The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-01
WHATS THE MATTER WITH VIRGINIA?

Evelyn Byrd and various distinguished citizens
and disturbed contemporaries rise from time
to time to suggest that the State is in bad
way and in desperate need of reformation. None
of these touch much on the subject Of Statewide
prohibition, which. in the opinion OF many re-
spectacle and patriotic people is the progressive
step most urgently needed. Even Speaker
BYRD in his vigorous recital here, the other
6Mxiay, of the sins Of the State senate omitted to
fncIude specifically what some citizens regard
as the worst sins of ALL the leaving Of the
congressional districts distorted. misshapen and
III proportional and the defeat Of the enabling
act There is direct evidence that these two
Failures expressed bargain, but there are strong
Euspicions and there have been broad. published
and uncoptradicted hints that they did. One
cf the reforms easily possible, practical and
of direct Importance is the rcapportonment Of
the State to comply with tho plain purpose
and command of the constitutions Of the United
States and the State and 10 do Justice
Putting aside these two questions, the Com
monweaith is doing we'll Pessimism ts more
or less popular always. The average American
citizen likes to grumble and 10 suspect, Many
of us find kind Of sour comfort in the feeling
of being misused. as We like a favor Of vinegar
In food. 1t is we'll when tempted to In
bulge TO omuch in this appetite to analyze facts
and allegations.
We are told that the fee system Is a scandal,
ian oppression and a robbery Of the people,
Perhaps II is Nobody knows Most of the
writers on this subject consider it from the
standpoint OF the larger cities They fail to
study the situations Of the little cities and
the smaller and more remote counties 1t is
said the clerk of court Of Norfolk receives
a net income Of S1750e n year. Probably that
is an exagEerauon Of enthusiasm with pos
sihe admixture Of envy. Accepting It as true,
NE must remember that tho clerks of court.
sheriff.. treasurers and commissioners of New
!. Kent and Bland had not become riotously rich
at last accounts, from the emoluments of their
Offices Some plan must be studied out to bring
down the ray where II is excessive and to
provide such pay as will secure the services
of capable men without putting additional bur
den on the general body of the taxpayers. The
theory Of the fee system, like that Of the In
come tax. is TO put the load Of paying certain
officials on those best able to carry 1T and need
ing special service The first step Is 70 ascer-
tain definitely and officially where the fee money
goes and how much of it each official gets. 1t
1T is not an affair to be stormed at IN hurry.
IF 1t IS to be managed properly 1t must be
approached with exact knowledge and some
discretion. Tumutuous and shouting editorial
articles and speeches arc unconvincing and In.
decisive and do not drive thoughtful men.
a corrupt practices act and primary cleo
u 4f,yn ,ttn 1r Fau atm,
able political fads Of the day We need more
stringent election laws; probably our primary
law can be and win be improved, Yet it must
be remembered that Just working out
of conditions in which there choice be
tween bose election laws and rule of the
eoIored voter Thirtyone counties OF Virginia
have majorities of colored voters by the last
census, The recent complaints Of corrupt prac-
tees at elections in Virginia come from the
Southwest There the people of both parties
have taken up the work OF reformation, Led
by Judge Skeen, General Ayers, the Democratic
nominee for congress, and other strong citizens,
the movement for clean elections has become
powerful Many scores Of men have confessed
to giving or taking brides, many others have
been convicted. grand and petit juries have
done their duty 1eariESly, tAe guilty. nave Deen
punished or held under suspended sentences,
AS to the primaries, the worst said OF them
is that here and there few Republicans or
doubtful men have been. permitted to vote. Mr..
Tucker when defeated by Judge Mann was unable
to make color Of for contest or
nearly 100000 votes cast in the senatorial pri-
mary not one challenged. When had
d contest of the congressional primary in the
Fourth district last summer the number of i'm
proper votes discovered, after close scrutiny
by precincts, was small. The law as now
tablished and In use shuts out from the Demo
cratic primaries all who not Democratic
voters.
Equalization Of taxation is another demand
OF progressive legislation-one of the most
complicated and puzzling propositions of politi-
cal economy. Yet it seems to be required that
the general assembly OF Virginia should 90
headlong al this and in sixty days work out a
plan that the statesmen Of the world have