The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-08
We expect our tsalth TO be, the SUB
iect OF some miraculous interference,
and neglect the hon,ely precautions
by which Il might be secured.
Yesterdays Election.

IT IS a public misfortune that the people
of Virginia take so little interest In their
regular elections. Yesterday the voters
were called upon to choose their oii'cers
of state government, together with mem
bers Of the General Assembly, and each
Marty had full ticket in the field. The
NOS, serious Issues wero involved. YET
II annears from the returns that q ma
iority of the voters were so Indifferent
hat they did not take the trouble to go
10 the polls. AT one precinct IN Hen
rico county, for example. where there is
registration of nearly thousand
Z voters, only ISL votes were cast by both
parties. 1t is inconceivable that the peo-
pic should have SO little concern for their
own affairs. The Indifference Is to be
accounted for in part by the fact that IN
Virginia the real contest is in the pri-
mary. a nomination being equivalent to
4 an election. The Democrats had but re-
* Gently held all exciting primary, and we
take it that those who did not vote felt
e sure that the ticket was safe enough
without any aid from them. They re-
fused to take seriously the boasts which
4 the Republicans made. Moreover, the
people generally are very busy and they
are not thinking much about politics.
There is an old saying that the Virginia
& Democracy fights best when on its hulk.
Democrats generally refused to believe
that there was any real danger of !, Re-
publican victory. and many OF them at
tended to their business nj home and let
the election take care Of itself.
1t is none the less a mistake however.
for voters to be so careless, and 1t Is
none the less dcplorable. The only real
damage to good government in this STATE
and In this republic is public careless
ness. So long as the people give con-
scientious and intelligent attention to
their own affairs. our institutions VIII
be safe, but popular neglect IS the poll
ticians opportunity and If the people sur
render, their prerosative to the profess
SIGNALS, they cannot reasonably expect |
i that their public affairs will prosper No |
discreet man conducts his private BUSH |
ness affairs by any such rule.
But II Democrats were indifferent. Re-
pubcans were more so and in spite OF
the active and energetic campaign which |
the leaders made. in spite OF their as
saults upon the Democratic record. in
spite of their catchy promise Of free
hooks in spite OF the plea that the Re
publican patty haG.reformed itself into
a new fi;arty with all stains and. dark
lines blotied out, the Democratic ticket !
is elected by handsome majority, the |
General Assembly will be largely Demo-
cratic iInd the Republican defeat is
worse than the Democratic management
had anticipated The people OF Virginia
have not forgotten. They are not yet
ready 10 commit their affairs to the
party which has always been the enemy
Of the South.
Yesterdays election was signal de-
feat for the Republican party reyamped,
and splendid indication of Democratic
rule.
We congratulate Chairman Eilyson and
his fine corps of workers; we congratu-
late Governor-elect Swanson and his
noble associates; wo congratulate The
whole people upon the fact that Demo-
cratic rule is to be continued in all de-
partmets OF State government.
In New York the three-cornered con-
test between the straight Democracy, the
4 Republicans and the Socialists led by
William r. Hearst. the Democrats won
Gut by small plurality. ana Mcclellan
4 is reelected Hearst VIII contest, Jerome
IS reelected observation-disclosures.
In Philadelphia. the Reiormers triumph
n ed gloriously over the forces of plumber
and corruption, who have for so long a
time held sway in that boss-ridden city,
and all decent citizens are thanking God
Il Tor their deliyerancc.
In Maryland, the suffrage amendment
was defeated; as il shoud have been.
and as We predicted it would be- 1t was
proposed 10 cngratt a permanent under
standing clause" upon the constitution
of the State. aud many Democrats re-
fused to vote for 1t. Had the Virginia
plan besn adopted, tho chances OF sue
cess had been far better, The aldor Of
the German wing of The party over
leaped Itself The whole business was
badly Numbered. and the last State OF
Maryland is worse than the first The
Eegro voter win be more troublesome
than ever. 40
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