The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-22
WILL THE DEMOCRATIC COMMIT.
TEES 10 THEIR DUTY.

J DO the city and county Democratic
committees of Virginia desire to pro.
/ tect the interests of the people? Dc
/ these party bodies wish to perpetuate
Democracy in this Commonwealth? II
So let each and all ef them follow i'm
mediately the course adopted by the
! Democratic Committee of Caroline
| County last week 1t is the newest
and wisest policy formulated By any
party organization IN Virginia in re-
cent years
! The Democratic Authorities of Caro-
/ line formally resolved that while they
hold steadfastly TO the principle of
primary elections for the nomination
and election of all candidates. yet they
are mot unmindful of the disadvan-
tages and weakness of the party under
that system when it presents its can
didates upon the political sea without
chart or compass. /, is the sense of
the committee that, this is 4 condition
! that the candidates themselves can and
should promptly meet and relieve"
and 10 this end the committee, calls
upon all candidates for the House Of
Delegates to publish to the people of
Caroline County their views, opinions
and positions touching the leading
issues before the people of this State
at this time. for ours is II party of
tee believes the people of this county
desire TO be told by their candidates
what are the issues of the hour ana
what the position of each OF the candi-
dates touching these issues"
Commenting upon this action. the
fredericksburg star is OF the opinion
that. lin view of the widespread de-
mand" from the press and the people
for definite declarations of platform by
candidates for the House of Delegates.
the Caroline committee. has adopted
the ideal course in order to secure
such statements of policy 1t is un-
thinkable that any candidate will re-
fuse TO respond to this call OF his
party, and sit is unreasonable for any
man to expect an intelligent electo-
rate to vote for him because his name
is Smith or Jones or Brown without
any idea of what he stands for or what
lie will advocate ii elected" The Star
advises the people. in eases where can
didates fail TO declare themselves, to
address communications to them re-
Questing them to declare themselves
| through the public press Failing to
receive response. they should act ac-
cordingiy. Virginia has too many inn
portant questions confronting her to
take chances on men who refuse to
publish their views on these questions"
is the vigorous, correct counsel of the
Star.
There is every reason why every
other city and county Democratic com
mittee should initiate the procedure OF
the Caroline committee The situation
is simply farcical when candidates
claiming to bc Democrats and seeking
TO secure Democratic votes, close their
lips rs TO the principles If. indeed
there are any which they will seek to
enact into law if elected lawmakers
Democracy is thus made to appear to
represent no policies whatever. The
result viii be disastrous for the Demo
cratic party in Virginia If its authori-
ties State and local, continue to shut
their eyes TO this condition The re-
sponsibility upon each city and county
Democratic committee Is too heavv N
be stunned Let each do it's duty.
II they will not do It. the people can
hnd out where the candidates stand
by writing TO them ana demanding
declarations as 10 what they stand for