The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-29
THE POSITION OF THE RICHMOND NIR-
OMAN ON TIE sENAToRsInP CONTEST.

quotes TIE RscAHsoad ItHesDtsputch as autnor-
liz for the statement that The Richmond Virgin
~ win support senator Swanson for reelection,
and then on the hypothesis that The Times
Dispafch assertion is correct" II proceeds to
predict a split among the Anti-Saloon leaders,
When did The Ttmes.Dispatch become au-l
shorty as to the purpose of The Richmond Vir.
9snisaf When did ii ever fell to misrepresent
The Richmond Virginiant The TrginiancPiIot
knows that the only purpose The T,mes-Dis-
patch would ever have In referring to The Rich
M0Hd Vfrginian would be to try to misrepresent
il and to damage it. Why does The Vivoiaidn-
Pilot base any statement upon the hypothesis
that The Times-Dispatch would properly repre-
sent the purposes of The Richmond Piroinianf
IL looks as II The Virqimdal-Plot desired to give
currency to the assertion of The Times-Dispatch.
re Richmond Vtrginian some statement that
win indicate the position of this paper to be that
stated by The Times-Dispatchr Because moth
ing can be quoted to establish the truth of that
Statement
The position of The Richmond Fironson in
the senatorial contest is that of Fair Play to all
the candidates. All four men recognized to
be genuine, straight-out Democrats Every can
aidate is man OF ability. All of them are
strong speakers and active workers. Whichever
n men are elected. Virginia will be represented by
men OF intelligence and intellectual power. All
OF them have record of many years of public
U service. During their years of public service no
scandal has attached to any of them. They
stand well with their friends and neighbors for
\ personal integrity. All OF them have the right
To aspire to the position OF United States SEN
ator. 1t is an honorable office and worthy of any
mans ambition. The term of Office s six years.
and when the term OF office has expired the man
who has been holding the position has no inhe-
rent right to claim 1t again above any other citi-
N zen. The fact that Messrs. Martin and Swanson
are the present incumbents gives to them no
& and the former have right to claim that the
latter are treating them unfairly because they
are trying to secure the seBatorships for the next
term, and the latter have right to lay claim
to the position because the former have already
held the Office. 1t is fair contest between four
Democrats of good standing in the party, and
AL Democratic newspapers should stand for Fair
Play.
Unless something extraordinary and unexpect.
& I'd should occur. The Richmond VirgimiGn does
not expect to advocate the claims of any of the
candidates. The paper viii endeavor to give
fair reports OF the conduct OF the campaign and
i will publish within reasonable limits speeches or
matter which may be sent for publication. But
U Il does not now expect to be a partisan advocate
h ~ any one of the candidates
This does not mean that The Richmond vir-
g5ai0M will not discuss editorially the utteranoes
of the candidates and that it will not comment
y favorabiy or adversely upon those utterances. 1t
\ will certainly lament campaign Of personal
\ abuse and mud-sltnging. by whomever inaugu-
rated 1t will condemn attacks upon the person
" Atty OF the candidates unless such attacks indi-
\ cate that the person attacked Ia disqualified to
4 make an efncieDt and satisfactory servant of the
h artsr.
A mans personal qualification for efficient
e public service, his intelligence, his manners his
Y sincerity. his industry, should certainly all be
considered by the voter in casting his ballot. but
Il criticisms by opponent on any OF these points
y are likely to be resented more keeniy than any
II other criticism They are innammable in their
nature, and should be avoided as far as possible
Criticisms OF mans past record are entirely
proper. and may be of a negative as well an a
b positive character. Not simply what man has
dome, but what he has left undone, may be fairly
n considered by the voters, and criticisms OF past
A records should be given such weight as their
U lmpoFtance and accuracy may warrant
Criticisms of mans declared opinions on
q public questions absolutely proper, and il il
practically certain that all the candidates will
~ called upon TO state their position upon i'm
d portant questions.
4 A. 70 such matters TIC Richmond Viyoiasas,
d win feel itself free to comment freely and win
q apSrovs Or disapprove Of a candidates position
xsgnf6len Of the man involved. For example,
SA1euA any one OF the candidates declare that
~ would not agree to work for and vote for the
nnags Of the Miller-Curtis BILL The Richmond
Kt1dsscs would disapprove his position on that
len. and Try to show to its readers how i'm
sen1e y the doctrine Of State sovereignty and
"a g1 government the passage Of that measure