Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-05
WHO wON-THE PEOPLE OR THE
MACHlNE2

In answering this qcustlon let us first
consider that "the people" are the great
mass Of Democratic voters who have to
work to earn Il living: who do work
md earn a living: who pay taxes and
who. therefore, pay the salaries of the
officers; the men who take no active in
terest in politics except to vote; who
are Democrats from principle and for
white mans government, and who take
all kinds of treatment as matter of
fact until it grows oppressive or
openly fragrant, both rs to bad govern
ment and lisurpation OF their rights,
when they rise up, throw party mana
cement to the winds and kick out the
leaders"
called, is an aggregation of active poll
ticians chiefly office holders. but not
altogether; whose business and profess
sion is politics, and whose income is Of
fetal salaries and pcrquisites obtained
in public life. IT has n leader who In
turn has many right hand men," who
in turn. have many fright hand men,"
i HIS llSl WOuiu start WITH SOIlle ulHn OF
fetal. and run along down the line to
cons table in n county district, or n
policeman on the beat. They all act
with one accord and follow the word
given out by the powers that be- Their
power is derived from the party or
ganization. which it is their desire to
centraliZe as much as possible. Great
inroads are made upon the individual
rights of voters and greater strcngth Is
added daily to the Organization" of the
party. They are bound together by the
ties OF gain. a living, public office. and
the emoluments of their position. They
are partizans and stand by the choice of
the Machine though he be persona
non grdfd with the people, and Will be
defeated in fair election. The origin
OF the machine" Is found in the perpe
tuation of "IVhitc Snprcmacy," and for
that reason has strong hold upon the
sympathy of the people. Much patience
Is exercised regarding it. on account or
the natural presumption of human de-
Sire to be rewarded in some way. for
services. whatever those services may
be.
The machine" never does its fighting
an the open, but by wire pulling" and
manoeuvering. It is gentle in APPEAR
ance, docile and pliable ana never
bucks" the people. when there is n
probability OF an awakening OF interest
These two great forces meet in every
Convention, though the "machine''
operates without resistance every dav:
They mot in the recent Convention. Tho
people won in the main issue-the Con-
shtutional Convention, and subm,ssior
TO the people, but the machine" won in
the plan of organization. The"n,achine"
claimed a victory in the matter of maxi
Ing the call for the Constitutional Con-
vention a party measure" but Cartor
Glass showed that such was NOT tho
case. The people had their own wav in
the principles involved, but the nm
chinery for carrying out these PRINCIPLES
cannot be said to be in the hands of the
people.
All told. IL we were n politician we
should promptly be initiated into the
Bympathies OF the machine. If we are
to look after the people. it Is proper to
remain outside Of the selected coterie.
applauding it when it serves the peo-
pies interest. Gas 1t so often does), and
condemning 1t when 1t runs counter to
the public interest and private rights.
- --------------
The Union Veterans Union is hol-
tta,.tper for moro poneinpe vrt,tc 4, o,o