The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-21
AN EXAMPLE.
10 IT NOW,

We are hearing much these days, in connec-
tion with the senatorial lobby Investigation, of
the right of petition but little Of its vauelessness
az indications Of public sentiment At times,
of course the opinion of the public can be made
known In no other way. aud at times 1t serves
ats purpose, but usually numerous petitions
mean nothing If they represent public senti-
ment the fact is merely coincidence and is de-
termtned in some other way.
case In point is the poll OF its members
taken by the chamber Of commerce of the United
States on the exemption Of labor unions from
prosecution under the antitrust law and the
establishment Of a tariff commission. By an
overwhelming vote the organization has de-
clared Itself as opposed TO the exemption OF
the unions and In favor OF the tariff commission.
1t sounds imposing 10 say that the chamber
OF commerce OF the United States is composed
OF the chambers Of commerce of numerous cities
of the nation and that referendum shows an
Overwhelming majority OF those voting as favor
ing or opposing a certain policy. In this instance
the Washington Star says that "in no more de
finite manner could the president obtain report
Of the sentiment of the business interests of
the country than through such vote as this -
Let's see.
In Richmond there are several thousand bus
iness men How many OF them voted on the
question submitted by the chamber of commerce
I OF the United States?
Petersburg is a members Of this chamber.
How many business men in that city voted on
Ia
Lynehburg and Roanoke and Danville and New
port News and Bristol? How many in the en-
tire State OF Virginia voted?
Possibly one per cent of the business men
Of the State Possibly five or ten per cent.
One thing is sure--the vote represented an IN
hnitesimal part Of all the business men Of
Virginia and of the country.
the situation then Is this: The business men
form a small part OF the entire population. A
small part Of the business men voted on the
questions of exemption of unions from the oper-
alton OF the antitrust act and the creation of n
tariff commission. Not all of them voted one
way.
There's an example OF your petition, and yet
probably some senators will be led into be-
business In TIE nation ia represented by this
vote Maybe It is and then again maybe It is
rot TIe point is that no knows whether
st does o. not and the petition means practi.
cally nothing
Tie Tjratsian opposes the proposed exemp-
tfcn u he labor unions from the operation OF
the sherman antitrust law and it favors a
49,.
4 believes the overwhelming sentiment of the
coQutry is the same. II does not believe this
However. because the referendum Of the cham.
her of commerce Of the United States shows
majority in favor q this position. 1t does
noe regard that referendurl as werth q plea
vine.
As with this petition so with the vast ma
:ority Of others presented 10 Legislative bodies
They are worthless unless the names signed
represent large proportion of those interested
Mere quantity does not count An equal num-
hef- of aarrea- might hr signed 10 an opposing
position and to which represented the people
affected would be matter Of conjecture
solely. Where the petitions are signed by a
majority or large percentage of the voters
those petitions are Invaluable Where they are
signed by a small percentage they are value
less
Herein lies one element of insidiousness in
the Hobbies in Washington BY letters, kilograms
and petitions they create the impression that
strong PUBLIC sentiment In favor of meas
ure or opposing IL exists whereas such senti-
Ment may exist and may not With sufficient