The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-02-18
TUESDAY. ..FEBRuARY Is. 1902
WHY CONDEMN THEM?

1t is to get into an editorial argu-
ment with contemporary. but duty
compelS us to take to task the Char
lottesville Progress for its eXcoria-
tions of the County Treasurers OF
Virginia for simply deciding to hold
meeting in Richmond for the pur-
pose of discussing among themselves
the action of the Constitutional Con
ventiOn in limiting their term OF office
to eight years.
The Progress sees fit to refer to
these honorable gentlemen as lob
byists" and says, 1--WE sincerely wish
they could be locked out of the Capt.
tol. Their presence there will be di-
rectly sinister to the welfare OF the
people" Now we understand the
word lobbyist to mean "a person
who seeks by personal appeal to IN
duce a body of men to do something
that they probably would not have
done were they not thus approached
The County Treasurers "a goodly
number of them were in Richmond
on Wednesday last; they met accord
ing TO program, transacted the busl-
ness for which they met, and then re-
tarned to their respective homes.
Now will the Progress kindly inform
US which of the gentlemen did the
lobbying and what member or men,
bers of the Convention were lob
bied?" The FREE Lance is Just as
much opposed to lobbying as any
other newspaper in Virginia and will
guard the peoples rights as earnest
" as any, but it will not east vitu-
peration on any man or set OF men
simply because they may desire TO
meet in the same city and at the
same time that the Constitutional
Convention should happen to be in
session.
1t is true that the County Treas
urers OF this State feel aggrieved,and
we believe they have a right to so
feel. If it is for the best interests OF
Virginia that her County Treasures
should hold office for only eight years,
why would it not be equally as good
and beneficial foI the City Treasurer
OF Charlottesville, or any other city
in the State, to be governed by the
same law. We also fail to under
stand why this rule is only applied
to County Treasures. If it is Just
and righteous proposition, why not
apply it to every officer in the Com
monwealth? If shOrt-term officers
will make better Treasures for the
counties why will they not also
make better Clerks OfCOurts, Sheriffs,
Superintendent of Schools, Judges,
Commonwealth : Attorneys, Iegisla-
tors or anything else?
The whole argument seems to
hinge on time. II the merchant has
a good and faithful clerk will he dis
charge him simply because he hap
pens to have been serving his EN-
ployer for eight years? If lawyer
has a good and faithful stenOgraphel
will he ask for his or her resignation
simply because he has had the ste
noprapher's services for a certain
number of years? To both of these
questions we answer positively ''No,
and we defy any man to show a just
reason or cause for saying that q
good and faithful County Treasurer
is not or may not be just as gooC
and faithful Gf not more sO) after
eight years of service as he ever wal
before.
II has been suggested and ever
argued by some that the offices o
County Treasurer and Sheriff ought
to be combined We fail to see thu
logic in this reasoning. The duties
OF these two officers are in many re
spects conflicting and in no manne
alike. The one handles money 10
the county, while the other handles
warrants and prisoners.
We may be wrong but we believ
that the author OF this change IN TIN
law had other than the visible re
suits in view.
The Constitutional Convention wa
not called for the purpose OF abrldg
inc the rights OF the people; on tn
contrary it was publicly stated tina
the principal end the movement ha'
in view was TO tear down the barrier
that we're preventing the people iron
having their rights. II oy uiclaOlhl
to the voters of this Commonwealth
how long they shall select gentle
man to be the custodian OF thei
money is in line with the policy o
the Convention, then the people hav
been deceived Virginians want
voice not only in who shall serV
them but also as to the length O
that service. This surely is in keep
ing with good government anuprop
or regard for the public voice.
uscLE sam ought to ma OUT s.a w ,nds
nation it was that kept tne O.ne r;n mo |;
interfering to prevent nun snsasIk =
Al - and he then ought II