Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-12-23
CONVENTION MOVE
kENT SU8SIDING,

The movement for q Democratic
State Convention has about petered
out, as we anticipated it would. The
prompt exposure of the fact that the
real purpose of the movement was to
commit the party to specific attitude
on the question of the proper regula-
tion Of the, liquor traffic has doubtless
wrought the desirable result just stated.
Pnhlic sentiment has not responded to
the artful appeals of the newspapers
which were clamoring for such a con-
vention. ard without public sentiment
no agitation can avail. The newspapers
may fill their columns with scare-heads,
loaded editorials of the most ingenious
conception and fervid appeals to the
people, but unless their motive appeals
to public sentiment their clam is in vain.
AS Kipling says of Tommy Atkins, we
may say Of the people THE people
are not blooming fools; you het the peo-
pie see. ."-Danville Register.
THE CONVENTION IDEA.
Henry Buletin.l
Spelling for fight within the party
always ready for a family row-cer-
tain machinophobisc papers Of the State
are trying to make the proposed State
convention n heated issue between the
so-called ''machine"-its alleged lead
ers, followers and henchmen-and the
'anti-machine" aggregation.
The Bulletin is not a machinophobiac
nor does it regard itself as supporter
of any Democratic machine" 1t sup
ported Mr.. Tucker very heartily for
Governor, Notwithstanding the nom
sensical output Of the Journal and one
or two other papers Of the State at
the time in regard to the machine"
Governor Swanson, the Rhea appoint
ment, etc., ad nauseam. Most of Mr..
Swanson's friends in this county and
town did likewise and the vote against
Mann in Henry county. a Swanson's
stronghold, was more than two to one.
1t looks now very much as though
Mr.. Tucker, through the influence of
the papers referred to, is about to lose
his hHad and is preparing to make
race for the senatorship on the .'holier-
than-thou" platform. 1t won't work.
1t has been tried before by others and
the people had sense enough to see
through it and vote it down.
BETTER GO SLOW.
Northampton Timesl
The Times is unterrifiedly democratic;
it Is therefore pro-convention, which is
to say anti-primary. We sorely miss
the old time convention, state and dis
tr;ct. when the clans gathered, touched
elbows. and received inspiration from
one another, and returned to their re-
spective battlefields with renewed
courage to do and dare for the party
veal; we yearn for the blessing that
comes of periodical communion around
the altar OF democratic faith and are
filed instead with loathing and disgust
at the miserable orgy which passes
under the polite tho altogether mislead-
ing cognomen, primary.
And so, perhaps, we favor the pro-
pos~d State Convention, with which
for some cause. our brothers of the
daily press are for the present filled.
Why this sudden hugh and cry for a
Convention7 Who, in other words, is
behind the mover
We don't somehow like to go at too
rapid q gate; it smacks rather too
strongly of the method of politicians
with an ulterior motive. Usually the
safer guide, is to 60 slow, and taken
altogether we like it best.
HAVE CHANGED FRONT.
/ Fairfax Herald.l
No greater misfortune could befall
the Democratic party of Virginia al
this time than to hold State Conven.
tion for the qualification of lot Of
political derelicts, who want to tell the
peoples representatives what to dc
and how they should vote on questions
that may come up for consideration
The people have selected their represen
tatives without regard to the views O,
wishes of the gentlemen who now Sc
eagerly tender their services in the mat
ter Of outlining the future policy of tn,
party. They 90 not want their advic.