The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-04
AFFAIRS OF PARTY RUN
BY FEW At WASHINGTON
Continued from First PAGE


this cabal. 1t Is now a crime against
party loyalty to seek popular favor
or public place without first securing
the consent Of the ring. while 1t bold
ly dictates policies without consult
ing others having an equal right to
determine them.
Popular rights and defeuses are
swept aside to secure this sinister
control. Laws TO prevent the cor
rup. payment Of poll taxes and other
illegal practices have been obstruct-
ed or defeated. The mandate of our
constitution and the resolution or our
State convention for the enactment OF
Just primary election laws, so framed
~ to give the poorest citizen an OPP
portunity to offer for Office. and 80
safeguarded as to tnsure an honest
election. have been either covertly or
openly opposed. thus leaving the peo-
pie TO the tender mercies OF the GRIM
inai manipulators Of the ballot.
In consequence Of such contempt Of
individual rights and neglect or pub
lie needs. II becomes impossible Il,
know when an honest return Of our
primary election has been made: and
the moral sense Of the people Is shock
ed by revelations 20 revolving that our
State Democratic committee Ia asham-
ed to publish the facts upon which
its verdict of guilty 10 based and the
people are alarmed at the seeming
impossibility of securing convictions
therefor under the law.
State Capital Now ut Washington.
Potentially the seat OF our State
capitol has been moved from Rich
mond to Washington. When legisla-
ton 10 desired or opposed. or when
= kUt ANAa nF7 N. rAA
disapproved scant attention 10 shown
to the State capitol. but the Washing
ton ring IL at once sought as the
author and fnisher Of legislation and
administration. Thus the ring controls
the spfinEs and powers OF govern
ment. But this Difference or subsef-
vtence OF the Legislative and execu-
tive departments OF our government
to the rfnk Is not the whole evil. for
as night follows day there must soon
follow the enfeeblemenI and then The
dependence OF our Judiciary. Why
not? Has II no; occurred wherever
this system of politics prevails? And
are we better spd stronger than
others? Disastrous will be the end II
we delude ourselves with such fatal
belief.
And not only are the Offices OF the
are made and old ones are multiplied,
or their salaries increased, for the sup
ple servants OF the ring. Thus 1T
picks the men. and then makes place
or paw for him. Surely. therefore. We
need experience no surprise at the de-
pletion Of our treasury. But the greed
OF this ring 10 not satiated by such
control In public places. The ring
stealthily undermines every Democratic
NNp s,fA - nfs ~ ssSsSt 1yny.
sisn or pass word OF the Tribe, ser
vice ard fidelity to his party are I'M
nvailins and he must bow down to
the ring. or encounter its relentless
hostility and prosecution. Thus spreads
baieful and seductive influence over
our young men, who soon realize that
slavish obedience to the will of the
ring. rather than loyalty to conscience
and country, 10 the only road to off,
cial preferment
Monopoly in Politics.
A monopoly in politics is more disas-
trous than a monopoly In business A
trust of the ONCE holders Is more IA
tai to liberty than trust In products
and merchandise. The ring is the
clearing house Of the office holders OF
Virginia. with many honorable excep
tions. 1t endeAvors to form these Of
fee holders into an offensive and de-
Ienclve alliance, whose OpJeCt - tnc
retention and extension OF ofilcial pow
err Wherever the ring has gained con-
troll Of the local organization, It names
directly or indirectly every Judge OF
our urinary elections. Many Of these
Judges are factional partisans. ana not
infreQuently they openly persuade the
voters at the polling booth. thus de-
stroyinx the confidence of our people
in the impartiality Of our primary
elections
SO Indignation among the people be-
comes fatigued: apathy and non quail
fication on for the ballot abound; cor
ruption in our primary elections in
creases: and, in q word. we are admin
istering a Democracy by an oligarchy.
Such methods are unworthy Of our
past history and destructive of popular
government. We demand return Of
the government 10 the people. We APP
peal for civic Righteousness. The Is
sue has passed beyond mere political
eXpediency. Despotism should no iOn-
ger be allowed to masquerade under
the name of organization. The people
should industriouslt investigate for
themselves They should organise to
secure fair play in their party. Just
and mighty waves Of Indignation are
sweeping away the bosses and ma
chimes and rings In both parties In
many OF the States. Shall Virginia
Withstand this refreshing tide ~ 1t
seeks to cleanse our; party? Virginia
10 stronk when the people rule; she 10
~A~ka rhAu tha ring fyslna. for the