The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-08
THE THIRTY NINE.
"a. B. W.

~ IVA Nefp ana iHlulSltfNe interest We nave
tried to study out tho plans and purposes of the
Virginia Progressive Democratic League" or
ganized at Richmond on Monday by thrtynine
more or less distinguished citizens and described
In the newspapers OF that city. 1t may be OBJ
served that Of the thirtynine active participants
and the thirteen announced endorsers several
are gentlemen who have held Office under the
Democratic party of the State several have
suffered disappointments of their political am
billions, few are in office and others aspi
rants It will be observed, further, that the
names Of the Hon. Carter Glass and the Hon.
Richard Evelyn Byrd do not appear in either
list: or does that Of Mr.. Westmoreland Davis
horny handed son Of toll and all round farmer
and reformer The Hon A. j, Montague also is
shy in the pot
The assemblage put forth platform and
declaration and proclaimed its intention ito re-
store popular government in Virginia" Judging
from the past adventures of some of the mem
bers. If they are to occupy Offices 1t will be the
establishment of unpopular government; for they
have been invited by decisive majorities to re-
turn to or remain In private life hut the
methods and means by which the alleged change
is to be brought rather bewildering. 1t seems
that, when the election laws have been reformed
to suit the idea of the league. a State Demo
cratic primary La to be called to reorganize the
party Then a convention Is to be held to COM
plete the reorganization, and to put forth a
declaration OF principles We not told
whether or not this convention is to put forth
the principles expressed by the thrty-nine on
what subjects II s to discourse, So far as we
can see. the thirty-nine have put the cart before
the horse. announcing platform first and then
calling for convention to be held at some indef-
mite time. We are given no information who is
to call the primaries and convention. who is to
be eligible to vote, how the Democratic party is
to be reorganized or by what authority or who is
to prevent the same persons who have been
chosen to lead the party from being reelected
by the same people who have elected them here
tofore
The really interesting part Of the proceedings
as printed is the Insight they give into the real
complaints and accusations against the State
government and the Democracy. We hear from
time to time loose talk Of the sins, expressions
and yillianies of the Machine" Here they are
supposed to be presented by the ahlest repre-
sentatives OF discomfort and protest and by the
most intense and active progressives, reformers
and agitators have. Yet find not sin
gle direct accusation or complaint. There la de-
mand for the initiative. referendum and recall
without a suggestion that the legislative, execu.
tive judicial officials have failed In the per,
formance OF any duty. There is recommends
ton for certain changes In the election laws some
trivial, some Of Importance, but no instance is
cited Of any violation of existing law or OF fraud in
our elections AS a matter of fact. there has not
been in eight years. far recall, an
instance. outside of Norfolk and immediate vi
entity of even a claim that the result OF any
primary has been determined by unlawful or
irregular fraudulent methods. Some of the
members of this lsague-notably Mr. John Car
land Pollard-were nominated by the primaries
and accepted the result With grace and avidity
Others defeated in primaries and made
no contest OF allegation Of fraud We not
informed when how Virginia has been de-
prived Of popular government or what guilty and
malignant wretches did the deprivation or spolia-
ton.
Those of us who have believed and commended
that our State is governed honesty and efficiently
and with enterprise. and therefore have
wondered what the occasional clatter was about,
are supported abundantly by the action and
declaration of the League" Apparently these
thirty -nine dissatisfied ambitious citizens got
together to formulate an indictment and found
themselves destitute of evidence or ground for
suspicion of any dehnable crime Therefore they
adopted a general preamble which is proclana-
ton Of patitudes vague scheme for reorgan-
ization; suggestions for details of the conduct
Of primaries and legislation, some OF which are
impracticabe while others will be opposed by
nobody; and definite demand for consttu-
tional amendment TO provide for the initiative
referendum and recall. except for judges That
is all
! Nobody will be shocked startled. No effect
/ Of high explosives viii be felt anywhere The
thirty nine may have scattered believing that