The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-21
INVITES FULLEST SCRUTINY
AND WILL EXERCISE RIGHT
Congressman Glass in Letter to Editor Land Says He Is
Willing That His Private Life Be Held Up to
Public VieW--Mann and His Record.

next years Democratic primary.
am candidate for reelection 20
Congress and have not cared 20
be running for two ofhces at the
same time, nor to divert the atten-
tion OF the people Of Virginia from
the issues Of an important presi-
Dental election.
However, In view OF the threat
to assatl my character as prlvate
citizen In the event that ! shall,
as an aspirant for Governor, ais.
cuss the public record OF any other
candidate, It may not be inoppor.
tune to say now that, whether I
am q candidate for Governor or
not, shall not hesitate to eXer-
else my right to discuss PUBIC
/. issues and the relation OF pubic
men to such Issues. II am a can,
on the musings, and IL am not
q candidate shall do 1t openly
in the columns OF my newspaper;
and no fear Of personal criticism
from you, or from any other source.
will alter this determination.
Governor Of Virginia is that it is
not a place to be gotten by the
mere adept In the solicitation or
votes. It is not an honor to pc Sc.
cured by this man because lie dld
not get 1t before, or that man Pc
cause ne WANTS II INV, " t'o oeuSA
man because he can manipulate the
machinery or by the man b-sause
he Will serve the purpose OF one
faction or another Of the Demo-
cratic party.
It's a high position, for which e =
citizen may honorably strive IN
Ing confidently upbn his personal
character, presenting modest1y his
public record. frankly inviting and
manfully responding to fair Grill
cism and fearlessly assailing what
ever Of essential error or wrong ne
may find IN the yieW or acton s,ao OF
ward none and charity for all, It
is the business Of a public man, in
ONCE or seeking office, to pursue
the right as God enables him to
see the right: and If the pursuit
enables him to make criticism bold
should no more hesitate to pro-
coed in the one case than to sub
nit in the other.
The Time to Discuss.
II factional servility or personal
solicitation, either. or both. Is az
/ want no participation In it. II
begging votes is to be the chief
occupation Of the candidates for
Governor, I shall not be one OF
them.
In my view issues OF vital i'm.
port will confront the people or
the Commonwealth issues involv-
ing considerations Of morality as
we'll as OF civil economy. question
of party integrity, as well as OF
executive administration. we
have high authority for the dra-
matte contention that party loyal
ty is a badge of honor" And 1t is.
But times come when men pause
to inquire whether the best ex-
sternly stands against the prostitu-
ton of Its opportunities and abuse
of It's power or he who twists It's
unctions and shames its best tra-
ditions. Men differ as to the rela-
ton of public servants to quasi
public, or private interests. They
disagree In their conceptions of ju-
dicial integrity and their views OF
official propriety. they confuse
public policy. Some have the spirit
Of tyranny, and others OF tolera-
ton; some the spirit of subserv-
fence and other OF independence.
Some practice craft and others
open methods. And, thus arrayed
on one side or another OF issues.
minor and great, their type and
7 lclilpSa dS puUlICf uASll ne plCSISSIy
reflected in their public records.
To say that these records may not
properly be discussed by candi-
date for high distinction Is child
ish.
To complain OF their presenta-
ton in the open day is peevish.
To threaten a public man who shall
dare present them, with vindictiye
personal reprisal, is all but incred-
!ble If ever there was a time
in Virginia when men and issues
needed TO be discussed. it Is at.
hand. And they will be discussed
unless the next primary campaign
in the State resolves itself by tame
acauiescence into competition of
astute political management on one
side and expert cajolery on the
other. Why anybody should object
to such discussion before the
people, or betray apprehension that
It will excite bitterness or degen-
crate into personal abuse, is some
thing I cannot exactly compre-
hend Nothing Of the sort has ever
occurred in any campaign In which
! have. been participant; and
the only suggestion that I have
seen from any source that 1t may
be desirable to proceed beyond le-
Ultimate criticism of public con-
duct into the domain OF assault
upon private character Is contains
ed in the threat Of the Blackstone
courier to assail my record as a
private citizen sholld dare to
discuss the public record OF its