Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-03-12
WHAT IS A POLITICAL
"MACHINE?"

In the years not so long gone certain
city dailies went into Mysteries over
what they were pleased to call the
machine" in this State. They fooled
enough Of the people and the rural
press to accomplish their ends and win
campaign, through which they built
up an organization, or machine, for
themselves whose juggernaut ran rough
shod over friend and foe. Later they
tried the same tactics, but the effer-
vescent wave had subsided and the
people come to their senses. The re-
sumed effort fell with thud, and lies
dead today. Nevertheless, practically
the same coterie, those Of them that
escaped the avalanche, have rallied, and
are footing the same old cry now.
There is still sand in the eyes of a
few country papers that delight to
katow to the big dailies-some of which
have deserted and msligned the Dem
ocratic party, platform and candidates,
furnishing periodically food for Repub-
licans, yet elect to sail under the colors
of Democracy for patronage's sake.
In all good and successful movements
there must be organization. virginia,
wrested from Mahoneism, has for twen-
ty-odd years made wonderful strides.
and to our people has been given a stable.
economical and progressive admiuistra-
ton. This has been done by organiza-
tion-an organization which aforenoted
sore-heads have time and again, and
are now trying to disrupt for selfish
purposes and in order to build I'D the
Republican party in this State. Let Us
see what this much contemned organi-
Eation. or machine" is composed Of,
and to that end quote from the Dan
vile Register and thus dismiss the
subject:
THE Democratic organization con-
sists of State chairman and fifty
members of a State Central Commit
tee. chosen quadrennially by a Demo
cratic State convention, each congress
sional district delegation being chosen
by the people of such districts select
ing five men. Besides this there Is the
State Executive committee consisting
Of ten men, one from each congress
sional district, selected by the State
chairman as his personal advisers.
Behind this organization. proper, are
| the individual Democratic voters of
the State, who select delegates to the
State conventions which in turn name
| the State Committee and the chairman.
rs 1t meant to be implied that those
81 Democrats are the Organization OF
the machine that is supporting Judge
Mann? If 80 we can correct a wrong
impression. These fifty-one men are
not for Judge Mann. Perhaps the
| majority are, just as we believe the
majority of the Democratic voters OF
Virginia composing the real organiza-
ton are. Why should not they sup.
port Mann for governor. if they desire
to do so? And why should any man
refrain from supporting him because
certain estimable gentlemen belonging
to the Anti-Saloon League will als(
support him? 1t would be quite al
absurd to say that it was a deep ane
insoluble mystery that members of the
Democratic organization and members
of the church could not alike vote fol
him. Judge Mann is a prominent
member of the party, of the church
and of the Anti-Saloon League, ant
We assume that he will get the vote
Of great many members of all thre,
organizations.
''The yelled attempt of Mann's oppo
Inents to convert the term Organize
ton into a one of reproach or op
lprobrium is too silly to deceive an,
one. 1t has been diligently attempte
before and has failed, and it will IA
again. We will nominate our guber
natorial candidate in a primary
which every Democrats vote will coun
as much as every other Democrat
vote and no more. What power, then
has any organization or machine sav
that OF majority Of the qualified vo,
ers participating in the primary! Ths
} alone will determine the result.
there be any all-powerful organizatio
, or machine, the ma5ority of the DEN
ocratic voters of Virginia compose
and will always dominate the party
affairs and select it's candidates.
The attempt to arouse prejudice
resort to this meaningless cry sound
to us very much like the whimperine
4 of defeated candidate who is grass
: ing at a political straw in an effort