The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-16
Voice of the People


TO The Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
~ ooh an,'imnn Joseph luton had
comn.tte. It Is most unfortunate that he
did not sec ~ 20 answer earlier that some
replS might have been made before the act
Here again opportunity IS denied Til.
hahit seems growing upon the chairman aud
hts committee. !f lie speaks for them ana
lest thcy become hardened. the tendency
Sh"l!H De checked before the habit becomes
confirmed.
Eat Chairman Buttons letter needs tn.
in the way OF an answer lie apoiog!zes
Tor Tho hasiy action OF the committee ~
members OF Congress would not he drawn
into the hght Tor Statewide prohibition-n
earnestly wished to avoid. The policy ana
the w!sdo'n Of thiA course is 100 obvious FOR
what right has Chairman Button or his
committee 10 Keep prospective candida ties
hght for Statewide prohibition? why
should they be protected moro than other
,ha they might decide? WHO const Pps9pii
ne committee with the power TO say what
OF men? Cannot the people be relied on to
spenh ON the htness OF ConErcssmcn ana 10
determine III" state vide question ut the
same time or does the committee really
heH"vc that after all. the people cannot he
Guardian committee with fine notions OF
'policy' and Wisdom to deal ont just what
ihein 10 such course of action as they the
committee. may approve? II 50, the Consti-
Il las ever been claimed that the electorate
was elevated and purified, and that high
type OF citizenship Was tho standard for all
But the truth about the chairman's .'one
Itself with the facts. The committee dis
covered This same Partially for hasty pri-
n,n,rri.s some years ago. when we had no pro
hibiiion question To Induce or tempt it's con
Sdcrhic care. For these primaries have
been held for several terms before the farm
cra had finished planting their corn.
Nnile inrmeTa were actively engaged In
planted worked ana rcapcd-gottcn in out of
the wct-or escaped the scorching rays OF :,
'The raising OF a Congressman is no,
necessarily so trivial AN undertaking az 10
justify such impctuous methods. Their
means. az the product might be n very sorry
crop OF very small potatoes with few In Il
Commenting upon my letter. Mr. Button Is
pleased 10 speak OF my unwarranted and
unjust charges and insiua;ions," SO far As
he means this defense OF the commit
tee. am perfectly willing to take the YER
reference to other facts. such as the "c Gle,
walton OF q Republican over a Democrat" /
VIII ask what does ne know about It? VIII
he deny the statement and thus make up
The issue? We shall see Publicity is Il
Democratic tenet: will no ask that Tho light
be turned on?
Oh! but other districts have done tho same
thins-and this IL quoted authority OF
great weight ana binding force. 1 wonder
II 1t would do violence to the situation TO
thorough understanding OF these little prac-
tices all around. Come over into Macedonia
and help us" has been known to have ap-
p!!cation whero striking piety not sus-
pactcd.
Yes, Mr.. Button. under the ruling OF your
committee. the record OF a Congressman ca
never he properly discussed before his con-
atItucncy. The good old days when public
servants we're expected and required TO give
an account or their stcwardships To the pco-
pie is discarded doctrine by the solemn
action of your committee. The plan seems
70 DO to nominate tho candidate and cram
his record down the throats OF tho people
whether II IS good or bad intoxicating holy
respect Tor the fortunate nominee.
have been trying TO devise somo scheme
that these conditions may bG remedied. and
think have found solution, OF which
you may be appraised later on.
PEMBROKE PETIT,