The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-27
'SH|P Of STATE
WITHOUT A PILOT
VIRGINIA. For FIRST TIME IN rr0
HISTORY, HAS NO EXECUTIVE
HEAD,
AT MERCY OF INVADERS
ATTORNEY GENERAL AT SEA.
CAPITOL FORCE PUTS THE
BURDEN ON SECRETARY
BEN p. OWEN.

Tell It not in Gath and publish u
not in AscaIon.
II 1t should leak out abroad there's
.etiths -~ssat-f,ssst happen. There's
the envious old State of North Caro-
lima on the south claiming everything
in sight from Bethel to AppomAttox.
-rrd ready to pick a quarrel Whenever
Virginia gets a new pair OF shoes or
new gown. and West, Virginia ON
the other side only waiting the OPP
portunity TO annex its better half.
With these stealthy enemies stalking
abroad and lurking in the shadows
1t behooves the Old Dominion to be
cautious in Its moves
But the truth must be whispered
among US. serious ss it Is and woe
full the anxiety 1t may cause. Fact
IL, the great ship OF state of Virginia
is fonndering around helplessiy with
no pilot at the wheel. not painted
ship upon painted ocean" but
twentieth century liner, rudderleAS
and helpless.
Who IL Governor
For the first time In its history. per-
haps the great Commonwealth OF
Virginia is absolutely without a head
without an executive at the throt-
tie of the machinery Of state--and
any one of these intricate cogs may
slip, putting tho ~hele plant cut OF
com mi ssfon, and there Ia no master
hand to adlnst 1t.
Governor. William Hodges Mann.
the pilot OF the ship Of state. II in
Baltimore. attending the convention
Lieutenant Governor J. Taylor Elly-
son, ditto. President Pro ITEM OF this
Senate Echols has deserted thA claAsio
shades of his home In Augusta. coun-
Fa 10 vSA nntyt. kAF R4Nhs
ard Evelyn Byrd, Of the house ef rep
resentativeA b making his temporary
abode In the MonHnaental City. and
last. though by no means least, Sec
rotary Of the Commonwealth James
has yielded TO the seductive call OF
the Democratic convention. Attor-
ney-General Williams is holding the
fort. Is he governor or tn he not?
He declines to commit himself. II he
Is not who is? Echo answers who
The constitution of Virginia goes
no further than to transmit execu-
tive power to the lieutenant-gover-
nor in the absence or disability OF
the chief executive. Following Fed
eral precedence the power would
descend to the president pro-tempore
OF the senate and thence to the cabinet
officers, beginning with tho secretary
of state and on down TO the chief
Justice Of the Supreme court. On
down. in the present momentous In
stance, taken Il to the attorney-xen-
eral. and no declines TO say whether
he thinks he Is expected TO shoulder
the onerous burden.
Can Governor Mann Act
Can the governor Of Virginia issue
proclamation. gran a paroon "
honor requisition papers offictaily. as
the governor of Virginia when ne 10
in another State Could he call out
the militia to suppress a rebellion or
repel an invasfon--ano invaAon
menaces on every side-when he 10
beyond his own bailtwick? Again tbs
attorney-generai refuses 10 commit
himself II the governor pArfomed
any of these functions while out OF
the State, his official acts might %
overthrown In the court OF last TO-
sort and the Commonwealth OF var.
ginia involved again in civil war"
fare. Suppose. for instance, the pres
ent was harvest time. Thsnksgving
Dav might come and 50, and WITH
out the otf,cial proclamation of the
official governor the people OF tho
commonwealth would have to DO
without turkey and pumpkin pies.
They would have no official right 70
observe the occasion and might %
cast into prison for their presump"
ton.
See Governor Owen.
The situation Is serious. 1t was
the sole topic of discussion around
the capitol yesterday. The hom g
faithful State time-servers reAIixeo
that something must be done to pre-
serve the dignity Of the Common
wealth and after quiet. orderly q.
change OF Views the matter 7m1nsfsu
down, Il, enc ,idea--aecrefary Ben, r
owen is the logical man to save tne
situation. and forthwith they elected
him governor. He knows the fopee
and they do say. ne can sign tne euv-
Iernor's signature better than the
governor can sign It himself. and
taking it by and large. there's NO
other way out OF 1t, and the fact -
IFS pretty good. way after All.
so-for the present--it's 0ovsfner
owen. IL you please. And II you are
In the pen for any devfimens ana
want to get out or II you are out ana
want TO get in: or II you want the Vr-
einia volunteers called out to down
North Carolina or West virginia. or
any other little matter attended 20.
please see Governor Owen. And don.t
let on that there II any trouble ~ ~
because Governor Owen can nanois
the shin Of state In good shape: Nc
is an accomplished mariner and
there's no use publishing your trouo'ss
81 tba world