The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-24
THE
TIMES
DAILY
COUPON
DIRECTORY
is ON
PAGE 2.
MIR. BINTORD AGAIN.

1t Is not to have the last word that
we refer to Mr.. w. ]. Binfords card in
Sundays Dispatch. but to enter a pro-
test. as solemn as we can make it, against
certain declarations Of public faith that
II contains. MIR. Binford says:
Doesn't The Times plainly see even
Il is proceeding on the policy line
.Honesty is the best policy" is its motto.
because If we cheat the other fellow
IL will recol on ourselves But the
truth is as before stated In the case IN
point. the most that can be said from
the standpoint of the Guardian Is
that MIR. Mitchell and associates prefer
red accepting all the natural and legiu-
mate advantages they could secure. ana
n they had acted otherwise they would
have been guilty of stupid generaiship,
not characteristic of political parties,
armies, or newspapers
The Times may be etymologically
Democratic-that Is. a la Times concep-
tion--but II is out OF harmony with the
great Democratic party of Virginia. and
using its own phrase, this is con-
clusion which any man, however limit
ed his Intelligence. can soc Is authorized
by the facts"
We want to say first. that The Times
does not advocate honesty and purity
in elections upon the basis of honesty
being the best policy" 1t abhors the
dogma The Times advocates honesty in
elections because honesty Is right and
dishonesty is wrong There is no policy"
in the business. IL advocating dishonesty
in elections would secure The Times a
-
thousand millions OF dollars. The Times
would not advocate Il. II advocating
honesty in elections should cost The
Times every one of it's subscribers and
bankrupt its treasury, The Times would
still clamor for honesty as long as it
was able to publish an issue.
But what we wanted especially to re-
mark on was Mr.. Binford's conception
Of party right We understand him to
mean in what we have quoted from his
letter. that because our party-the Demo-
cratic party-has control of the electoral
boards II has the right 10 make such
an appointment OF the judges OF election
as will enable our party TO stuff the
ballot boxes II the party managers de-
sire this TO be done. That was the sub
ject under discussion; that was what
The Times complained that the theory
OF action determined on made possible.
and Mr. Bnford's letter is IA reply to
The Times article discussing that PROPOSE
ton. We are forced. therefore, TO under
stand MIR. Binford to mean this when he
says In this connection:
But the truth is. as before stated. In
the case In point, the most that can be
said from the standpoint of the Guar
dian" is that Mr. Mitchell and associates
preferred accepting all the natural and
legitimate advantages they could Sc
cure. and II they had acted otherwise
they would have been guilty Of stupid
generaiship. not characteristic OF poiiti-
cal parties, armies. or newspapers.
Now IL this were the view of Mr..
Binford alone. we should not think the
case entitled 10 the discussion we are
giving to II. But II is unfortunately the
view Of very many others. To our mind
II is the most detestable doctrine that
can be preached. and 1t is one that
must subvert and overthrow the institu-
lions OF any people that toerates 1t,
and drag the character OF Its citizens
down into the lowest depths OF degrade
tion and infamy.
Our law directs that of the three
judges OF election at each voting pre-
cinct two shall be from one OF the polIt-
cal parties and one from the other. The
plain purpose OF the law is to give each
political party real and bona fide repre-
sentative at the baliot-box, i'm order that
each party may have an assurance that
tho votes which it's members cast will
be DULY recorded and counted This IL
provided for by the law that there may
10 perfect honesty and fair play. But
the partisan electoral board OF Henrico
county permitted Mr.. Mitchell. the chair
man OF the Democratic party for the
county. to name all three OF the Judges
Tor each election precinct. and It refused
to allow the chairman Of the Republican
party to name any Of the Representatives