Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-21
MUST MAKE DEMOCRACY
WORTH FIGHTING FOR
May Win the War and Yet Lose
Scif.Goycrnment ny NcgIi-
gcnCc, Says Anderson.
ADDRESSES DENTAL SOCIETY
Neglect OH Part of Voters Has Per-
united AristoCracy of OniccliOld-
crS TO Pcrpctuatc itself, Says Sec
rotary of Civic AsS0riat ion.


Dcoii ny that democracy was on
trial IL richmond and that right plus
"iJ'ltN. riu' Willingness to rule oar
$c.TcS ""nid .cudcr Il v.-dict for inc
r'"9i". DR.. -. J. Anderson. secretary %
;hc civic Association. delivered an I'd
cross on rivic patriotism at the annual
i"c"ting Of Tive Richmond D.ntii So
.ictN last mig Int at Riclinrnd Hotel.
while we arc fighting Germany fo.'
the preservation Of democracy" hc
continued. 'lct us be mindful lest VIC
lose II ourselves. And can lose
democracy by inGratitudc and ncgli-
gcncc."
Previous to tho address of the occa-
sion. an elaborate banquet was served
the members Of tho Dental Society.
Believing that the dental fraternity had
vital interest in tho affairs OF the
city, the society invited DR. Andcr-
son TO address its members on civic
duty
Dr. Anderson said that every man
should be a sky-SCraping man, and that
since II is tho duty Of the people 10
rule, they should exercise that right TO
vote as their prcrogativc. and If the
do not then they cannot say that they
live In a democracy. while by win
ming this war We can save our ia :
tionai life. can also lose our ma
,ional treasure, unless VIC be mindful!
OF the duty that citizenship bcstows
each"
GOVERNED BY AUTOCRACY
OF OFFICE; HOLDERS
He reminded his hearers that Wis.,
count Bryce said that the chief fail
ure Of the American system of gov
eminent was the government Of its
cities. and that fact is just as true to-
day as it was when Niscount Bryce
inserted 1T in his American Common
4,
control OF our cities was the criterion
by which We must judge whether de-
mocracy is to fail or live.
Dr. Anderson landed a body blow to
civic administration with his rhctori-
cal questions when he ask cd. are We
governed by an aristocracy? are we
getting a dollars worth Of returns for
every dollar OF taxes paid into the
city treasury? have We the government
that Richmond deserves? And the CHI
max came whom he declared that Rich
mond is ruled by an aristocracy, not
even n benevolent aristocracy. and one
that TIC people have allowed to come
into existence and perpctuate itself.
The address OF DR.. Anderson was
brought 10 Il close with tribute paid
TO what Richmond has given to the
nation and with tho final question.
Shall It be said that we cannot govern
oVrScivcs?"
Following the address. DR.. Harry
Bear president OF the society. delivered
tho presidents address. calling atten-
tion to the activities Of the orgaHiZa-
ton during the past year. He told
his organization that the society had
been elevated TO AN equal plane with
the medical fraternity by a bill OF Con-
gross creating similar rank in commits
sions for dentists. He then spoke OF
the men that have left the organiza-
ton to give their services to the gov
eminent. lie concluded by saying,
Let's make the dental profession sec
ond TO none in honor. science, and at
tainmcnt."
The election of officers FOR the cnsu-
Ing year brought the meeting TO a close.
The following officers were elected
President. Harry Bear. rc-clectcd: vice
president X. l.. Simpson: chairman of
executive committee, l.. II. Walton: as
sociatc members of tho executive com :
mi,tec, G. y. Elicit. and l.. L. Blanken-
baker; secretary and treasurer, a. c.
Wright.