The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-31
FIRES bR0kDsIDEE
At RING RULE"
Virginia Democratic League
Issues Resume of
Campaign
CLAIM ALL CHARGES
HAVE BEEN PROVED
Question Now Confronting
Commonwealth Moral as
Well as Political One Ar
CUES Appeal to Voters

The Virginia Dem ocratic League
last night Issued am address to the
Democrats OF Virginia giving re-
sumo Of the senatorial campaign TO
THIS time. and alleging that all and
more than the charges made IN the
preliminary address of the league Is
use last May have been demonstrated
10 be true. The mem bership OF the
league Is made Of leading anti
machine" people in ali parts OF the
State. Its officers are Or. Charles L.
Gravatt, president; John Garland Pol
lard, vice president, George Bryan,
secretary. and c. r. Garnet. general
manager.
The address is as follows;
TO our Fellow Democrats:
In our address to You in May last.
we alleged, that the offices Of this
State. from the highest to the lowest.
as We'll as most Of the local Offices.
had been controlled for years. 10 the
injury OF The State. by an untrust-
worthy and dictatorial cliquee or
ring" That fact being well known.
We appealed 20 you TO assist Us ia re-
deeming the State.
Not only was the fact well known.
but the vicious result Was well recog-
nized. II was manifest that il was
State. II amounted to a suppression
Of intellect, patriotism and conscience.
Instead Of being moved and guided
by pure and high am pttion to serve
thu State, the young men could only
take part In the public affairs Of the
state by suoserVieace TO tho VIII of
this ring"
II was useless to entertain any high
ideal OF serving the State fairly and
faithfully, for the test Of merit had
become obed!erea TO the bosses. and
not the approval CT the people and
ones conscience.
OF course we were met with the
snetrs and jetrs ct the ring and
their hangers on. at tho idea Of any
one having any higher principles than
those with which they commercia!ized
the politics of the State. The old
shout went up that there was no jus
tiiGation for the charge, and that our
earnest. honest appeal, against what
all men knew. was only cry Of the
outs against the "ins." They were
Indifferent to the fact the cry was
false. IL they could only accomplish
their purpose OF creating dlstrust
among the people and OF deadening
their Judgment. Yet il was evident
that many Of US were seeking no
office, many OF as desired 30 Office
and those amongst lis who held any
public office. performed its duties as
public servants. responsible to the
people and not as seryfto-s Of any ring
or boss.
Win-n Not shrink.
How stands the situation now The
response which we met from thous-
aads and thousands OF the earnest
patriotic, truth loving citizens OF this
% 1 81 ~ "a
than encouraging, for promises sac
cess. The result depends entirely
upon the individual judgment and
moral courage of each one OF the cit
| liens of this State, If each one will
not shrink from taking a stand upon
the SIDE OF truth and right because
/ of some fear that our netghbors vii
not also be courageous. We will Win
Aser Az. good government must De
I pend upon individual conscience and
/ individual courage.
The fight has been long and labor
/ ious. but unflinching. 1t has met moi
only with the sympathy of many al
You. but with your earnest and &C.
( tive assistance. Our chief difficult,
/ has been in the cities, while In then
We have found many thousands III
earnest men. ready and willing TO as
sist in the fight for a government by
the people, Yet We have also found
men, who. entrenched behind the cold
dead wall of what they term com
merclai interests have remained an.
moved even by record proof or wha,
! brought them face to face with a
moral question.
Again We ask. How stands the sit.
uation now? There is no longer an,
| hope in the cry that the charges resi-
/ upon mere rumor. Record proof has
fbeen produced both against Mr. Mar.
tin and Swanson. both as to failure
TO perform their public duties and 81.
to their subsequent denying tht
/ breach of trust and as to their at.
tempting TO hide the wrong
| Whoever dreamed that there woult
exist in this State such spectacle
as has been presented during thi,
campaign? Two candidates for the ar
! fees of United States Senators r.
have record proof produced agains
them OF wrong doing. of breaches o.
public trusts, and of either denials q
those breaches of trust or attempt Il
suppress knowledge of them by tn.
people. And who ever expected +,
sea that men. with such proof agains
them. would have the hardihood +,
ask support and endorsement from IN.
honest, truth loving people of tht
State.
Proof EnIarges Issues
This prAof has enlarged the issue
OF the campaign. 1t IL no longer tn.
general question whether ring O.
the people shall rule this State Their,
has been added to that important is
sue two, simpler, but more SPECIFIC
questions.
LIST. Whether or not each one o
them has not been proven to hav
been recreant To the public interest
entrusted to them,
I'd. Whether, II those charges b.
true. men who love their State an,
would guard its honor can vote I,
| endorse and reward them,
Thus we are face to face not onl
with a political question. but with ,
moral one, With no chance to avoi
that question. are we not face to fac
| with test of our own characters
There are but few men who woul,
advise their sons to tell falsehood
Are there many of us who, teaching
lC0atinued on Fifth Pagal