The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-18
Voice Of the People
what IL Wrong WIN y,ru,n,,.

10 tho Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sir'-Sohsiderablo space has boon
! lately given by the leading Virginia
papers to the necessity of Improvement
| IN our present taxation laws and espc-
| cialiy In their execution. as we'll as
| other things that will have to BIO
done before Virginia can take the no.
sition she should among tho progress
sive States of the Union. and for which
her natural advantages of location
climate. mineral timber and agricul-
tural resources so richly endow her
Permit me to suggest that the trouble
with Virginia Is that her people haye
permitted politics and not policies. men
and not measures. parties and not
principles. subjects and not substances.
historic names and sentimental asso-
cation and not high patriotic motives
and progressive ideals. To determine
,heir actions at the ballot boxes in
the past. The result is we have 9;
partisan machine or ring with branches
IN nearly every county and city in tho
state, controlled by men who make
oihce- getting and holding their bust
ness ana who are banded together with
me one object of getting all the money
lhcy can from the people for their own
pcheht in the form of salaries. fees.
contracts for public work, etc
ihesc machine politicians arc not
statesmen and care nothing for party
pohcics. principles or ideals. They
der to shine in reflected glory OF
past achievements and thereby use tho
sentiments of honored service and hal
lowed association with which the name
Is regarded, TO gather in the votes that
VIII enable them and their apnointcns
10 continue their business of drawing
salaries, fees and jobs from the pub-
nc Who are thereby beguiled into re-
garding their government in the most
pa'rlouc hands because tho party name
pS winch their bosses call themselves
Is the same though its substance has
passed away
Martin, Mann, Flood and their fol-
towers IN Virginia are more in accord
win the standpat Republican repre-
sentatiNes of privilege than they are
WIN wilson. Bryan and the Progress
slves but they dare not call them,
serves by their most appropriate name
IN Virginia because they could no
longer fool the voters
me machine representatives I'm tho
last Legislature denied to the people
ma an honest primary law. de-
nied TO them the right to know what
tneir Zee officers are getting out OF
'hetn denied to them the right to vote
on the liquor question as n State-wido
proposition, denied to them any meas
ure of tax reform and counlz,tior
or apportionment of the tax burden In
proportion 10 benefits received doniad
20 then any fair and equal representa-
tion In the General Assembly. and VIC
lated their oath to support the Con
sutution Of Virginia as woIl as their
duty to the people of Virginia ne tbair
representatives
When the people OF Virginia learn
20 distinguish between live and dead
issues when they learn TO distinruish
between party names and party urin
cipies. between professions and nrac
ucc between the substance of tho
present and the shadow of tho past.
when they cease to bow down and SIN.
port the candidates in a general cleo
tloh whom they have denounced ana
voted against in the primary. and
Whlch the machine by its control OF I
mat primary has forced upon them.
"hen thcy are able TO give their cleo /
t"rai vote to one party, the State vote
10 another and their county and civ
votes TO third all in the Same cleo. /
!ioh' II the national. State and local /
issues presented demand 1t in tho |
name OF progress, as tho States OF tbc /
Norm and West sometimes do. tbon /
VIII Virginia become truly progressive
ana lax reform, improved roads. bet |
'"r schools. more efficient officers. loss
waste OF the public money. less of,ci,J
graft 4 more scientific agriculture and
attractive and profitable country urn
ana many other better things vii,
naturally and logically follow I'm o,,ick
succession. s y po1vrIrI
Belmont.