The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-01
VOTE AND VOTE RIGHT.


Seventeen citizens OF Richmond are apply
ing TO their felow-citizens for position pay
ing $4,000 and In return for which they
promise to give its equivalent In service to
the city From these seventeen applicants
the qualified voters of Richmond. or those of
them who vote, viii chose ave,
These FIVE employees 70 be selected to serve
Richmond, for better or for worse for four
years, should be the best that can be chosen
from the list of candidates Offering for the
position Whether they are to be the best OF
the seventeen or the worst. whether they are
10 be OF mediocre ability. some good and
seine bad. depends upon the voters Of Rich
nlend They will chose and they can have
whom they wish.
The election OF Eve members of the ad-
ministrative board will take place on Septem
her Fer moHths-the seventeen eanai.a
dates have been in the public eye as candi-
dates For years before they were known to
the public az business men officials. Their
records have been laid open to all who cared
y To inspect them Their words and their deeds
are known to all men enough interested In the
smvafaee OF tAeir, city to make themselves &C
auainted with them. Various associations
haye helped disseminate knowledge about each
aad every one OF them.
To assert that the citizens OF Richmond,
knowing all these things. can select the best
i've men at the polls is but to state fact, the
denial OF which ia the denial of the ability of
the people to govern themselves Able to Sc
leet the Ave best men, failure to do so VIII
argue almost criminal indifference. The peo-
pie of Richmond have no right to name ineffi-
cent men as members of the new administra-
tive board The success of the new board de-
y ponds upon the selection of good men. The
future prosperity OF Richmond depends upon
the selection of good men. Richmond Is be-
ginning an onward march unequaled in the
history OF the city The relationship between
good government and the prosperity of a city
8 is so close as to be almost inseparable.
Every voter who believes these things. and
he cannot we'll disbeiieve them. will be most
negligent OF his duties az citizen II he do
nos go to the potts and vote. Every qualified
voter in the city of Richmond should east a
ballot ON September 10th He should cast it
n the light OF his knowledge of the qualifca-
tions OF the candidates. Personal friendship
prejudice for or against, lack of non-essentials
and other influences should not be allowed to
bear. Vote and vote for the best men honest.
ly and conscentiousiy.
Indifference to the duties OF the ballot is
one OF the curses of democracy. The men who
keep away from the polls are bad citizens to a
degree determined by the Importance OF the
election This election is the most important
held in Richmond IN years. Attention has
been focused upon the candidates and good
work done by many organizations In arousing
the interest OF the people. That interest is as
great as It is speaks we'll for the civic con-
I science OF the people OF Richmond In this
work the Citizens Association has been OF
great help They have brought about more
diiigent inquiry into the qualifications Of the
1'saHatssates for the ofhccs which they seek,
Whether or not the Ave men It Is supporting
are chosen the organization has accomplished
good
The activities Of this and the other citizen
organization have increased interest 1t 10 to
be hoped that the largest vote In the history
Of the city will be cast showing that the citi-
xens of Richmond are not disposed to shIrk
their responsibilities