The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-18
UNW-isE RoTATIuS.

U
When the General Assembly meets
N 1912 the seats OF several OF the
ubest AMI most efficient members viii
be vacant. not because or their Doliti-
cal defeat, but by reason Of {, most
arbitrary and unjust system winch
obtains III some districts. This system
is that of rotation Of counties in Sc
ltcunE Delegates and Scnators--a plan
whereby tho counties alternate in be-
Ing REPRESENTED in the upper ana lover
houses
The present situation in the twelfth
Senatorial District Illustrates the
working OF this system This district
!s composed Of Clarke Page and War
ren counties. Senator Parks. who g.
from Page county viii not oncr
asain ana now il is claimed that tile
next Senator should be from Clarke.
In the last election, Clarke cast 5l7
votes, Fase SOL and Warren ;Ge. By
the working Of this system of rotation.
| therefore. abou, 500 voters would
choose a Senator for 400 other
$3.50 !" " no Woulu nave nothing o do
but cast their ballots for the candidate
from the county whose turn it was
70 nominate. This despite the fact
,hat tile district. not the county. is tic
unit for senatorial election This con-
crete instance is simply Singled on.
ior liiustra ton. for we are not nc
puaintcd with the candidates in the
Twelfth District. ana have no interest
III he candidacy OF any man
iris system. let 1t be noted obtains
| only iii some Of the districts notablv
in those composed Of u large n,lmbor
OF counties. In instances where ono
county or city composcs the district
the question. OF course does not arise
/ The Fifth District does not use inns
system. though IL is made IN Of four.
| eouh'ieS ior Bland county tho other
Gay nominated Judge Martin Williams.
| OF Giles. ioi the Senate. There was no
| question as TO rotation. the Demo
Gratis simply chose the man whom thcv
! considered best. regardless of county
i lines or local considerations. Ihat
7
! the principle OF rotation In Office
IS one in Which we nave firm belief
| in 50 Tar as it applies to idnciary
! offices or positions where the oflice
may be manipulated in such way as
| TO bring about malreasancc in Once
| for the personal ends OF the incumbent,
There might arise eases in which il
J would be PROPER to invoke the princi-
/ PIC OF rotation in oilicc against leg
,Asiaio:s' but as a genera proposition,
! . sood legislator should be allowed
\ to continue in oiiscc 50 long as he per-
forms liis duties fully and faIthrulIy.
4, legislative experience ana Legislative
wisdom arc valuable assets Tor u rep
lresentaHVc, and a county or district
is better served by man VINO Ina !
4 had more TRAN ono term than 81 a
man who has had only one The case
OF senator Ward. Of Winchester. IS il
point nc served but one term, Isl
tablishing his record as Il faithrul
ana efficient legislator. who woula
bring Valuanlo experience ana KNOW
it'NSc ~ d SECOND tcrin, Yet he has
Voluntarily submitted 10 The custom
OF rotation obtaining in his district.
ana VIII not be candidate for re
election Several other senators have
done likewise. such . situation should
not he permitted 10 exist under any
effective government
IT IS AGAINST tho experience Of gov
efnments ana against practical com.
mon sense to put good man out al
Legislative Office simply because ii i,
the turn OF some county other thar
me ono in which he lives TO nominate
Under such syaem minority ma,
. impose on a majority 10 the extent o,
puttins q man into Office VINO IL no,
acceptable 10 the majority. mus Il
i bsnd the majority IS distinctly al
obnoMovsiy IN Democratic
] This syatcm Of county rotation /.
! t'c soiectimi .; legislators is no
founded in right or reason. Ii one,
il operates agains; good government an,
Q WORKS Injustice on frItLt,,, .xS .o,