Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-04-01
POLITICS IN RICHMOND.
As seen by prominent writer or the
Capital City, and condensed for
the Virginia Citizen.
RICHMOND, VA, March "a.


RICHMOND, VA, March "a.
Strange things have already begun
to happen In Virginia politics. The
papers throughout the State-partic-
ulsrly those which are falling down
and worshipping those "dressed in a
little brief authority" and "the fresh
breath of pure air"-have made the
welkin ring with the charge that
Senator Thomas S. Martin had ac-
complished the defeat of the Machen
senatorial primary bill.
And many good people have ACCEPT
ed the expressions of the papers and
have not given the matter a second
thought. They have begun to &C
cept the cry of "ring rule" and to
let it go at that. Do they ever stop
to think that it is the man who cries
"Stop, thief that needs watching !?
Now, let's make little INQUIRY
and investigation along the lines Of
what actually transpired in the Leg
islature. In the first place it must
be remembered that the Machen bill
was the product of Senator Macheu of
Alexandria and Senator Phlegar of
Montgomery-both elegant gentle
men and doubtless sincere. Showing
the sentiment of the Senate TO
primary law, when the Machen bill
came from the committee on brivi-
leges and elections it was reported
adversely; the Senate, although
"dlctated and controlled by Senator
Martini" as the pure and holy
charge, passed the bill in the
face of the adverse report.
Senator Martin did not have the
Senators under very good control, Ell?
Then the bill went over to the
House, and there amendments were
piled on high and deep. The amend
ments were of nature to allow any
voter to call in any friend" to pre-
pare ballot, and if the friend was
on hand and had some few thousand
dollars be might be able to ''cast an
anchor to the windward" and elect
any person whom he saw fit. WHY
not have the election judges prepare
the ballot, man who is sworn to
act fairly and impartially2 Oh, no.
lie must be friend of the voter and
no judge could have word to say.
The Republicans, of course, voted
solldly for the amended bill.
Then there is another end to the
matter which seems to have escaped
the vigilant and fair and Just and
upright and high-minded gentlemen
who undertake to operate the affairs
of the public to their individual
mutual profit and honor. Had not
thought of that, eh? Well, let's
reason together and see if things can.
not be made little palmer by refer
ring to what did actually FAIL to
take place. During the session of
the General Assembly, Senators Sale
and Holt did introduce bill to re-
district the State for members of
Congress-the First, Second and
Third districts being alone affected
oy the changes proposed. The bill
passed the Senate all right, and
went to the House. There it is to |
this day. The House repeatedly re-
fused to take the bill up, notwith-
standing the fact that the First and |
Second districts are about as uneven
ly matched as is possible for contlg-
uous districts to be. The Second |
district has about hundred thous-
and more people than the First. 1t |
was proposed, In view of conflicting
interests, to take off Elizabeth City |
and Warwick counties and the city |
of Newport News and attach them to
the First, bringing the two districts
nearly even.
Public policy" would not allow
such change in the district bound
aries. The bill had to go down in
defeat; it was allowed to gasp
and perish for want of care on the
part Of the members of the House.
though none disputed that the bill
was meritorious. Right here it should
be remarked that a similar bill had
once passed the General Assembly
and was vetoed by the Governor. See?
Well, when the Machen primary
bill was returned to the Senate, load
ed to the gunwales with amendments
which made the work of the "mis-
slonary" politician easy and smooth,
the Senate got in the game and de-
clined to agree to the amendments.
The reason is given above. Then
there may have been the additional
consideration of the defeat of the re-
ilstrlcting bill on the part of the
House. Mind you, the Senate had
already passed both. bills, but the
Honse undertook to discipline the
senate by amending one and putting
the other to sleep. So the House is
On record as having really defeated
The Machen and the redistricting
bills by trying to provide soft and
Easy path for those "whom it might
concern" And the end is not vet.
The fact that the Machen bill
was passed by the House aud Senate
BY solid Republican support, and
the redistricting measure killed
by aid of this support, has
never been heralded by the press
which breaches fairness and prints
partizan politics only.
One reason advanced for the re,
fnsal of the House to take up the re.
iistrlcting bill is reported to be the
attitude of a gentleman who is inter-
ested in the jamestown exposition to
the effect that the defeat of the re- {
iistricting bill was paramount to
the success of the appropriation for
the Jamestown tercentenary. All ID
The votes Of the Virginia congress .
men were needed for the appropria-
ton, and by little explanation it .
was soon developed that influences