The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-12
ARE WE DREAMING

A new story from Washington makes
pinch ourselves to see whether we are awake or
merely dreaming. With doubled fists, like a
waking child, We rub our eyes to get the cob
webs out, for verify it seems hardly possible
that this can be true
Hearken. ye patriots, true and tried as we
recite the story that will cause your hearts to
swell with pride and will bring spontaneously
from your lips the praises worthily won by the
pure in heart who compose the Senate of the
United States
The Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections will report the House bill on publicity
of expenditures of candidates for Congress with
amendments giving broader scope to the bill
and giving larger guarantee of the purity of the
ballot
In the language of one of our immortal song
sters. Now wouldn't that jar YOU? Why this
sudden and thorough-going change of front?
What influences have been at work, what pres
has been brought to bear? The Senate.
shelterng within its fold certain animals who
arrived not by the door, but by such devious
paths to raise the question whether they are
lambs" or wolves; the Senate, that not so
long ago applied coat of whitewash to the
suspicious-looking credentials Of Brother Lori
mer; the Senate, that has for years resisted the
encroaching tide Of public opinion and appar-
/ emily adopted as its motto the words OF a dis
tinguished statesman of former days, THE
public be id" this Senate seems to have come
/ to repentance. to have experienced a change of
heart, and to have become immaculate as
| that one can almost hear the rustng of angels
wings and the plaintive strains OF golden harps
They propose-think of it, theyto safeguard
the ballot-box. to purify elections, and to make
it difficult for any to buy his way into
either branch of Congress.
There must be reason. To quote phrase
made classic by the widespread advertising
campaign of a celebrated eerealmaker There
Is reason" If are sufficiently recovered
from this sudden shock to assure clarity OF
vision and saneness in all the mental processes
it may not be difficult to discover the explana
ton.
The idea suggests itself that the bill does not
contemplate the investigation of past elections
but proposes to protect future elections, and
this suggests the further thought that it is easy
to recommend the adoption of bill If the tense
is all right Perish the thought, We must view
this situation not only with intelligence but the
charity that "thinketh no evil" Let us not
} suppose for moment that any man in that
| honorable body would object to a scrutiny Of
} his past blaze of light fierce as ever bea
upon a throne would be gladly welcomed No
, it is the consciousness of the integrity OF tht
Senate, kept involate for all these years tn,
sense of sanctity that stirs the breast of these
; Immaculate saints: the blazing passion to keeI
the halls of legislation free from faint sus
picion and make them truly representative o
the highest ideals and principles of the Amer
lean people; this and this alone dear friends
has moved us
4 To be perfectly frank--and this has long beer
the policy of statesmen, to be frank and t.
use franks-it may be that the voice of the PEG
ple has strengthened the gentlemen just a bit
Moral sympathy and support in times OF stress
and strain is very helpful. A fierce battle has
been waged with unholy alliances and unscru
pulous interests in their determination to plaos
representation in the halls Of legislation. 1t has
demanded all the moral resources of our brave
senators TO resist. Now and then they seem t.
have wavered just bit Perhaps 1t might
have been impossible for this noble little bant
of Thebans and Thespians to have long with
stood the fierce assaults of the Xerxes of preda
tory wealth and monopolistic interest, had Il
not been for the cheering and rallying cries O
the populace. While giving the Senate commit
, tee all due credit and honor in their defense O
this Thermopylae of the peoples liberties al
the same there Is suspicion-whsper it--tha
the demands of those same people helped then
right smart" In their heroic stand
At any rate, the committee is going to repor
bill demanding broad publicity in the matter
4 Of candidates expenditures and attempting Il
, safeguard the purity of the ballotbox Ths
Senate will pass 1t. the people will know thu
reason why.