The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-20

large extent a general assembly OF those who do
| Some unnamed official is referred to as The
chief Of the legislative gun-men In virginia
Various other such epithets are appheo TO some
specific men or to a group of men, Any man
who actually believes what this unknown
writer has TO say of certain other men and VINO
has any evidence to sustain the character he
gives the men referred to ought to have the
courage Of his convictions ne ought TO specify
the man to whom he refers ana not lnouise
Ii nvague reflections upon a large class OF gem
ltlemen AS for the city and county officials,
they have been elected to office and often re-
peatedly reelected by the votes OF the, good
citizens of the several counties and cities In
which they hold Office. If they are the type or
men indicated by the offensive characterizations
quoted. 1t is reflection upon the electorate
in such counties and cities that they honor
and retain such men. When asked to specify,
however this newspaper denouncer carefully re-
Trains from doing
In its appeal for the exclusion of these men
from conference association with the legis-
lators from their counties and cities the Rich
mond paper fails to tell how these Official
highwaymen OF legislation influence the legis-
lators chosen by the people or to name one
legislator who has been controlled. Surely II
such a condition existed as would warrant the
use of such terms it ought to be possible to
name one member of this pernicious lobby and
apply to him personally and individually some
of these com plmentary epithets. How is the
mysterious yet powerful influence upon legisla-
tors exerted, If at all? Is 1t through intimi
dation. bribery or coercion? Is 1t through the
dictation of nominations for the legislature? The
people choose or certainly they have the OPP
portunity choose. Is the county city official
to be confined to prevent his comforting with
legislators from his county or is the legislator
to be confined for his protection against
this mysterious but malign influence? How
going to break up this alleged pernicious
lobby without trenching upon the rights of
citizens? Shall enact statutes Classifying
county and city officials men involved in a
combination in the interest of authorized theft
and legalized graft?' Are not these clerks, COM
missioners sheriffs, sergeants and treasurers
very respectable and sef-respectng gentlemen?
We greet them cordially on the streets. well
HON MALI thar, Not ir
Of churches and otherwise accord them all
the recognition bestowed upon other gentlemen
to be bound. gagged, forbidden to go to Rich
mond at all? In fact, are these gentlement
TO be blamed for being interested in the legis-
lation affecting them? They have newspa-
pers to thunder their views and wishes into the
ears of legislators this journalistic thunderer
who is attacking them has. Does n the paper
in question advocate what 1t favors. Why may
not other citizens. even though they be officials
have similar rights?
All this general and vague denuncation is
babyish and silly. II specific oFense be
pointed out-any violation of the laws of
good morals--let 1t be specified and the man ar
raigned before proper. tribunal, with oppor-
tunty to answer for himself, else let him
be pillored for popular scorn. But quit this
general denunciation and the effort to create
the impression that so soon citizen becomes
an offceholder he becomes a CRATER or thief
or contemplate creature. If legislators are
elected who are subservient to the influence Of
any one man or combination of men let his
constituents look after the They have
their remedy.
But this same Richmond newspaper refers to
another lobby which operates by flooding legs-
lators with petitions. and 1t specifies In this
connection large, respectable and influential
body Of men and women when it says:
AS far as we are aware, this practice has
never been employed in Virginia by GER.
tain persons representing the Anti Saloon
league That such eleventh. hour intimidation
has been absolutely ineffective Is evidence of the
courage and independence OF members Of the
general assembly Of Virginia who refuses to be
budozed by such a childish device"
The language we have quoted is from the
Richmond Times Dispatch. 1t asserts in one
assembly of Virginia is the tool of the Plumber
bund' GA combination in the interest OF au-
thorzed theft and legalized graft"): and in
the next breath 1t praises the general
assembly for the courage and independence of
It's members in refusing to be "buldozed by
such childish device Such beautiful con-
sistenCy is refreshing How do the members of
the Anti-Saloon league relish the reference to
them and their petitions and kilograms? We
did not say II. the great and good Richmond
Times Dispatch said it. How do the legislators
relish being referred to as the puny cringing
tools of the Plunderbund? 1t may smooth
their ruf1ed feathers bit to have such an au-
thority commend their courage and independence
/ Of legislation they happen to favor. Because
the legislators do not heed certain other legis-
lative hobbies of this thunderer they are de-
nounced tools of corrupt group of men;
when they happen to favor the papers attitude
I in opposing a referendum they courageous
and independent.
How laughahle the whole performance in
which this discredited Journalistic jeremiah
takes itself seriously and hysterically, No
wonder IT has such insignificant influence
Danville Register
He VIII Adhere to It,