The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-05
RIAL practical POLITICS.

IA z7st-vr7o1g t-uo-s -5r=rd II Richmond yes
ttrdag
rhcse IS nothing uow les. t. ao. So lar Us ~
daous tas citizens Who ought TO be able &c
vote 10 qualifs to dc so. The books are closed
Tho ee6J0Tat5 IS 51ed- Il "a nov mn 70 so
ov many Of those WHO have tae right 10 eSeg-
slse- the.e suffrage alag themselves OF that
right.
A. TIT rerrHt reaite5 itnattte primary although
there was an unusually large vote. some two
thousand of more Of Richmoa4's citizens. The
majority Of whom were Democrats. did not taee
She few minutes time necessary 20 cast their
ballots and play their parts as units in the
government OF the city,
In the coming primary Tor the selection Of
tpe nominees who viii afterwards be elected to
compose the Administrative Board uc success
or failure of the Board Itself the fate a good
end efficient city administration. will very
largely depend upon the question Of whether
the Individual stay-away can Jolt his civic lassl-
trde sufficiently to send him to the polls
II is humiliating fact that large number.
81 not the great majority. Of these disciples Of
iais~ez-faire are the very men whose every in
terest should most strongly urge them to take
Practical part In matters affecting the good OF
the city Many OF them are men of property.
who are giging over their property, which is
the basis OF city revenue. to be used by men
who have property. Many OF them are
business men, whose prosperity depends in
in VII oh Pj
matters are conducted, who leaving that
prosperity to the chances OF a primary whose
result ia determined by men who have no bust
ness. Many or them are men who take that
sort Of left-handed interest in municipal mat
ters which confines itself to criticism and neg
lccts to exert itself in any constructive act.
Over against this class of political absenteea
Is set another class of political Johnnies on-the-
spot The army of city employees is composed
OF men who will go without meat until they are
qualified to vote. These men know the value
O. ballot it has relation to job. They
are practical politicians. They make capital Of
their snt1rage. When L comes TO voting they
are neither negligent, nor uncertain as TO what
they are voting for. If need he. each one of
titese bssllosss,eaa Kill Ae baot Of the most nse-
fol and Intelligent citizen in Richmond.
over against the class of men whose votes
should be cast In the interest OF modern city
government and It clean and efficient and eco-
nomical administration Of city affairs is set 4
class OF voters OF the special interest OF the
vhiskey traffic. They too,-proprietors, bar
frcperz, trim f-rr-tt:, etfff1ath42ers= know the
value Of "A ballot. They know how 10 vote, and
what they are going to vote for. and why They.
a7S3 Gre pgaegfcat 3ortIc,ans, MO MAKE capital
o. their suffrage II need be- each one OF these
ballots can kin the ballot of that citizen OF
Richmond most Interested in good morals and
tie strict enforcement OF the law.
Does ii ever occur to YOU. Mr.. Business Man,
Mr. Capitals Mr.. Property owner, Mr. Moral
Citizen, thar 5lle your vote. if you east it. win
= CANAL nntAise~ ga iIst the vote Of the nrotes-
s,onal politician aud the man who votes his
special interest, 1t will count for two votes less
than nothing if YOU fail to cast it?
If you vote, you kn vote Of practical
politician. in all probability.
OF course. be kills yours,
Bat, If you fan to vote his vote counts for
two.
There are those who for selashTreasona see
d il that the city employees, sneir friends the
ghiskey men, their employees and their friends,
20 10 the polls on the days Of the primaries.
In the light Of this fact even the simple In
iiinct Of self-preseryation should suggest to
business men to themselves 70 to the polls and
without attempting any form OF political coer-
.ion, see that their employees do likewise. Ey-,
cry business and industry in Richmond de-
Ponds for It's success more or less upon the
manner in which the city Is Administered 10
,aye IT administered rightly. tt is necessary
nat every business man, and every cmploye
Who has a proper pride and interest In the bust
iess OF his employer, should not fail 70 realize
.hat the first ana fundamental duty of his oc-
:upaton and his success is TO play ihe part Of
:i,lzen.
This attitude is the sort Of practical poll
ics' that counts
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