The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-15
GOVERNOR TYLER
ON THE STUMP


some of his friends have some, and that
az he IS a very strong party man HIM
self and very liberal that it might DO
well 10 call on him for help. So. through
some friend II Is generally arranged that
the legislative candidate is accommodated.
lie secures his election. Is happy In his
victory. and when he goes 20 the State
Capitol the first thing he does Is TO Visit
the headquarters Of the new, rising poiu-
cal leader and budding boss.
A SMART MAN.
He Is graclously received and modestiy
told not TO mention his gratitude, and
becomes a frequent visitor, drinks fine
wine. smokes Habana cigars, and soon
you hear him spOuting 70 around that MT
Blank IS the smartest man in the state
and he and all other wOrshppers at the
shrine OF this new-found political force
unite IN proclaimng him the greatest po-
lltical organizer OF the country. tie Is
heralded as the victor of an political bat
ties. and IL makes no difference whether
he was quite nOn-c0mmittal, inactive, or
even in the ranks OF the opposition. ne Is
proclaimed and published as the man VINO
has elected all candidates ana secured an
appointments; IN short, the man VINO
acc0mplishes an things including lhe
naming of the presidential candidate. the
forth OF senator's and congressman, the
selection OF judges. the naming of other
state officers. an. aH was the work of MS
hands. and in the future every office Is
10 be filed according 90 his good pleas
IRE In other words such phrases become
the by-wOrd OF the boys IN the alley, Ike
that I'm New York when a man wants
anything. the answer is % "see Piatt.
When this much progress has cen made,
then the conditions are ripe. for the for
nation Of an oflicehOiders' trust and all
officers 10 be elected by the Legislature
are made 10 believe n they want TO hold
TIER places they had better see Mr..
Blank: and so one. by one they put their
fortunes into the pool Their mite or
power Is added to the sum total, and
there IS a tacit. but binding, agreement
for all 10 stand together. The time tO
elect another Legislature comes around.
the same process IS gone through with.
and then. when one after another is elect
cd. this member and that one has been
helped lu his election. and even the shame
grows so great that written eXactons or
promise Of reciprocity are signed. Mr..
Blank helped you In your dire necessity
now you must stand by him. And,
alas, too often. too often. men begin to
wake up for the first time 90 realize that
the money that was given 20 help them
in their canvass was not given from loyal
dsinterested purposes 20 help along great
political principles. but 90 put personal,
pecuniary obligation on the candidate
that secures the money en- order t0 exact
personal and partisan help On behalf ~
Mr.. Blank oh shades of the departed
spirits Of the noble past. can you look
down on such transactions ana not veN
your faces I'm shame2 Those things go
on. an Office holdes trust Us formed, the
ring IS made. the money is sIren ana
taken. and there IS no turning back. and
now. further deals are demanded, or int-
midation is resorted 10. In some Of the
States Of this Union by threat and Init
midation the whip handle OF ring power
IS held over even judges OF the courts,
over the county and district officers.
PRACTICAL POLITICS.
These things are seen and read Of
by all men. Tor some they have a tasci-
nation. They call it practical politics
They first endure, then pity then em-
brace In some of the states, as l
have said, this thing has been carried
so far as 20 embrace an officers, OF the
government, from the highest 20 the
lowest. In many cases, it is a matter or
bread and meat TO men. They occupy un-
time supplant them in the favor n me
chief They are asking for gifts and
helping 10 perpetuate the very power
that IS over them and in dread Of which
they stand. Great Office trusts are beins
built up all over this country, and With
the names Of many OF them we are oll
familiar. Now these things have been
seen and read about I'm other States. Is
the Goth and the Nanddl at our own
doors here I'm Virginia. Are all or the
best and sacred things, the traditional
virtue OF this Commonwealth endangered
by these new traditions? The question
Is ever before us: shall the people rule
or the few self-constltutad manipulatOrs2
There are many in, the land who have
not despalred. They believe IN the divine
right of the people % rule. they believe
that the people II left 20 themselves. will
90 what H. right Any proposition which
Is fully and frankly stated TO them VIII
find them on the right side Of h. Hence,
in all the states there IL movement
among patriotic, liberty-lovng people %
preserve 10 the people directly the right
TO freely select their officers 10 manage
their own affairs. and 20 vote. among
others. for the very important oiicer-a
United States senator. The question Is
frequently asked. II this is the case. why
not the people elect the judges also. I
stand here to-day and boldly say il IS
because the people do not desire IL. They
have right 90 elect the judges also. and
In many States Of this Union they eX-
ercise that right In our sister State ~
North Carolina the judges are elected by
the direct vote OF the people. and they
have a good and pure judiciary: a like
situation exists In many other states. AT
any time. the people can reach out AMI
take to themselves again this delegated
power.
SELECTION OF JUDGES.
IT judges should over get 20 be In
this Commonwealth. which. thank God,
as yet they have not. the playthings
of political bosses and the rewards 81
partisan labors. then am IN favor OF the
people taking hold Of the question Of the
selection Of judges. just as they are now
taking hold Of the question Of the cleo
ton Of senators. Again, the charge Is
Humanity and fooiishly made over this
state that II Is damaging 10 the Demo-
cratic party 20 acitate this question
within its ranks. But I say here to-day
that Il Is better for the Democratic
party To correct this evil inside Of its
own lines than have revolt raised
against II. Let this agitation. this reyo-
luton. go on inside n party lines until
the right prevails Now let me refer
for a moment % the much discussed aiay
conference. IN order 60 further the Oh.
iects that have thus briefly set forth. a
number Of gentlemen called n meeting OF
all Democrats In the State who were IN
favor OF the election OF seniors by the
people. To assemble In Richmond ard take
action looking to the accomplishment II
Ill