The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-22
pEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PARTY
LEADERS.


There is every reason that suitable and pro
per party machinery shall be maintained, that
the affairs Of the organization shall be conduct
ed decently and in order. There is no excuse
for the existence Of what. in popular parlance,
is termed a party machine
The legitimate use of party machinery may
be readily set out, There is nothing obscure
or complex in the subject. Those men who
have been named by q majority of the qualified
voters of the party TO constitute a board Of di
rectors. or, as We term II, a party Executive
Committee, are charged with the duty Of taking
such action as shall enable the party to declare
its principles and choose its candidates. The
Executive Committe is the agent. not of one
faction Of the party, If it be so that the party
Is divided into factions. but must represent the
whole party. II must take no action that shall
be dictated by a desire to help one member of
the party al the expense or hurt of another.
The power given a party Executive Committee
is of the same nature as that given a trustee,
who must so conduct the business in hand as
that ii shall be for the interests of all of the
benenciaries OF the trust alike.
i nc ItSlHOtEhtiC party EAfthtifS 1niiifAi4tNtfst
city. county and State. are the creatures Of the
Democratic voters. who select them, and if the
voters are careless or Indifferent. it lie not un-
likely that men may attain places on the party
directorate who may not have a proper concep
ton of the nature of the trust committed to
their keeping, and who may be guilty of such
abuse of their positions as shall convert the
,nr., 4xernr3. cn,u4.,c4n3 newt, .,aabtrnrV 4rto
a party machine.
We have no h~esitaucy in saying that machine
rule is destructive of political morality and Of
popular liberties. Where the people find them
selves governed by a body Of men who. instead
Of administering as a sacred trust the power
committed TO their hands. are using such power
for their own selfish. advancement and in a man
ner looking solely to a perpetuation of their rule.
the people owe it to themselves to scotch that
macine at the first opportunity.
Quayism In Pennsylvania entailed upon that
commonwealth two generations of political
scandal, from which the Keystone State has not
yet rallied. The rule OF the Cox machine in
the city of Cincinnati besmircbes the very er-
mine of the judiciary itself The rule Of Croker
III w " n " az a hhAAh- |%@ ~ > ~ 50
famous regime. Boss rule and machine control
are redolent of the stencil Of political corrup-
ton. They have no place in American politics,
In Virginia We must avoid the very appear
aHea Of this evil. All Democrats must have
fair. honest, above-board treatment in the pri-
maries and all candidates must have the same
treatment in the general elections.
Those who love Virginia want it to be so clean
are determined that it shall be- 80 ~pure-that
they may point to their State aud say. Behold
a Commonwealth where right rules where the
poorest mans rights have the same conaidera-
ton az those of the most wealthy-wbere the
blight of p%olit'ca corruption. the rule OF rum,
have been forever remoyed-whcre the Golden
Rule is the rule Of life. ushering in a Golden
Age. growing more glorious until the dawn of
the perfect day So mote it be,