The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-03
TURN ON THE LIGHT,

In refusing to investigate the charges of fraud
la connection with the recent Democratic prm
airy in the Second Congressional District, the
district committee simply leaves the party and
Its candidate open to continuing hurtful
picien. The charges of wrong doing in connec-
ton with the conduct of the primary were so
numerous, the irregularities at several precincts
SO open to question, that the situation was one
carrying challenge to the honor and integrity
Of the party itself To leave these circumstances
rnprohed is inferentially TO admit their justi-
location. To send candidate before the people
20 hampered is to mperil his election. If Mr..
Young's nomination came TO him as the result of
fraudulent irregularities, it should have been
revoked; if it came to him honestly, it was due
him III common justice that tho fact be estab-
lished.
In the case of Mr. MAYNARD he seems to have
deliberately established an embarrassing situ-
aEion. When he became a candidate before II
Democratic primary, it was upon the assumption
that he would consent to the arbitrament of the
party voters and the party tribunals. Having
charged fraud and come before party COM
inittee with his charges, he should have submitted
Ills case to their hands subject to his right of ap-
peal to the higher party authority. In seeking
The aid OF party court To try his contention
The while announcing that he would not abide Il
result unfavorabIe to himself, Mr. Maynard not
MY held the party i'll contempt, but cast re-
lection upon himself. If his respect for the
PARTY is confined to the limits indicated by his
4ction when before the committee, he ought never
70 have entered the primary. No man deserves
he party support who Is not willing 10 submit
his candidacy to party dclslon.
In these circumstances, the District Com
anittee did the natural and human thing in re-
using to investigate Mr.. Maynard's case unless
se agreed to abide their verdict. We think, how
yer, that under the very peculiar circumstances
hey did the hasty and unwise thing. The issue
involved more than the candidacy of either Mr..
Young or Mr.. Maynard. 1t involved the reputa-
lion of the party. 1t was due TO the rank and
Tile of the party, made naturally suspicious. that
he defeated candidate should be sustained in
his contention the victorious candidate vim
tlcated. Whatever the propriety or the lack of
II In Mr. Maynard's conduct, the Democratic
voters of the district are entitled to know as GER
fainly as may be whether the candidate for
whom they asked TO vote is tainted with fraud.
Second District politics has won an evil name
The fact that the party is involved, so far
4ipni causing d htSibhucNy ought 10 point the ne
cessity for the fullest and freest investigation
The party must be clean, and il must be known
that ii is clean. Otherwise it will become dirty
whether it is dirty already or not. And soon
or late corruption and fraud if permitted to re-
main or if it be permitted that they continue
10 be suspected. will find their harsh remedy in
larty defeat If the Second District has been
maligned, let the party get the benefit of the
established fact if it has been Justly accused ii
Il of even more Importance that the ma iority of
clean and honest voters should sec that it is
pnrged and purified.
The way to cure disease is To drive it out
instead of under cover. Nothing is bettered BY
keeping an abuse in hiding. Light ceanses
! Turn Oh the light.