The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-23
CLEAN UP TIE SECOND DISTRICT.


As The Iiyinaa has insisted from the be-
ginning Of the scandal, the situation III the
Second Congressional District is one OF State,
rather than District concern. The recent prl-
mary has resulted in charges that 70 to the very
roet of the question of the party honor. The
sore suggested affects. it Is true, Norfolk and
Portsmouth, primarily. the Second District pc
culiarly 1t no less affects the party a whole,
IS which this district is an integral part Grave
suspicion Of Second District methods having been
raised, the party in the State can clear lis own
skirts only by ovincing a stern determination te
discover fcarlesslv and inpartially the source
Of the corruption. The Second District must be
coanscd, regardless of individual fortunes, re-
gardless even Of immediate partisan advantage
la such crisis political expediency must give
way TO fundamental community decency.
1t was upon recognition of these facts that
the State Committee saw fit to order thorough
probe into the entire Second District situation
In doing So it bur expressed the mandate OF
the mass of the Democratic voters throughout
the State L bat gave an instrument TO the
determination Of Norfolk voters to go to the
bottom of the trouble, even il in doing they
disclosed an ovcrpowering srench. disintec
tant Is useless unless II touches the locus Of tn,
puss. If a knife is necessary, there ought 10 lt
no hesitation in running II deep as may b'
salntary.
The news from Norfolk that. no sooner hat
the plan Of the investigation been we'll outline,
than both side, 10 the particular controversy OK
hibited signs of panic. ought to put the State
on notice as to he seriousness and scope of tn,
trouble. To make any sort Of an effective in
-. IL Il L.. 1, ~
be full disclosure Of the registration books auC
what they contain That both contending fac
lions should hesitate to permit this disclosure
suggests a humiliatng condition of affairs. |
ought only to emphasize the necessity for turn
ing the light on what both sides seem to fear.
We consider il fortunate that the citizens com
lnaitee is composed Of men Of tough. moral fibre
IN demanding that the investigation really IN
sestigate, they show the purity and unseIhshnes
of their motive. They are for making things
clean, at whatever cost. They are for running
rhe probe To the seat of the disease. They show
that their action the action of men Of civic
virtue, careless in extremity Of partisan bias
or political hypocrisy. The time is distinct,
not for covering anything up. Distinctly it il
one for complete frank and fearless oppose o.
whatever corruption may be present to disgrac
the Second District Democracy In making tina
expose men and personal interests sink into sig
nihcance. In making ii the good of the part,
ought, indeed, 20 be considered, but it ought t
be considered primarily from the point of view
that It's good is To be advanced not by excuses, blu
by repentance, not by compromise but by rea
reform.
The subcommittee that in the face of the pro
tests Of both candidates declared its purpose t,
hand over the books to the citizens committe,
meets its responsibility in he right spirit, bu
in attempting to save the exposure of certain
private notations" il stops considerably short O
very pretty success. The poll books are publi
property and the citizens those chiefly con
cerned. The candidates are secondary factors
The end-the only real end--ot all the Turmoil
is that there shall be a of what appears more
and more clearly is an intoerable condition.
The people Of the State and OF the District
care we take it, comparatively little as to The
technical outcome Of the investigations The
wish To know the extent of the evil. They wisl
70 Tx, clearly as may be, the responsibility fol
the existence Of the evil. If, as a result botl
sides, instead Of only one side to the original
controversy, shall be tainted, there will be III
public loss. In that case, another and clear
primary may be held, fair vote may be taken
man can be put forward as the candidate Of
the Second District to whose nomination not tn.
shadow Of a suspicion can be attached
When the investigation shall have resulted il
putting forward for the suffrage Of the people .
man no named, he will be elected by the vote
Of enthusiastic Democrats. Unless it shall fur
nish candidate of this character, the Repub
Gcans can enter the Fall election buoyed with tn,
hope always present in the face of difgustec
and mortified opposition.