The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-30
ENEMIES OF CONSOLIDATION.

If II is true that there are paid lob
byists busily at work to defeat consol-
idation between Richmond and Man
chester who Is paying them and for
what purpose? All the organizations
representing the public interests OF
the two cities. so far as they have ex-
pressed themselves, are in favor OF
consolidation. II these lobbyists rep
resent private interests. whose private
Interests are they?
entirely too big, 1t means entirely TOO
much to the future of both cities, tor
Nh. wishes OF a small class of inter-
.sted persons to be permitted to scotch
and block it. With infinite patience
and tireless effort, the movement mas
n. last been brought to the threshold
20, success, and nothing remains put
5rat,fcation by vote. And now 1t seems
that some Invisible and indeterminate
group of persons. not Identified Win
the associations of progress IN Rich-
nlond. is resolved to fight 1t to iinlsh'
first in the Council. and If beaten there,
in final campaign before the people.
TO whom does it mean so much to
strangle the hope of a Greater Rich
mond?
The most lucid and Ineligible ar
Eument against consolidation has come
from the of1iceholders of the two cities.
One group hates the thought of losing
ats Jobs; the other group hates the
thought OF taking on any extra work.
But this, manifestly, is not an argu-
.nent which can be publicly used to
influence Councilmen. The one valid
sounding argument that has ever been
urged against consolidation is that all
the annexed territory in the West End
is not yet provided with city improve
rnents and that this territory should
be taken care of before any further
obligations are assumed But Chair.
man Pollard, of the Finance Commit
tee, explains authoritatively that con-
solidation will not divert to Manches-
ter one penny that would be spent ii
any part of this city If union does mo-
take place. Unless somebody can con
trovert Mr.. Pollard's reasoning. as Sc
forth in yesterdays Times-Dispatch
that argument falls flattened to TIL
ground As 10 the other so-callcd ar
Euments that have been put forward
they impress us, considering the mag
nItude and Importance of this under
taking. as too trivial for notice. They
read much less like logical reasonings
which have naturally impelled men to
take certain position than like pre-
texts seized upon to bolster up posi-
ton already taken for other and diff
ferent reasons.
The tedious and much beset path that
consolidation has had to travel has
worn nearly to tbs 'bone..the patience
of those whose only interest is the
public good. but those actuated by per-
sonal incentives seem as lively and
aggressive as ever. This is always the
danger when the public good conflicts
with private interests. The private in
1erests care more and they work far
harder, II behooves the friends of
consolidation TO stand by and push
their cause now as never before. The
nefeat OF the movement would be a
decided setback for Richmond and a
particularly bad advertisement for her.
1T is said that men active in politics
have threatened 10 oppose for re-elec-
tion councilmen who vote for console
dation. The government of Richmond
is not conducted for the benefit or 10
meet the particular wishes of politi-
clans, but of all the people. The peo-
pie make no threats, but they. do under
stand very clearly that the Council
is there TO do their Wills, and Council
men who obstruct a movement so
plainly in the direction OF growth ana
progress VIII have to reckon on an
enlightened disapprobation which is
also backed by the vote
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PARIS MENACED.