The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-10
INVESTIGATE THE SECOND DISTRICT!

INNESIlGA The SECOND DlSI XIII!
The State Committee will have on next Tues.
day night great opportunity to provide for
thorough probing of the scandal attending the
result of the Congressional primary in the Sec
gond District. The Democracy of the State at
large il deeply concerned in the purity Of party
primaries everywhere in the State; the State
Ccmmittee in the face of the charges, not only
brought by Maynard but suggested by the press
and laid by public sentiment in and about Nor
folk, viii, we think. adopt dangerous course
unless it determines To make them the subject OF
the fullest and freest and most impartial in
Svestigation. Reproach having been cast upon
party methods in general such an investigation
Is due the State Democracy upon a principle
above and beyond the interests of either Of the
contesting parties to the primary itself To leave
SA situation full Of Suspicion untouched IL to
prove callous 10 the imputation of dishonor II
il to invite retaliation ON the par. of the peo-
Nj pie which will be all the more swift aud certain
because it will necessarily be blind
i Notwithstanding the fact that the conditions
1 Ia The Second District are such as cannot be
renledied without the most ,Inhinching and UNI
sparing turning of the light, Mr.. Maynard's
position upon his appeal 10 the State Committee
il much more certain than that occupied by him
when he made appeal to the District Committee
Having alleged that his defeat had been brought
about by frauds committed by 'the machine,
\ there was q show of reason in his contention
that, from his point of view, he could not expect
Impartial treatment from the Committee which
he alleged was part and parcel of the machine.
But even taking his contention at its face value,
his course in refusing to abide by the decision
pf the District Committee, subject TO his right
a0f appeal, was unjustited. on account of that
very right of appeal itself. Now that he has
come before the body representative of the De
mocracy of the State at large, Mr. Maynard will
lie inexcusable if he shall refuse to adopt the at
aitude of any petitioner who enters court of
equity He must stand or fall by his own CON
tention. He cannot utilize and defy the party
authority at the same time. He cannot in con-
science hope to enter upon trial of his claims with
! the privilege Of winning all or losing nothing.
! In coming before the State Committee, Mr.. May
nard nvokes the action in his behalf of body
which cannot be accused Of bias so far as the
Norfolk conditions are concerned. lie stands as
pleader before the high court of the party i'll
the State, He must, to maintain his standing
as lltgant, have the respect for the court which
every must give who asks the aid Of the court.
For these it is TO be expected that be-
4 fore it will recognize Mr.. Maynard as a con-
testant. the State Committee will require of him
statement of Difference To its decision. Without
1 such statement the Committee could scarcely
preserve its dignity the court Of arbitration
b within the party. Unless he makes this reason
4 able concession. Mr., Maynard is eliminated from,
the Second District contest and in that event he
will have eliminated himself.
But however the may resolve itself as
touching the contentious of Messrs Young and
4 Maynard il will still be open TO the Committee
10 investigate upon its own initiative. 1t will
still he optn to II 10 put Second District methods
to the test of fairness and honor IT will still be
competent for it TO ascertain whether dishonor
Il has been brought upon the party. And in the
n event that fraud shall be shown ii will be com.
petent for the committee to show to the world that
the Virginia Democracy is not slow to punish
even to the extent of gaining the evidence and
i presenting it TO the grand jury, the criminals
y whose methods tend to corrupt and bring into
contempt its party procedure.
Roosevelt, with his facility for expressing d
h purpose upon which he is not always quick tc
act, recently said that he would take just lit
D tle more pleasure in furnishing crook, when thu
d crook happened to bs member of his own party
n If investigation shows that there are Democratic
crooks in the Second District, the Democracy Of
1.-The State owes it 10 itself to see that they are
I brought for punishment before The criminal
Il courts as common criminals.
A NEW ANGLE OF HEROISM.