The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-11
VOTERS MUST SELECT.

Yesterday the books closed for the entry Of
candidates for the Administrative Board before
the Democratic Primary
We could wish that there were more candi-
dates than there are, that there were more
representatives in the list OF those energetic
business men whose achievements give the best
proof Of their fitness for Offices designed to
bring to pass revolution in civic practice in
The interest of efficiency and economy,
However. the candidates are named. the list
is closed, the choice is limited
What is the average citizen going to do and
by what standards is he to be guided in select
ing the men who will practically control the
future OF the city OF Richmond
Never was proposition more fairly put up
t. the decision of an electorate than this one
OF the selection OF Admin istratiye Board
For six months the public has been put on full
notice TO it's power, as 10 its possibilities for
good, as 10 the chance OF its becoming farce
that might set back the cause Of municipal
reform by generation 1t has been dinned
into the OF the people that in this contest
they will be voting not for one man or one set
1t depends solely upon the citizenship
Of, Richmond whether in operation it makes
good
We wish that We. had the power to impress
upon every citizen in this very real crisis the
duty OF impartial justice We wish that We
could make judgment run ice cold without
respect to Partially, without regard 10 per-
souai affiliations We wish tAat-wa- could i'm
pgess upon avsYy tvossr the,4dss thai tails Is not
Ia question of any one mans selection, or the
selection of any set of men but question of
whether the men selected are OF the calibre, the
quality the ability and the experience to give
Richmond square deal in it's earnest EFFORT
II put itself under business administration.
The theory OF the Administrative Board Ia
purely economic. but 1t must be put in prac-
tee by human and personal agents. Il IS there
fcre Of prime importance that the individual
voter nerve himself 10 forget eyer-pressing
preference and craftsmanship to the end of choos-
ing for the board those men who. for what
they have done and for what their records
promise. give best assurance of meeting the
requirements OF the positions they seek.
II Of the candidates good and bad strong
ard weak who are 10 come before this primary
tie voters of Richmond choose those men whom
reason dictates best qualified by temper
ament, experience and ability 10 fiji the posi-
tons for which they running, are
grine that the choice from the candidates in
the field will produce body which will be
credit 10 the city and which viii be found
capable OF meeting the purpose for which the
board was created
II, on the contrary ward politics political
rull. the hundred and Influences" which
may operate 20 give political strength. be per
mitted 70 divert the sober sense OF the voters.
we must trust in the face OF real effort at
reform; to pa+tsst ftrk in getting IT.
The question now is up to the voters No
one can really influence them. All that We can
say is to urge the vital Importance OF each man
a. this juncture influencing himself TO vote.
without malice aud beside friendship for the
good OF the city az whole.