The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-22
PEOPLES FORUM

70 the Editor:
IN selecting members Of the adminst alive
board The quality that should be most sought
fer Is fidelity 10 principles, the adherence to
what knows to be right in spite Of inhU-
ciple. and sophistry for reason. Experience aud
familiarity with business methods and city af-
fairs while highly destrab BILE, count for little in
the right direction and may count for much in
the wrong. unless coupled with good Intentions
and moral courage, II Is well. therefore. 20 re
view the history Of candidates for the board
who, as public servants in the past, have had
opportunity To demonstrate. under the stress of
circumstances, how closely they will adhere to
the right under such conditions, and it is the
purpose OF this letter To call attention to one
occasion on which at least two of the candidates
now running for the administrative board eX-
hieited that fidelity to Justice as in the opinion
or the writer, entities them TO very favorable
consideration.
About year ago measure was before the
city council to permit the charging OF five
cent cash fare. with limited transfer prvi-
lege, the Northampton car line, an arrange
ment that would work rank injustice TO resi-
dents in the West End, and therefore was con-
trary to principle surrender to an arbitrary
demand. made as the price of furnishing proper
service. Al the beginning Of the controversy.
the writer interviewed two members OF the coun-
cil--one in the upper and one in the lower
body--who now candidates for the admins
trative board, and received from each one an
instantaneous and uueqniN ocal statement OF
their opposition TO such injustice. These
gentlemen We're MI Hohson and Mr.. Hirsnh-
berg. Neither one resided in the West End.
aud one at least. Mr.. Hohson. subiected
BY mis- social environment 10 considerable ntlu-
ence To surrender principle To the convenience
OF many Of his friends The measure never
reached the board Of aldermen, Mr. Hobson
had NOT the opportunity to register the vote
against It, which he would have done, but his
Influence against it, and MIR. H'rschber&
did vote and work against II, while there We're
those~~some even representing - the West
End-~who are candidates for the adm inistra~
tive board whose moral courage and fidelity TO
the real interests Of their constituents were not
equal TO the strain placed upon them bS special
Interests. were placed IN the balance and found
wanting
Now the question IS before not only the
voters Of the West End. but of the whole city
which If these two types of moral quality should
he trusted with the administration OF city af-
fairs, involving the expenditure Of So 400 900
Let the conscientious voters investigate the at
tttude of each candidate for the board who
was member Of the council year ago toward
this measure ut that time. and they Will find Il
true index to what their future attitude would
probably he when called to choose between
pot cy and principle
This IL written without the solicitation or
knowledge OF the gentlemen named ana with
only "a desire TO aid tn bringing true worth to
light. Patrick Henry said he knew no way to
judge the future but by the past One act Of
righteousness is worth more than whole reams
OF protestaitou Respectfully,
W. J. TtfCkE En-