The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03
"RING RULE DISCOVERED.
DO 1T NOW.

81 ring RULE" DISCOVERED.
a Let us consider with respectful attention the
.romplaints o. Mr. T. D Frey. of this city. printed
In another column Mr.. Frey rs entitled to re
sxsrd as the first man IN Virginia to undertake
80 define definitely the ring Of which we hear
and read so much so vaguely stated Evidently
he Is a citizen OF active mind and intelligence
IND probably he represents and speaks for
large number Of other citizens thinking along
4he lines he Indicates,
The answer H found In facts and In recent
history which too many people forget one-third
- the population of Virginia is colored negro.
According IN the isst census, members OF that
nee have the mssority in thirty-one counties OF
4 The state The instinct and the thought Of the
white people determined long ago that 1t Is not
good for the state or the people to have the
balance Of power and the control OF the local
AFFAIRS OF third of counties in the hands
az the coIored people. II was ascertained fact
that when It came to question of race supremacy
10th races forgot about parties and all other
1ssues and voted on race lines. The white man
where he plants his foot will dominate or Ole
That ts his nature and Inheritance. II he can
not rule one way he will another We had to
deteruine here whether we should have white
rule under form ard sanction OF law or In viola
tion. OF law. The hnElo-saxon Unborn reverence
and ,love for law and orderly conduct prevailed,
md we called a constitutional convention and
made laws to fit the case These laws, as they
thinks enough of his privileges and rights to
yaaI
amount of money. nal stand on the same ground
Il and have exactly tho same opportunities. Any
man who Will take the trouble to qualify himself
can win the ballot Probably Mr., Frey will agree
with us that the who Is not willing to spare
q $3.50 year TO pay his dues to the support OF
the state government under which he lives Is
81 not likely TO be a desirable voter expresses by
his Indifference his acceptance of and satisfac-
i ton with the government 1t Is, We have
more than 10000 qualified voters, We could
lave twice as many II cared to pay their
roll taxes and qualify. That is matter OF choice
for the Individual citizen. Therefore the ring
III 30 900 controlling voters. of which Mr.. Frey
speaks, If in control simply because Its actions
and decisions are agreeable to or accepted by
n the masses Of the people.
Governor Mann was nominated by the Demo
Gratis OF the State In open and free primary. for
voting in which every Democrat in the State had
the right TO qualify. The canvass open, the
opposing candidates had fun opportunity to pre-
sent their claims and tell Of their qualifications
and purposes and 10 attack their opponents. All
had full access to the public. Every Democrat
who had taken the pains To qualify himself had
the right to vote in the nominating primary and
70 express hir n dice after consideration OF all
the conditions and circumstances. At the gen
erai election every citizen who had qualified
under the known plain. widely published law had
4 opportunity 10 tell his preference by his ballot
Really we can discover no ring rule in any
Of this procedure. Nor do We find It in the
elections Of senator's That. too, was a fair,
d straight primary. open to all qualified and en-
titled voters and honesty -eeH4He+ear ------
Mr. Frey may not know. but it is the fact
that the policy Of Virginia people Is always to
avo,d unnecessary change and TO reward faith
fni and efscient service. That is the policy OF
!. any we'll conducted business concern. We have
had In counties and cities OF the State clerks
OF court for instance. serving twenty-five, thirty,
" forty years. reelected time after time because
they did their work properly and the people
B liked and trusted them. We are not willing to
ccneede that men Of that kind and character
constitute ring or 'plunderbund"
II Mr.. Frey and those who share his sus
4 p!cions and suHnises will consider calmly and
n clearly the facts they are, we think they
~ vii realize that the talk Of ring rule" and