The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-18
Governor and Legislature,
(The Virginia Citizen.)

u ne NlTEtDld AlllhSI'(
rs time wears on ii will be dis
closed whether Governor Davis or the
legislature was right There were
probably mistakes in judgm ent--cer-
tainly clerIcalIy--on the part OF eotn.
For our part, having watched the
workings of governors and legisia-
lures closely for a quarter OF CEN
turv, we felt at the outset there was
woeful lack of sympathy between the
new executive and the new assembly.
II was UP to the one man to bridge
no chasmS open for the future This
the chasm and see to il there would
is ono of the prime requisites or
good governor and II goes without
saving is the main plank in any sur
bernatorial platform The people take
this for granted.
Until the last day or two of the
recalled legislative session little evi-
dence of cooperation had been SHOWN
by Governor Davis on the contrary,
il is asserted that leaders called on
him time after time ut the opening of
the general assembly but got little
or no encouragement as to his wish
es and views. This is an admirable
feature--this getting together--that
has prevailed between governor and
Legislature for many years, and the
and no disagreements that were not
patched up in give take style
Rumors and runners from the execu-
tive office indicating displeasure at
certain measures after introduced
were unknown, because there was
comfy between the executive and leg
slative branches that precludeo any
friction.
The legislature Of ;ats was a hard
l. =
the hands OF a governor VINO was
over -obsessed with the idea that the
Legislature had it's functions, and he
his, to perforu--his being the veto
II he did not approve of what they did,
This is most charitably attributed to
ineXperience on tho part of the new
governor. and his friends will doubt
less say that we had better have an
inexperienced than a vicious execu-
tive. but where since reconstruction
days has Virginia shown a vicious ad-
ministration?
The governor and his friends may
also claim that new officers. salaries
and large expenditures were against
Governor Davis prediction prom iscs. I
That is all very well, but il may he
made the slogan of demagogues as well
as Of honest men. II becomes dem
agogiCal when unforeseen conditions
and demands require deviation Fresi-
dent Wilson, who has changed his
mind on many lines of policy since
the world war became a part of our
war. IS charged by enemies and mar
row minds with being vaci1lating He
maintains that the old proverh--
Wise men sometimes change their
minds; fools never"--is applicab BILE to
present conditions The recent gen
eral assembly agreed with WOODROW
Wilson rather than Westm oreland Da-
Wis in at least one instance, the com
pensation act. And the Legislature
would also have been wise to nave
separated the fish and game depart
ment from the commercial fish and
oyster end. But the governor held
the big stick OF veto over many such
ideas
IT is more than probable that our
new governor will find before half
his administration is over that he
would have better-for his peace OF
mind and the good of Virginia.
shown a spirit of Cancellation and CO.
operation rather than one of exclu-
sion, crawling into a narrow lane
hedged with incompetent and mex
perienced advisors and runners.
The Virginia Citizen did not sup
port Mr.. Davis in his candidacy. but
did not attack him, and we hailed
his inauguration with good wishes and
desire for success. We still hone
he will see the error of his wav"
and come down off his high perch to
the mourners' bench, for he that
exaiteth himself (unduly) shall be
abased.