The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-25
THE oFFICE-HoLDER's TRUST.

Governor Tyler i'm a recent interview
printed $50 The Times spoke Of am office
holders trust" i'm Virginia. The Times
had previously made a similar suggestion
and there are many others throughout
the state who are Of the same way OF
thinking There has been no minority
party in Virginia FOR many years The
Democrats have had everything their own
way. and. generally speaking. the affairs
of government have been well conducted.
Attorney-General Montague. a man who
has for years been conspicuous i'm Viz
ginia politics and who is a close student
OF political conditions I'm referring TO this
subject I'm our presence some time ago.
said that the people looked at results
rather than M processes. That when the
affairs OF our government were going
along fairly wei. when the offices We're
filed with men against whom no serious
complaint could De brought. the people
were apt 20 become Indifferent to politics
ana TO let matters take their course with
out popular Interference The result o.
such condition. ne said was almost in
evitably am ofice-holder-' trust. So long
as the rrople do not interfere, naturally
the ofice-holders would have their own
way. would have their organizations here
and there throughout the State and their
own little coterle would mn all the posi-
lions Of State. county and city govern
ment and enjoy The cmoluments.
This does not necessarily imply couup-
ton. and we do not mean TO charge cor
ruption against the Virginia ofice-hold-
ers' trust. but say that such condition
Is most dangerous and there is no telling
to what evils 1t may lead 10 has become
a by-word in Virginia politics That IN
order to the successful candidacy of any
aspirant for any important office it is
necessary not $50 much that DE shall be
popular with the voters as that he shall
stand I'm with the machine. and so IL has
come TO pass that the man who runs for
office i'm this day first makes his peace
with the political machine. and. having
secured its endorsements. rests easy. We
say That the people of Virginia cannot
afford to let this thing 20 ON. As condi-
lions now exist the people are not masters
Of the onice-holders bat the. oGce-holders
are masters of the people When the
machine rules the people DO not rule.
In this connection We submit that 1t is
"a remarkable thing and one which the
public cannot AFFORD TO overlook. that al
though there w2s general demand
throughout this community that when the
legislative primary should be held the
Democrats of Richmond should have the
opportunity of expressing their choice
OF senatorial candidates, for some unac-
countabla reason-for some reason which
las never been explained-the Democratic
city Committee absolutely refused to give
the people this privilege
As soon as the action OF the committee
was made known q vigorous protest went
up and IL was time and again printed in
every newspaper I'm this city thai there
was universal dsapprova and universal
NfIndNl AflAt Ailf NAtAhu Nl itlf thiiulltNff
be reconsidered. The matter was again
brought up before the committee, and
again IL was decided that the people
should not have the opportunity to vote
for Senator. II is significant also that the
chairman Of the committee declined 10
give the reporters OF the city papers a
statement showing how the various men,
bers OF the committee voted on the pro
position. The only statement vouchsafed
was that the proposition TO suspend the
rules and reopen the question failed for
the lack Of the one vote necessary 10 the
requisite two-thirds majority
II Is charged against Governor Tyler
that as he has prohted by the ofice-hold-
ers' trust It does not come In good grace
from him TO condemn It. That Is none
OF our affair. and ia beside the question
is there an ofiice-holders' trust? That is