The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-05
STICK TO THE MAIN ISSUE.

With the coming of the closing days of the
creasing and the candidates themselves
beginning to warm up to their work. Hther
to their canyassing has been devoid of Incl
dents calculated to cause feeling excite
ment. The campaign has dragged along
smoothly with little to ruffIe its calmness, but
from now on until the close 1t is probable
that energy will be displayed and that
the fireworks will longer be kept In con-
fnem Mt. Verbal pyrotechnics are to be ex-
pecteG and in the firing some may explode ac-
cording to rule while Others may hzzle out
ard drop weakly to the earth with a spiut-
ter.
Things will probably be said now with a
sting in them: personalities so long eschewed
will become an indulgence of some of the
candidates and attacks will be made on some
who not candidates. In fact these things
have begun and will increase with the near
approach of the fatal day.
Many things going to be said which bear
no relation to the question in ISSUE which
ia the seleetion of the five men BEST fitted
this should be is to be expected. 1t also should
be expected, probably. that some voters viii
be influenced by them. All who have the
best interests of the city at heart, however
should seek to ignore mere incidents. Minor
issues should not be allowed to play too great
q part In reaching decision IL the voters
will take care to select the five men !eet quail
EaA ip th.tr {pta tJ,a Via ~
will be governed by administrative board
that will give service for every dollar of pay
received and with interest
This Is a business matter and should be un-
dertaken in a business manner. The five direc,
tors OF the corporation OF the city of Rich
mond should be chosen for their qualifca-
tons and for their qualifications alone In
fAored by passion afd prejudice, unswayed by
incidents and ISSUES of minor Importance elm
mating the elements of friendship and dis
like not unged with distrust the voters should
7sFia:rt faFir tfcKes With an eye single to the
good Of the city. Stockholders of properly
conducted private business select directors be
eatise of thcir qualifications for the work TO be
done and the voters next Tuesday are stock.
s'>fNN'9 9t'"N"thS utSSioiS vi hieii puplfC DuSl-
ness, hey should be aetuated by the same
motives which sway them in selecting direc-
tors OF their banks and other corporations
Are these FIVE men for whom | am about
r. vote the men best qualified for the charac-
ter OF work to be done?" the voter should
ask himself and not lis this man friend of
mne?' or does he need the salary" or any
ri xaf fhar aF
often asked Charges made against this can
dsdate or thai foreign TO the fssHe and not af-
fecting character and fitness should not be
considered The heated words of one candi- /
date In speaking of another should be forgot I
ten. except insofar as they bear on the fitness i
Of the map speaking the man spoken of
Oftea these statements made in the heat OF the I
campaign are not applicable TO The case. If !
net fhss 'shoald bs a. it mol. spoken. It. i !
candidate make Wild statements that 20 to
show that he IL not possessed OF the seif-con- /
troll member OF the board should possess that +
fact should be taken into consideration. but
No res@r should BE- rertain that the words are
IA this character &,
I'M III other words Tesson the thing ont calmly
HNd cooly and vote accordingly II this be
sssens she city win be well represented for. the
Z aamoa ssnss q he people can - trusted. |
NJ