The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-07

dents discount all his claiiis VI SuPe
rior patriotism, and the people are
finding him out.
------------
THE PEOPLE ARE AMAZING.
Evidence is not wanting that the
voters OF Virginia are beginning TO
think about the iniquities of the fee
system Whilst many of them arc
doubtless not giving thought TO tina
important subject, there can be no
doubt that the day is not distant when
they will do so. Reforms are not
wrought in moment. They are
achieved slowly. AS it is with good
roads, SO 1t is with the fee system
The people are being aroused TO the
necessity for thesertwo great reforms.
Hear voice from Nottoway:
you deserve the thanks OF
the people for your editorials
on the fee system. You ae-
servo the more thanks because you
must be aware that you are anlasoti
izlng very active ana ihliuehl . a..
class. / do not assert that az eouii ~
officials concerned will be oItenoea
your loyalty 10 lUe pupiiS t9OSSN'i 49,
hope that some OF them Will como out
and indorse your views, for they must
see the Justice of your position. Inc
fee system, as opposed TO a known
reasonable salary, has no ground 10
stand on Every rational person wants
to know and has Il right 10 Know
what he pays for service ana IL Is not
a square deal unless he does. lhers
lis no room for argument there. ENerS
tendency to establish an official class
and to waste money on 1t should Do
vigIlantly watched and actively OPP
posed by every good citizen and by
the press. After all, apathy on the
part of the people is our great peru
and the prime cause Of all of cur Ills,
In this condensed statement, this
able opponent of the fee system mas
nut the case we'll There is no aSgu-
ment for the fee system as against
the salary system. The apathy OF
the people. we fear far more Than we
do the activity of the ofice-hoiders.
Hear voice from Southampton.
speaking through the esteemed South
ampton Democrat:
"The seeming indifference in the re-
cent primary election in our district
OF the voters not voting will natural
ly cause our politicians and office
seekers to sit up and take notice,
What are the causes?
"Another reason Is that many of our
voters have decided--and not without
cause-'that a few rirgsters will carry
things their own way anyway
still another reason is that clean,
10, IN, en- Am
petent-hardly feels inclined to offer
for office ana meet the conditions that
are required.
"The time was when the battle cry
was vote to down the negro Our
people are thinking more than they
are voting. but the time is coming
when they are going to vote, and woe
be unto the powers that be.
"Who are these fee officers who are
organizing TO get a lease or extension
upon their offices? Why the cry that
1t Is necessary to give some officers
several terms that they may equip
themselves to perform the duties Of
their offices? If all recognize the dan
ger of our Presidents succeeding
themselves more than two consecutive
terms, why should we want life
tenure of Office for our clerks. sheriffs,
commissioners and others? We have
Just as good and competent men who
would fill the office of clerk of the
court for a stated salary of say $1,000
to $4,000 per annum as are those WIN
are now filing these positions.
without wishing to pose as a pro-
phet I predict that many of the aspir-
ants for n seat in the next Legisla-
ture will have to define their positions
upon the fee system,
'rhe Rip Van Wrinkle nap will not
last our voters all of the time. and
when once aroused there Is going to
be mighty awakening in this coun-
try OF ours"
Yes. there is going to be mighty
awakening" before long. Next suns
mer. we believe, the people are going
to exact from the candidates for the
| General Assembly a binding and I'M
equvocal declaration as to the fee
| system. In the next few years, the
| oflice-holders who are hugging the
fee system are going to have the fight
OF their lives, and we much mistake
| the temper of the Virginia people II
the office holders prevail. The day is
coming when poor man" will feel
"lnclined to offer for Office" and will
| dare to oppose the ofilce-holders who
have builded their own personal pc.
llit!cal machines. The day Is coming
when our city and county officers shall
receive compensation on salary ba-
sis and not on fee basis The da,
lis coming when the people will reno