Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-18
Candidate Muncey,s Views

SoHC1uAt6 Nuncey'S views
THE Republican candidate for the governor
L ship, Mr.. Muncey, recently delivered an
extensive speech at Chase City, which is as
notable for what it ignores for what it
discusses The demand Of the Republican
platform for the immediate enfranchisement
Of the women OF the State is not mentioned.
Neither is anything said as to the plank favor
ing the admission of women to the university
on the same footing men; as to the
plank demanding compulsory, nonpartisan
auditing of the books of public officials. AS
all the other planks were discussed, these
omissions seem significant. Can they be ac-
counted for the ground that the Republi-
can candidate for Lieutenant-G overnor op-
posed both the coordinate college bill and
the woman's suffrage amendment in the
Senate? Arc any Republican oflicehoIders
afraid Of the audit? Perhaps.
Candidate Muncey drags out much ancient
history in order to convict the Bourbon
democracy of an alleged reactionary attitude
toward the school question. He must know
that for the past quarter OF century the
Republicans have represented the reactionary
element in every State in the Union. and
the Democrats, locally and nationally, have
been identified with the forces of progress.
The fact Is that both parties have contained
both elements, but in Virginia, at least the
reactionaries have always been in control OF
the Republican party. And the controlling
exceeding five or six individuals. Their
boosted conventions have been submissive
little gatherings of hand picked delegates
chosen in carefully packed mass meetings
Yet they assume to lecture Democrats on
democracy!
Mr.. Muncey's plan to keep politics out of
the schools is to make all the school officials
politicians, seeking their election at the polls
The aim of the Constitution makers was to
remove the schools far as possible from
political influences, and they succeeded rea-
sonably we'll. 1t is easy to criticize There
is no such thing perfect school system
Up to this writing the Virginia Republicans
have not demonstrated any knowledge OF
education superior to that of the Democrats
He compares the cost Of schoobooks in Vir-
GINA with the cost in California but he
fails to say that California prints her own
SCHOOLGIRLS, while Virginia Is obliged to buy
them from publishers Has any Republican
ever brought forward bill for State print
ing plant in Virginia? The project has been
under discussion for year. but only on the
part Of the Democrats.
AS to elections, Virginia now compares
favorably with Republican States, or with
Virginia as it was when the Republicans we're
in charge. The dominant party In every
State tries to keep the election machinery in
It's own hands, as far as possible. That may
not be idealism but it is politics, and the
Republicans practice 1t whenever they have
chance Their reputation for political
purity In the sections of Virginia where they
are dominant might be a good deal better
than it is. The courts of Virginia are open
to Republicans as we'll as Democrats, and
VIII hear all cases OF political corruption and
SEQ that the guilty parties are punished
Judge skoen few years ago fined and i'm
Drisoned large number without regard to
politics. The Republicans seem to win
pretty generally in the Ninth District That
doesn't look us though they were being
cheated out OF their rights
Altogether, it is doubtful whether Mr..
Muncey VIII convince any considerable num-
Der OF voters that the State would be bene-
flied by putting him. and the other great I'M
knowns who share the ticket with him, in
charge of the affairs of the State which has
prospered materially, socially and education
ally under succession of Democratic admin
istrations for thrty-hve years