The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-30

never stand In the Way of the public
veal. and / have come to my decision
because I believe / can be of greater
service to Virginia and the Democratic
party in Virginia fighting in the ranks
than as a candidatefor office. No ont
who has followed the political history
OF our State can fail to see our great
need FOR progressive legislation in or
der to keep pace with the Common
Weaiths around us.
IF we are to be successful in the
antitrust fight which has been inau-
gurated in the country, which has
been endorsed in our national Demo-
cratic platform, and of which Wood
row Wilson and William j. Bryan to-
day are the most conspicuous leaders,
1t must be accomplished largely
through State legislation, such as has
been recently adopted in the State of
New Jersey The Hon. Edgar A Far
rar. of New Orleans, two years ago,
in his address as president of the
American Bar association, set forth
the necessity of State legislation in
order to throttle the trusts In an I'M
answerahle argument The adoption
of legaliZed primary law .as well as
stringent corrupt practices act, con-
stitute the most basic needs of the
State today.
For the past ten ayers, practl-
cally every year, from the South
west to Norfolk, has come the cry
Of corruption of the ballot Unless
representative government is to dis
appear this must be stopped. The
law should be so clear, SO strong,
that when a majority of the voters
have expressed their choice for a
State officer in the ballot box. such
person shall receive the nomination
of his party. and not have 1t taken
from him by corrupt and irresponsible
parties. Undoubtedly. when a voter
sells his vote for money he should be
punished and when the purchaser of
such vote is detected and convicted
the real culprit--he should receive
double the punishment of the seller
The fee system should be modified,
limited or abolished equalization of
taxes throughout the State by the
application of the principle of segre-
cation OF taxes, already adopted in
several States, whereby the State
would receive the taxes from certain
classes of property while the coun-
ties and cities would receive them
from other classes, is of prime i'm
portance. These are but a faW of the
prominent isues which should be
brought before the people in season
State is aroused to action.
IN this fight | shall enlist with
enthusiasm, and wherever l can help in
advancing the cause of progressive
candidates for the legislature, and in
exposing the hidden hand OF the ma
chine In this State~that failing to de
feat Wilson for the nomination for the
presidency. still seeks to continue to
entrench itself in power in the State,
shall be ready to respond This work
can better do ms a private citizen
than az a candidate for office for IL
is, alas. too true. that many people
are inclined to discount the ante
election declarations Of candidates. Ry
many these are thought to be only
platforms to get in on, rather than to
stand on when they are in Indeed
hundreds Of voters have told me that
statements which / made during my
campaign for governor four years ago.
they had found to be true. though they
doubted their accuracy at the time they
their truth then, / would have secured
their support.
I'm the Ranks.
with the advent of Woodrow will
son 10 the presidency, and the stimulus
to the public Coincidence which his
campaign and election have wrought
we can confidently hope for more
enlightened interest in these great
questions. in which the people OF the
state are so deeply Interested and If
] can the better aid In accomplishing
theseN results by remaining In the
ranks rather than by entering the race
satisfied with the result" 80