The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-28

: Il
ling to spend tint much for each vote t'5
so secured to hii,1acif, The treasurer
Gun prevent the listing OF many OF Z his
lsopponciits By going off on trips "a at the
fright time or by otherwise absenting
himself The case is clear; tho tresis-
lsurer, with his machinery of8otiice and
his power and his supporters, against
l.his ,inequipped and slngle-handed OPP
ponente What a vast power this puts
Into the hands of the corrupt treasu-
Irer!
The possibility Of an ONCE holders
machine is thus brought out by Spe X
er Byrd: I'll s s3
| ITO permit, under the suffrage res
aiirements offthe present Constitution,
n treasurer to succeed himself tndeil-1
nitely means the creation OF self
perpetuating oligarchy of ofiice-r old-
iers, based upon the extraordi mary pow
er OF the treasurers. Politicians would
league with the treasurers and create
machines which only popular re olu-s
tion could destroy. j
And vet the advocates Of these pro-
posed amendments have laughed al the
idea of combination of the office
holders, have poch-poohed the thought
that the people would ever have any
trouble ousting despotic treasurer!
| AS to commissioners of the revenue,l
Speaker Byrd feels that whether they
|, are elected by the people or chosen by
Judges, they will be controlled largely
by local conditions, which cannot be
lremedied until the commission
| ers are subordinated to some
State authority and control Any
way, the amendments affecting
treasurers and commissioners are In.
I5scparably bound together. ana must
rise or fall together.
Finally, declares Speaker Byrd, he
menace of, this proposed amendment is
ESQ apparent, It's possibilities of evil so
great, that would rather see all the
amendments defeated than run the risk
of its adoption by an advocacy OF any
lof the others That is precisely the
position upon which the leading daily
newspapers and a great number OF the
y
have agrecd--that though some Of the
changes be n1eritorious, 1t is the better
part of wisdom to defeat all, lest the
evil survive.
/ Here is clearly established the fact
4 that pcrpetuation of the streasurers In
Ioffice would in many cases build up
\ machine which would defeat the ex-
preston of the will of the people. The
treasurer can keep the people from
! depressing their will, because, by mas
!, nipulating his records and misusing his
| power, he can determine Just who and
Just how many the people" are, Just
lwhat "the people" Ga majority of whom
y ho will see to 1t are his friends) wish
In other. words by giving him unlimited
y tenure of Office, he can build up a ma.
chinegthat, as Speaker Byrd says, "only
La popular. revolution" could destroy
There are some treasurers who nigh
in power, but the numberof those yvhe
would is too great.
The strong position taken by Speak
u er. Byrd in this matter may Well b.
followed by other advocates Of some o
! these changes, rather than all OF them
& It would be a terrible mistake, TIL
y glaring political error of "a generation
now to pass these four proposed
: amendments. The bestowaI Of unlimited
3 tenure upon 6treasurers would be a fpo
-Elitical abomination, deliberate def
! ance Of the will of the people, and II
. order to defeat this foundation-stone O
"A great political oligarchy in Virginia
: we have faith that the people will, a
: the polls on November s. vote dowr
zach of the proposed changes.