The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-05
REGARDS WEST AS
/. WILSON COUNTRY



Dewitt. a former Richmondcr who
lives now in Spokane. Wash, stated
his belief last night TO n reporter for,
| The Times Dispatch that should Tuft
run against Woodrow Wilson. the
normally Republican Western States
would swing into the Democrats
column. The Democrats OF the Pacific
Coast are enthusiastic for Wilson, said
Mr.. Dewitt. and will undoubtedIy send
delegates TO Baltimore instructed for
him. Roosevelt. with his radica!
policies has the entire sympathy of
the West, he thinks, Just as Taft once
had and has now lost.
We nave IL feeling out West" said
MI Dewitt, that Governor Wilson
will sweep the Baltimore convention
by storm. BY his pure Democratic
PRINCIPLES. his gcntlcmanly, disnificd
/ behavior and his wonderful power or
making people think, Governor Wilson
has won the esteem and confidence Vi
| tho Western people. We regard him
! as progressive. and such h. APP
pcals to the wde-awakc. progressive
spirit of the West. At the same time.
! he is sane
Strong for Wilson.
! al think am safe in saving that the
! Republican feeling out Nest lines up
the presidential possibilities in this
order: Roosevelt, first; Wilson, second:
Taft, third. The Democrats favor vii.
son. first; Roosevelt. second: and Taft.
| third The sentiment for Governor
| wilson is strong. that should he
have Taft as his opponent, lie would
undoubtedly sweep the West
The situation in regard to Roose-
vclts candidacy is about Ike this: In
| my state Of Washington, which IS in
dependent Republican. tho Governor Is
a stand-pat Republican. lust recently.
! on progressive Republican platform
Senator PoirdcXtar was elected over
throwing the stand-pat Republican
| machine. lie is tho most insurgcnt OF
| insurgents, and with La Toilette out
| OF the race. will swing his influence 10
| Roosevelt. Tho West Ia irreparabl,.
out of sympathy with Taft and lis
stand-pat policies
Father of Football star.
| MIR. Dewitt. who has been prnm!-
{, ncntly identified with the growth OF
| Spokane and it's political life. enjoys
| some celebrity as the father of Wal
lace H. Dewitt OF football FAM.
! whose mighty puntinS made pos siblc
another championship Cor Princeton
| last year. AIr. Dewitt is as thorough
| ly In touch with the nnc points VI
! football as college sophomore. ana
| has followed like tho greatest fan
! the brilliant career "f his athletic son.
f, Young Dewitt after years o, football
| fame In the West, broke into Eastern
limelight last year with his marvellous
kicking on the championship Prince
| ton eleven. He has two moro years
! Of football, with the prospects Of win
II 'ns still more fame
Turning from football 10 munjcipnl
affairs, Mi. Dewitt indorscd tho CON
mission plan Of government as worked
In Spokane and stated that he did not
believe Rohmond had gone far
enough in !ts revolt from the old
| Council system of rule.
Mr.. Dewitt, who lived in Richmond
under the old system. was actively in
terested IN the revolution of thu Spo-
kane municipal system. which was
changed from the unwicldy council TO
| commission plan. He was n ncmher OF
| tho famous old First Virginia Rcgi-
incnt when General Fit2hugh Lee was
the commander.
How II HcIpcd Spokane.
The trial OF commission government
in tho West has given unexpected sat
isfaction," he said SPOKANE suffered
for years under Just tho system that has
been used In Richmond. \ year ago
we overthrow the council plan and
adopted straight commission form of
government, with five commissioners
one of which is a Mayor with no VETO
power Notwithstand the fact that
the expenses of every department were
increased and city day laborers paid So
per diem, during the first four months
of commission gov eminent the city OF
Spokane was saved $4,000
One reason the commission system
works so beautifully in the West is be-
cause every Westerner wants to have
hand i'll his own government. Thar
were ninety-two candidates for the five
seats on the commission OF the 1--WE
elected two Were Republicans. one in
dependent Republican. one Democrat
and one Socialist. The members OF
this board arc paid salaries of 5000
a year. The board is in full charge of
city affairs.
Under tho Richmond administration
plan your board will have strings tied
to it--strinSs that are likely to hamper
it's efficiency The board should b, in
fun command. particularly in the mat
ter of appropriations as we'll as active
administration of appropria tons The
comparison between Richmond and Spo-
kane is particularly apt. IS the two
cities are of about the same populati
and wealth, Spokane having $4,000 in
habitants"
Judge Turner Here.
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