The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-22

we Sald TINS camp Will Ot opened HeAt lhoutn'
The statement made ont of confidence IN the
undertaking of the people of the city OF what
the work stands for and of its possibilities for
good. There is needed before the Camp may
be opened $4,000. This sum ought to be speedily
raised by voluntary public contributions. The
more it is ovcr-subscribed. the better.
THE SOUTH AND THE PORK BARREL
1t Is not surprising that of the more than one
billion dollars appropriated by the present ses-
sion of Congress the Southern States one fourth
The nation in extent, one third the nation in
population, should have received as a portion
lof governmental expenditures one iftieth of the
amount devoted to needful projects of improve
ments That has been the course of practically
every administration toward the South 1t IS
what the people of this section have come to
expect. II is the continuing penalty which is
paid by devotion to principle, costly in dol
lars, but invaluable in character. 1t is idle to
say tina: the South could not have done better
with the pork barrels, had its representatives
in Congress fixed their attention more close
y upon the swine flesh of politics. 1t is badge
of honor, rather than the reflection upon their
industry which III some quarters is thoughtess
ly made, that they have not made the sacrifices
necessary to this end.
! Notwithstanding the recent Mississippi
ocandal it remains true that the South as
whole has been remarkably free from the pre-
vaence of and instinct toward graft which, in
some Northern and Western sections, ami
mates not only those in official positions, but,
starting in the high places of trust and influence,
runs like virus through the moral character
of whole communities Politics, whether in low
place high takes in tic main the color of
popular sentiment. 1t is a trade that is rarely
bener than the people t Ie9ccts If the poo
pie OF pure spiG;, if they have desire for
cleanliness in public life, they pass the impulse
10 their servants II hold before them the threat
of their displeasure If the public is narrow
eyed IN its fxity of gaze at the dollar if its
vision converges in the principle of greed at the
end OF an acquisitive nose, it's politics will be
animated and ruled by the same aim and pur-
pose. So that, for failure of its Congressman
to forget all else in a rush for the money! the
South is responsible. And it ought TO be glad.
We are sincerely convinced that this failure
resulting IN injustice is clearly temperamentai.
Sectional politics. Of course enters into the equa-
ton, but we do not think that it fixes it, As an
instance, Northern and Western Democrats do
practically As well in obtaining funds for their
States and Districts as their Republican fellows.
Southern Republican Congressman, in spite of
the politics which would influence action in Civ
ing them pork" as a object lesson, fare prac-
tcally as badly their Democratic colleagues
from Southern States. This can mean nothing less
than that, in perhaps subconscious Difference to
the principles of their constituents. Southern
repro sentatives hold more or less strongly the
ideal of service to the nation. as contrasted with
that of solicitors of aims for their particular
sections. In making such demands upon the
basis of reason and justice in refusing to ask the
Earth in the nope of getting deed for quarter
section, in the rejection of trades whereby in
return for support for unworthy measures for
other sections. they can attach their own to the
siphon by which the public swill barrel is
emptied, Southern representatives display want
Of practical politics that leaves the South with
no capital beyond its own resource and independ.
ence but which is, for all that, the one point of
light in an otherwise entirely cynical situation.
Of course. the South needs the money-needs
it more badly than any other section. Needs
it for drainage. Needs it for forest reservations
Needs 1t in vast volume for waterways Needs
| it for the development of waterpowers. Needs
Iit for roads. Needs it for hundred other pur-
poses through which industry may be fostered
and trade and commerce encouraged. Of course
the South pays more than any other section. in
proportion to return OF course it is exploited and
of course the insidious cry follows upon ts wants
that its adherence to WORKOUT principle is the
cause of its poverty OF governmental assistance