The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-04-08

ttlu anu ~ " ~ =
Vrsinian, m,t actively in politics
sign same.
AN ADDRESS TO THE DEMOCRATS
OF VIRGINIA.
Deplorable and indefensible party
conditions affecting the welfare OF
our State compel us to appeal to
you. We believe in a government
by ? .rty but not in a government 10
pa. y. We believe in party organi-
zati,n. but that it should be the
servant and not the master OF party
and tnat it should fairly and I'M
partially administer patty aftairs
giving equal right and opportunity
% every Democrat. and = falr ana
open field TO all who hOn0rably con
test for public favor.
BY the violation of thsse plain
Democratic principles our Democrat
/ ic organization has been transform
ed into the organ of faction. there
BY degenerating into a cabal, or ma
chine or ring. usurping and misus-
| ing party authority and undermining
the confidence of the people IN our
party and It's principles. Against
such abuses We invoke your aid and
patriotic condemnation.
A few officials holding high places
] g hn
Of the party by whose sufterahce
they hold place and power. have or
ganized within our party a secret
combination, commonly called ring
With the object OF filling the posi-
tions OF the party, as well as the
Offices of the people. with those on
~ who will DO the bid6Sng OF TINS
oligarchy. Submission to the orders
of these usurpers OF party eohtroi'
rather than patriotism ana ao'li'Y
and fidelity to the party ana the
Deopie. has become the chief quallll-
cation for office. thereby degrading
the public service into matter OF
mere incident. and tending TO keep
out of public life many OF the mos.
gifted and unselfish members OF
our party In the estimation ol
this cabal. it is now a crime against
party loyalty to seek popular FAVOR
or public place without first secur-
ling the consent of the ring, While II
boldly dictates policies without con-
shifting others having an equal
right TO determine them.
Popular rights and defences are
swept aside to secure this sinister
control. Laws to prevent the cor,
rupt payment of poll taxes ana
other illegal practices have been oO-
structed or defeated The mandate
of o,r constitution and the resoiu-
tion Of our state convention Tor the
enactment Of just such primary cleo
ton laws. so framed as to give poor,
est citizen an opportunity TO oile'
for office. and so safeguarded as
IN insure an honest election, nave
heen either coyertly or openly oPpos
"a thus leaving the people 10 the
tender mercies OF the crliiii'ai Hi'
nipulators of the ballot.
i In consequence of such coatemp.
of individual rights and neglect OF
public needs. it becomes hhpossioIs
10 know when an honest return Oi
our urinary election has been maue
and the moral sense OF the people
il shocked by revelations so revolt
ling that our State Democratic Com
mjttee is ashamed to publish the
facts upon which its verdict Is Dds-
Cd and the people are alarmed at
the eeeming impOssibility Of securlh
convictions therefor under the Ia" o
Potentially the seat OF our Sta'e
Capifol has been moved from hich-
mond 10 Washington. When iegis-
Iation is desired or opposed, or Whe.
onnointments TO office are favored
or disapproved. scant attention Is
shown TO the State Capitol, but the
Washington ring is at once souen'
as the author and finisher OF iesis
llation and administrator. nus
the ring control9 the springs anu
movers of government. But TINS
Difference or subservience OF the
legislative and executive depart
ments of our government 10 inc
ring is not the whole evil lot
as night follows day there must
soon follow the enfeeblement, anu
then the dependence of our Juuicldiy
WHY not? Has it not occurred
whereever this system OF pohtlcs
prevails. And are we stronger 'han
others? Disastrous will be the
end II we delude ourselves with such
fatal belief.
And not only are the offices OF
the people thus exploited, but new
offices are made and old ones are
multiplied, or their salaries increas-
ed. for the supple servants OF the
ring. Thus it picks the man ana
then makes place or pay for him.
Surely. therefore, we need expert
fence no surprise at the depletion OF
our treasury. But the greed OF TINS
ring is not satiated by such control
in public places. The ring Stealth
lv undermines every Democratic
official who will not give the coun-
tersign or password of the Tribe;
service and fidelity to his party are
unayailing, and he must bow down
to the ring or encounter its relent-
less hostility and persecution. Thus
spreads a baleful and seductive IN
fluence over our yOang men, VINO
soon realize that slavish obedience
to the will of the ring, rather than
LOYALTY TO conscience and country, Is
the only road to official preferment.
A monopoly in politics is more
disastrous than a monopoly in bust
ness. A trust of the office-hoiders
lis more fatal to liberty than a trust
lin products and merchandise Inc
ring is the clearing house OF the o.
lfice-holders of Virginia. with many
honorable exceptions. 1t strives TO
form these office-holders into an OF
fensive and defensive alliance,whose
object is the retention and extern
ton of official power Wherever the
ring has gained control Of local or
ganization. 1t names directly or in
directly every Judge of our primary
elections. Many Of these judges
are factional partisans and not infre-
quently they openly persuade the
l.oso-- H. xoIlfuor honofh Tins