The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-27
Presiding Officer of the House
of Delegates Creates
Sensation
TELLS OF SNEERS
AT REFORM EFFORTS
Arousing Men of Affairs to
Their Political Interests
Subject at the B. M.
c. Luncheon

Richard Evelyn Byrd. speaker of
the house of delegates OF Virginia
took a shot at the State senate at the
"tahle-talk luncheon" OF the business
Mems club yesterday afternoon mat
created sensation among the hrN
members present, though they ap-
pIauded the speakers sentiment TO the
echo.
Il hope never in my life to see,
solennly declared the speaker" such
a senate as ''graced" the last session
OF the general assembly Almost
every progressive measure INTENDED
for the decent betterment Of the Com
Ynonwealth was turned down with a
eneer The worst OF II is that senate
is still in power and Will hold through
the general assembly of 1914, and nn-
less it's members experience change
of heart. and see the light which Will
lead 10 repentance We can expect
nothing from IT,
Means What He says.
Speaker Byrd made 1t plain that ne
meant what he said and is RESPONSE
BILE fer his utteranee,= Continuing he
expressed the opinion that II is up 10
the people OF Virginia 10 exact pledges
of the members Of the general as
serrlhly to stand for laws which will
and take her place as the brightest
star in the armament OK States
Speaker Byrd was one Of two speak
ers at the third or series Of table
Aafk Iuneheons" inaugurated by the
Business Mems club. and was intro
duced by John Stewart Bryan, who
presided AS chairman Of the special
committee. as one of the states most
aggressive public men. whose efforts
seriously handicapped by the nom
progressive element IN the legislature,
lie spoke to the topic adopted for the
day--~.evoterg and Non-yoters In Rich
mond."
Hard 10 Break Crust.
Explaining the opposition that had
baffled hts efforts at reform. Mr.. Byrd
stated that hts had been largely a
campaign of education: Virginia was
largely controlled by custom. and II
was hard TO break through the crust
Of tradition. Reform comes from the
inside and the people must reform
themselves The hahitual indifference
OF men Of affairs most largely inter-
ested In governmental welfare he
said. was the cause of Indifferent or
corrupt government. and the men OF
affairs set an example for the younger
generation. He Illustrated. He strolied
into his club one night and found a
rroup of men Of wealth and promt-
nence complaining OF the results of a
municipal primary and found that
rot one of them had voted in the pri-
7Ssnary. The people who do not bear
4 their share of the responsibility have
no right TO corn plain of the results,
I he said Politics is war---a constant
struggle between principles and in
ierests. and in the long run people
will get just the sort of government
they deserve, The men Of affairs
have the intelligence and the mum
hers and they have only themselves to
blame IL they don't get what they
want in the way OF government.
Responsibility With Employer
Charles V, Meredith placed the re-
sponsibility for the iethargy n ,ar the
on the employer. He declared that u
III the duty Of employers to see that
e.r employees na are rs ,saw r. s1d
trouble for the business man. but the
''undesirabies" take the trouble and
win out IN at the ballot boy How
take the trouble 10 look. after. their
poll taxes II that was the only tax
they had to pay ,d Having fhs sot 81,
voter There must be n constant efror,
10 arouse civic pride, and the older
and more inteiisent . men Of ns,s aia,rs
and the younger generation. Further
Mr.. Meredith expressed the opinion that
tain this pride and interest IN civic
spasmadic meetings on the eve Of
election dc. little good beyond aropsins
toned the business men against any
narrow. selfish spirit by those higher
certainly be followed by the rank and
Ale. 1t is up to the business men e
show an interest I'm governmental at
fairs, attend political meeting sand In
sist upon the voice and vote of those
who had the interest of the munich
bald. takes that interest and rules
Henry w. Rountree. who spoke very
briafiy admitted that he was old
pio o' taking part in politics for rea
sons Of delicacy. He thinks that ali
employees should be allowed to fee
perfectly free in matters of politics ane
Richmond'x LetharRy.
In introducing the speakers Chair
affecting the lethargy. of Richmond
people in the matter OF voting. While
the official figures In the last primary
fess than 10000 votes, he felt confident
that there must be twice that number
Of men eligible 70 vote. AS striking
evidence OF this letharsy he gave SONS
statistical figures secured at sons
palms The Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac railroad office. has 5:
eligibles and only AZ voted; the Chesa,
peake and Ohio has 400 and only 2ot
voted; the Kingan company plant has
40 who are eligible, and Is took The
trouble to go to the polls, while OF tbs
LOO eligibles employed by the Ameri'
can Locomotive works, as near as
could be ascertained, only geo voted,
Pope slowly Improving
ROME, March 2S.--The Pope die
not celebrate mass today, as was eX
l.. u