The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-06
SECURITY LEAGUE
MAKES APPEAL FOR
BETTER CONGRESS
and Urges Action In Primaries to
Improve Personnel.
SOME DO NOT MEASURE UP.
Believes That Endeayors Should Also
Be Made to Stimulate Action On
Part of Every Commercial and Civic
Organization.

New York, July 5.--The National
Security league, through its congress
sional campaign committee, today 49,
sues an appeal to the citizens of the
entire country to assume An Individual
responsibility in seeing that able and
I loyal men are sent to congress this
fall from their districts. This appeal
Is an attempt, as stated by the Secur-
| ity leagues committee, which has now
extended its campaign into every state
| In the union, to enlist the support in
its effort for a better congress- of all
citizens as individual voters upon
whom the final responsibility rests"
At the Primaries.
The leagues statement points out
that the success of Its endeayor TO
improve the personnel of congress
must be decided at the primaries,
which are new being held throughout
the country. OF the results of the
primaries in the states where they
have already been held. the league de-
elares: Neither the political man
ayers. nor the people have risen to
their manifest duty"
The leagues statement includes
tabuation aimed at showing the pos
sbiliues OF it's campaign, which indi-
Gates that in 1874 congressional dis
tricts the voting this fall will be
| close" The leagues figures also
show that in fourteen out OF the thir
ty-two states in which senators are to
he elected this fall the voting will be
Close"
Party Leaders.
This condition should make the
party leaders much more amenable to
the influence of any agitation demand
ing thu nomination of the best men"
h, all ~ -, s.-.., -
the Security leagues congressional
campaign committee, who signs the
statement.
This agitation should not be con-
fined TO the close districts, however"
MFR. 0rth continues. as the necessity
of sending to Washington the ablest
men OF every state and every con-
gressional district exists generally.
The tremendous internal and interna-
tional problems which Will come be-
fore the next congress demand that
the people make sure that the re-
sponsihility be met by the abiest men
the country can produce. The selec-
ton of men who are to give effect TO
the work and policies of the executive
branch of the government is neces-
sarny in the hands of the president.
But the selection of the men who are
TO evolve the principles and policies
which shall govern legislation is solely
at the hands of the people. on whose
part neglect and indifference may
prove fatal.
do Not Measure up"
The league believes that there are
many men in the present congress
who do not measure up to the high
standard of vision, balanced Judgment,
sound common sense and broad gem
ny-fa xsFt,s nt, Lat ba
statesman. The decision about such
men must necessarily remain with
their respective districts. But every
effort should be nfadefto forcibly bring
home to the people the grave i'm
portance of returning men at the next
election whose capabilities are equal
to the crisis which the country Is fac
ing.
The selection should not be con-
fined TO the men who have been active
in party ranks. The best man in each
party should be chosen without re
gard to his past political activity. Nor
should the fact that a man has previ-
ously served be considered. unless
that man has demonstrated beyond a
doubt his ability to deal understand
ingly with the great problems of the
country. It should not be considered
sufficient that he has voted satisfac-
torily on the measures which have
been put before him. That is merely
a negative merit. His ability as a
thinking and constructive statesman
should be the measure Of his fitness.
Forced to Fight
Every congressional district of the
United States possesses men who are
eminently qualified for service to their
country. but many of whom In the
past have been unwilling to serve.
The spirit of sacrifice and devotion
to duty which now possesses the
country will make these men answer
the call OF their community. They
should be sought out and forced to
fight for the nomination and for the
election. From the peoples stand
point they are Just as good Demo-
Gratis. or just as good Republicans. as
any other member of a party.
1T is useless to point out prob
lem without suggesting possible
solution. The average man or woman
will ask. What can i dor
Every man and woman can write
to, or speak with, political leaders.