The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-04-27
GET TIE REST MAN

lie three counti,s ale - one ano
Should get tie best Statesman TIE can,
regardless Of the county or part pi
count, he halls from. We should gel q
man liz enough 10 see the needs al me
peo,le throughout the three COUNTIES. 10
fsci throughout the state.
This Is an excerpt from etter re-
eejvei from q prominent citizen ~
one of the counties II Virginia. re-
Istirg To a political sGuabhie Is 70
Which County. in q certain district.
according to a supposed rotation
scheme. shall be represented H. Inc
Senate Of Virginia. The view If the
writer is one with which we are IN
full accord. Our correspondent takes
a most statesmanlike attitude IN the
matter and looks at II from view
point Of the real patriot. seeking The
greatest good for the greatest num-
Der Of people.
This system Of county rotation IS
wholly indefensible and Is only a clap
trap device and species Of buncombe
by which 10 gain votes from people
whose attitude in politics IS wholly
local. Ii is . great political erroi L.
establish any such system Of choos-
ing State Senators. While some
times the best man may be secured
in this way. there is sure to come
time. soon or late. when the people
will be yictimized 10y having folsted
upon them some man of mediocre
ability.
The rotation plan is wholly inde-
feasible and has no foundation IN
right or reason.
From the above and from many
similar statements which have come
to our notice it is evident that adj
vanced political thought and intelh-
gence is rebelling against the absurd
system of county rotation. which
happily now obtains in but lew Nlr-
ginia senatorial and legislative dis
tricts. but even in these few the peo-
pie should abolish this iniquitOus So
TEN. 1t cannot be upheld 10y reason,
logic or common sense. and is pro-
ductive of nothing but harm for the
districts which cling to il. Ii salts
fies county pride in many instances
only to sacrifice the material inter
ests of the county and ofttimes re-
moves capable representatives from
Office only to fill their places by IN
efficient ones. As we have taken Oc-
casion to say before. no legislative
district in this State which follows
this old moss-worn. Anticipated and
utterly unwise system Of rotation can
ever hope to see its Delegate or Sen
ator attain to that position of power
and influence in the legislative halls
at Richmond which is reached by
men representing districts where
such a system would be ridiculed.
Speaking of the effort to raise an
additional twelve thousand dollars in
Lynchburg by the WOman's College,
which there will be no difficulty in
doing, The Lynchburg News edltori.
ally says:
Each dormitory built, says Prosi-
dent Cunningham, of the Retail
Merchants Association, takes care of
100 students and each 100 students
represents more than $4,000 clear
profit to Lynchburg merchants each
year. In this conclusion DR.. Smith
concurs. So there you have it in nut
shell-the handsome money advan-
tage to be witnessed here as a result
of the present movement. Really we
do not think the case requires argu-
ment or comment. 1t is too plain
the strong righteousness thereof
too altogether palpable to admit of
extended discussion.
Each dormitory of 100 students
means $4,000 clear profit to Lynch
burg merchants says, the highest
commercial authority in that city.
1t means the same thing here to
Fredericksburg merchants in cOnnec-
ton with the State Normal School
and we hope the Council will proceed
to open street to the school with
out unnecessary delay. so that our
merchants can get this trade.