The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-15
THE GAME or THE OFFICE
- IIAl INISIlS

Much has been said Of late about the
office holding trust" in this Commons
wealth. Despite the fact that the Of
flee -holders have organized. many pro.
tests have gone up that they had no
special purpose in mind. These pro-
tests were hollow. The definite pur-
pose behind the organization of the
ottice-holders Is to secure the passage
of the two proposed amendments to
the Constitution affecting them. 1t is
just what a machine does-to perpet-
uate those in power who belong to it
To the Charlottesville Progress we
are indebted for our information as 20
the circular now being mailed from
the headquarters of the Treasurers'
and Commiss ioners' Association to each
treasurer and commissioner Of the
revenue in Virginia. Here is the CIR
cular:
"Buena Vista. Va.
September q, 1910.
Dear Sir:
Il. Try to get every precinct COM
mitteeman in line with you, and II
possible the judges and clerks Of cleo
ton.
80. Have two men besides friendly to
the amendments at each voting place
to quietly solicit the votes as they
come up to the polls. and when posi-
BILE have one from each party.
"3. Each treasurer should have print
ed a number of copies of the ballot, so
marked as to be guide to the vot-
ers in marking their tickets and a
sufficient number of those should be in
the hands of those who agree to assist
at the polls.
"A Ask every one you meet, regard
less of party, to vote for the amend
ments in which treasurers and COM
| missioners are Interested. The more
voters you get pledged to it In this
way, the less the danger of opposition
for the office, should the amendments
carry
IS. In having the guides printed, see
to 1t that the clauses affecting your
interests are printed in capitals. SO as
to draw attention and emphasize the
Importance of these amendments"
There it is-the avowed declaration
of the otliceholders that they are So
Ing to station their pickcts at every
ballot box in this State to persuade
the voters to vote for the changes, that
they are going to try to prejudice the
precinct committeeman and judges and
clerks of election In their favor. They
will even furnish guides to voting
Tammany could not have sent out
more comprehensive Instructions.
Mark you, tho instruction "Try to
get every precinct committeeman In
line with you, and If possible tho
judges and clerks of the election:" In
other words, get the precinct commits
teeman to use his influence with voters
in the neighborhood of the polls for
these amendments, and get the Judges
IN line so that when they assist voters
they VIII assist them to vote the right
way"
Mark you, the sentence: "The more
voters you get pledged to 1t in this
way the less the danger OF opposition
for the office, should the amendments
carry In other words, kill two birds
with one stone 1t is striking PROOF
of what we have contended all along
that these office holders amendments''
provide the instrument by which the
oftice-holders seek life tenure. .ISili
off opposition," aye, there's tho rub"
This is the spirit of the otiice-holder
wherever YOU find him. kill off OPP
position, prevent the operation OF the
Democratic principle of rotation IN
office. let me hold office until I die,
building up my personal machine more
and more powerfully every year,"
Are the people OF Virginia going to
stand for such a machine as this? Are
the office holders to be the only or
ganizcd body2 lf8the ottica-holders or
ganlze against the people, should not
tho people organize against the Office
holders?. The interests of the people
are pitted against the interests of the
office holders; the common good is ar
rayed against special privilege rs II
not time for the neople to assert them.