The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-25
Mr.. Pollard's Glib Talk
fAlfrcd b. Williams In Roanoke Tfmes.l

s
Mr.. John Garland Pollard. candidate for at
torney general OF this State. il rather q glib
talker and decidedly . loose talker. Let us
hope that in the law practice from which he
says he has made such large money he gives
more attention to the basis for his allegations
than he does in his political enterprises.
At Lynchburg Tuesday night Mr.. Pollard as
serted, before large audience and as fact.
that the great majority OF the Democrats OF
this State favored. last year. the nomination
OF Woodrow Wilson for president; that the
State ''bosses' opposed the nomination Of Mr..
Wilson because they knew they could not rule
him: that at the Democratic State convention
at Norfolk the voice Of the people was stihed
and their wishes were ignored
Here are three distinct assertions. Mr.. John
Pollard cannot offer an atom OF evidence to
sustain any one OF them. All the records ana
not one OF them IL true.
His assertions amount to a direct accusation
that the majority OF the Democratic voters
to make their wishes known towards afraid
to express them; and that the large smaJority
Of the delegates to the Norfolk convention be-
trayed their trust and truckled slavishiy to
certain bosses" not named or particularly de-
scribed. We do not believe any Of these as.
Of them. Every delegate to the Norfolk con-
vention who voted against delegation In
structed for Wilson is assailed directly by Mr..
Pollard and has the right to defend his own
honor and good faith by calling on Mr.. Pol
lard to back with evidence what he charged.
or to retract
number of citizens and a few newspapers
Of the State have fallen into the habit OF as
sorting glibly as Mr.. Pollard does that the
great majority of the people OF Virginia IA.
vored delegation instructed for Wilson. Ii
these assertions allowed to be repeated
continually uncontradicted they may be ac-
copied presently established facts. Let us
consider what the facts were.
Opposed to Governor Wilson were the Hon.
Oscar Underwood, then and now floor leader
Of the Democratic party in the house OF rep.
resentatves; the Hon. Champ Clark. then and
speaker OF the house; the Hon. Thomas
R. Marshall elected vice president d on the
mon OF Ohio. who twice had led the Demo-
cratic party to victory In Republican State
ceptive candidate. Let 1t be kept in mind that
no hostility to Governor Wilson was expressed
by anybody in Virginia All the opponents I TO, OF
CATION be not bound by instructions and be
left free to choose among all these strong men.
The State convention, the members elected
partly by primaries partly by public meetings
fully advertised, voted by a very large majority
against instructions. Nearly two-thirds OF the
delegates sent to the national convention voted
for Mr.. Underwood.
ws have indication that Mr.. I'm
derwood can be ruled by bosses from Virginia
or anywhere else He is the author of the
tariff bill bearing his name, regarded as the
ablest and most statesmanlike document pre-
scented in the congress in years: He is Presi-
dent Wilson's loyal assistant and chief depend
ence in preparing and executing work OF tre-
mendous Importance We cannot see that
anybody VINO Foteu IOT IuucTWoou Hds
reason to be ashamed or sorry 1t seems rather
like impudence for Mr. Pollard. or anybody
else. to accuse men who voted for Mr.. Under
wood OF having betrayed the people or obeyed
the bosses or abandoned the principles Of De-
mocrAcy. Governor Wilson failed to secure the
majority of the popular vote OF the country.
He was elected by split in the Republican
party. We have evidence yet that Mr..
Underwood would not have made a stronger
candidate than President Wilson or is not as
| able a man and sound Democrat. 1t will
be we'll for Mr.. Pollard to keep in mind that
| II voting against Wilson the party can
didate and instructing against him are the
marks of "reactionary." William j. Bryan
and the State of Nebraska were distinctly IRE
dictionary"
| Let us hope that free talking young
friend from the asphalted suburb OF Richmond.
Ginter Park will revise his declarations. He
may go about putting forth all the fne and
fancy schemes OF reform and renovation that
may occur to his fancy. He has right to
be saying things he cannot prove and which
the facts disprove. against hundreds and thou
sands OF men who Democrats certainly as
good himself and know more in minute
Of the practical and real side Of politics than
he ever will learn in all the years Of his peace
| full suburban existence. Shouting platitudes
and procamng lofty purposes and noble
function of dry nurse over the 100. 600 Demo-
Gratis OF Virginia and advertising them afraid
or unable to take care of themselves and as
not knowing what they are doing without the
tender and benevolent guardianship and guild
ance OF Mr., Pollard. Is a process rather dis
tasteful to grown men who were weaned in
politics before Mr.. Pollard knew the difference
between a Democrat and Republican could
find his way to his voting precinct