The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-30
WILSON AND THE CONSERVATIVES.

WILSON AND THE CONSERVATIVES.
Answering our suggestion that he be
! more concrete in his statements as to
WILSON'S availability, Professor Dab
ney contributes to-day TO The Times
Dispatch 4 full and extended review
of the forces that are making for Will
son's nomination. and in so doing we
. think that Professor pRbney has made
very good case for his choice OF can
didates
But the race is not always 10 the
swift, even when the fleet footed call
themselves progressive Since 1876
the history OF presidential elections
has demonstrated that the ii!;ul balance
rests with the independent voter.
Sometimes that independence is de-
tbauched: at other times 1t is h1ndered
iiby passion or prejudice from a fair and
/, full expression OF unbiased opinion.
Such interplay OF forces existed when
(. the corruption fund OF lIannu was used
! in Illinois aud Indiana in 1896. or the
! corruption fund asked for President
mony of no less a person than Harrl-
man himself. TO turn $4,000 votes In
New York in 1904
Such examples As these inhamc, ana
Justly innamc, the Indignation Of those
y WHO arc able TO make their influence
effective only by the exercise OF reason
and character, and who see their efforts
and beliefs nuliiied by the mere brutal
weight OF money. Yet Republican
money did not elect Hayes in 1876. nor
defea, Cleveland in 1854 or 1897 nor
did lack OF money for the Democrats
defeat Bryan In 1900 or Parker In iaoi
or Bryan in 1905. 1t was tho power of
the Independent voter that carried the
country in each Of those elections. ana
at no time in the history OF this ma
ton have independent voters been as
numerous or as influential as to- day II
Will not do. therefore, 10 base an ar
sumcnt for availability solely Oh the
progressive independents Of the West.
There arc conservative independents of
the East as we'll, and these mus, be
considered and secured by any candi-
date who wishes TO be successful.
Now. 40 TO Governor Wilson. i; may
be said that Tho only serious objection
brought forward against him by
,houGhtful and patriotic men who arc
tempoyamentally conservative, no mat
ter which party they may belong to- is
the charge that Governor Wilson has
sblured his faith in representative
government by Following what Spea l5er
Richard f. BYRD cpigrammnticary dcs-
isnated the false gods OF referendum.
initiative and recall"
IS to the recall Of judges. Governor
Wilson has declared that he is opposed
to this theory and practice at all times
and under all conditions. AS to the
referendum. Speaker Byrd has himself
declared in favor OF legislation which
Will give 10 Virginia a referendum on
the matter OF S,nte wide prohibition,
and as to tho initiative. even such a
sturdy conservative as Oscar w Under
wood, though he stismatizcd the initi-
ativo as government by petition" mas
yet so far as we know. not raised ms
voice against the use OF tho Initiative
and the recall in the city of BirmInS
ham where both Of these measures arc
at prescn, giving entire satisfaction.
j seems. therefore, that il all de-
ncnds upon who uses tile terms militia
tive, referendum ana recall In one
mans mouth they are signs Of a Wise
and patriotic obedience 10 popular viii,
but whCr usoI Ia, o,o,l,1 - =,