republican ticket. then Will
You not compliment me by staying
away? Of course. that viii be in
5erogation Of your duty as a citizen,
TO say the least. but what is citizen
ship between friends? BY not voting
at all that will be in effect two votes
for me, and YOU will not openly sub
icct yourself to the criticism of YOUR
political associates. OF course. they
helped YOU when you ran for office,
or may be expected TO help you in
the future. but Just for this time
break away from your old associates
and come with US" VIII the Demo-
Gratis of jefferson county thus be
misled by the sophistry of those who
whisper but to destroy? Methinks
not. A.
political ADVERTISEMENT