The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-31
OPPOSE GOEIHAlS
FOR GOVERNOR

fContinued from First Page1
the man for the head of the civil gov
eminent shall be left to president
Wilson.
Immediately upon the reconvening
Of the senate Thursday the Democrats
will hold a caucus to determine what
nominations shall be confirmed ana
what shall be held up. This ques-
ton of patronage outranks all con.
sideration of what legislation shall
or shall not be enacted. and what
policy shall or shall not prevail II
Ia difficult to get senators to discuss
any Of the big propositions now be-
fore the party until they dispose OF
this subject of patronage. which. Tor
its political value as an asset is nos
to be ignored. BY the end OK the
week, doubtless. a complete program
viii be arranged. and then the night
r. executive session will be ordered TO
carry that program Into eject
In Control OF senate.
Progressive. Democratic leaders,
who viii Be In control OF the senate
after March 4th. finally have agreed
upon q tentative plan Of action that
spells the complete overthrow OF the
reactionary wing OF the party---the
faction that has guided the councils
a Democracy in the senate for many
hong years And which has worked
hand in hand with the reactionaries
Of the Republican party.
Instead Of following the time-hon-
creA custom OF selecting q chairman
Of the coucus and permitting that
chairman to designate the members
of the committee, on committees. THIS
caucus will elect its complete commit
tee on committees. That body Will
have charge OF filling the majority
places on all committees OF the sem
ate.
II is through committees as Wood
row Wilson once pointed out, I'm an
article written by him, that legfs-
lation is enacted, and the work OF
governing performed. The complexion
OF these committees. therefore, be-
comes Of vital question. This .on
mittee on committees. will see to IT
that the majority of the Democratic
membership Is composed of Progress
sives.
Seniority WIN Not Count.
The blight of seniority that for
more than a hundred years has bound
and shackied every new senator. no
matter how brilliant he might be, nor
how we'll fitted he might be to aid in
constructive legislation. is to be torn
out, root and branch. The Demvcra-
tic membership Of each committee To
to be authorized by the party caucus
to elect its own chairman. That
means revolution and ends forever
the alleged rights of seniority regard
less OF ability and fitness for cnair-
manship. II Is new system that
means the adoption of the theory that
the majority and not custom or ira
dition. shall rule In the senate COM
mittees. as they rule elsewhere.
When a chairman no longer u re-
eponsive to the win OF the people. the
committee can Gust him and elect
another in his place. This II popular
government in committee az well as
at the polls. and that Is the goal to-
wards which the Democratic progress
sives are working. 1t may cause
heartburnings. and political disap-
pointment to some: 1t win mean the
end of power to a small coterie Of
senator's, who through good luck have
served long years. but 1t will be a
return to first principles In Demo-
cYacy. and a magnificent example of
the application Of the doctrine of
the recall to which the party In It's
national platform Is committed.