The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-21
MrnnylxG TIE WATER.

MGDDyISG TIE WATER.
There sre political cutucnshes in
Clay Ward. Just as there are In the
other wards, Their habitat is the
ward meeting Like the cuttIcfshcs
or tho sea, when scared or dIsmaycd
they eject something to mislead ana
hefoG hot air. They mu"k ana muddy
the water to Try TO Keep people off the
right path. Tho cuttlcrsh Of the sea
darts backward with amazing veloc-
ity," and some Of the politicians in
CLAY Ward did that Very thing Friday
night at the meeting of the Henry
Clay Club. The game Of these dbran-
chnte cophalopodous leaders is To run
In unfit and incompetent men for the
Administrative Board In grab bag
primary, so they oppose convention
TO nominate the Administrative Board.
saying. I'VE repudiatc any such thing.
1t is merely q trick OF the politicians to
60 back to the old rotten convention
days and 10 make deals against tho
interest OF the people," That Is n
political trick itself, SO old that the
good people OF Clay Ward will not be
misled by It, The politician who
charges that is like the man who cries
stop thief ana then grabs the bacon
ami runs with II home himself. The
very people who assert that the CON
vcntion is IL trick are tho trickstcrs
Themselves.
There are no better citizens IN Rich
mond than those of Clay Ward. The
Times-Dispatch believes that they viii
vote their convictions. but It earnestly,
trusts that such convictions will not
be based upon the demagogic poppy
sock that was looscd at the meeting
Friday night by certain narrow and
acheining politicians. The voters of
Clay Ward and the voters of the other
wards In this city arc after the best
men for trensn 7g yearly city bust
ness of more : ,;'i SScnD.GO 1t FOL
Vows inevitably mat IL ,hcy desire tho
bert men. they desire The best ,nethod
81 getting those men. Considering the
complicated situation brought about by
Ills election. the convention Is the ons s.
system which can be devised for ex
pressing tho VIII of n majority. Under
the primary system, IL minority cnn
usurp the rights OF the majority ana
elect the board in this case. The
Times Dispatch believes in the pcoplc
hnd II tho people could get together
'n some way and agree upon n t,ck.,i
tor the Administrative Board, tho dIf
dcuity would be cleared away. Tina
is an impossibility, however. The con
Neh'loh - the only way out OF IT: the
people send their agents to the con-
'enton and the agents represent tho
people. The convention does away with
minority rule. with cumbersome pro-
cedure allows feasibility, Judgment and
the exercise of wisdom.
The pe9pIe. havs- q right 10 con.
ren5ion They know that a canycn-
ton Is the only method by which ,b.v
can be guaranteed the 1--WE best mon
Ihcy know that The convention w,,,
nominate mcn acceptable 10 n moior,,,.
OF the electorate; they linow maj m.
convention would not dare do other
WISE The politicians ire afraiJ thot
& convention would nominate mon ~.
ncceptohle to them they fear tn, ,bo
convention would weigh common sons.
ana good Judgment more thap ,,ot 49,
ana DEMONSTRATING. The ward noIf,t.
c'ehs who raise such a mighty outcrv
snout the people" are the very o,os
VINO are trying to prevent the pcon,a
from getting the best pnvcrDmcn,
These rantn5 dcmagopncs wrh ,bo,.
smiling faces and ready hands to,,, :,
iot about The people" but thcy nm :
derftard AMONG ,hems ,l,cs tina, wba F.,
they want is mat the people shan III,
nave what the people want.
The men VINO indorse conyention
are among the most equitable. pat,io.
tic ana upright people Of Ricbmorn
Tho Opposition TO a convention !
largely composed OF q %, of w;lrd baoi.
efs and ward politician. who i, nj,
want the elty to Aoye good eovcrn.
mcnt.
Inc pcople "a Richmond arc no, 90.
Ing to Be fooled by antirony.n,Io,
triehsiers, whp are tsylns 10 hide ,b.!,
own trtcksry by niuddSng ,ho water
IwaGdie ana ,dmmyrot cannot lrse,
the people from listening 10 tn. yoj,.
Of their own experience ana q Jsdop
rather than q the orayjag Of dIs,nayc,
demagogucs
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