Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-11
FROM OTHER VIEWPOINTS :
Problems by
Authoritative Wrtcrs-A Daily Editorial =
THE VIRGINIA SYMMACHY.


, union OF communities in war An as-
| sociation OF lighting units. a pooling Ut
war-,me interests. and n summing UP
| of battling activities We cannot form
an alliance. u union, a confederacy. or
an association. for these terms are al.
ready pre-empted; but we may form a
sy;nmachy. Virginia Symmachy, liz
Which each community and county in
Virginia may have it's part, and / be-
li.ve that tho future historian or ana
lyst or geneRiogist viii BIO thankful
for the records Of such an organizR-
ton IT will furnish footnotes and
sidelights TO the history Of these waff
years that will be OF great value and
THAI Will inspire each community In
years to come.
There is "a Greek element in tho Wiz.
sinia makeup that favors such q plan
In spite OF the boasted New England
town meeting, II Is probably true that
in Virginia more than elsewhere the
old Greek IDEAL Of the town-stAte still
pesists. Upon this root idea we have
grated the English plan OF local self
government. SO that pride Of place has
peculiar Intensity in Virginia, and
our soldiers over there will be cheer
Ell ana stirred TO their utmost efficiency
when they know that they are NOM.
oers no, only OF the allied forces and
Of the American army. but also hon.
orcd members Of the Virginia SYM
machy. For this Virginia Symmuchy
Will be the Virginia army, not listed
ana flied in the dockets of tho War De-
parlnlent. not scattered through ia
companies and battalions and regi.
menIs and corps and divisions. with
ont local Identity or prestige, but II
VIII be the Virginia army Of lighters In
INT world war made unit through
common traditions and ideals. and hay.
inS living identity and personality
because each member carries with HIN
the hopes and prayers OF Vireinia
community and having corporate ex-
istencc in that each ono is q son of tns
Mother Of States, with NIL OF inspIra-
.ion and all Of efficiency that tho name
Implies.
The Virginia Symmachy. then, win
be wartime association OF The coun.
ties and communities Of Virginia, hay.
ing one prime object and two minor
OBJECTS. as follows:
First. TO foster patriotism By maxi
Ing Il proper record OF the local men
enrolled In the American Army, show
ing what contribution in men and In
4ee"s each c"mmuhity or county has
Maoc 10 the common cause in tho
great war.
second 10 foster patriotism by keep
ms u faithful record OF the activities
ana contributions OF each locality In
each Liberty loan and war savings
drive.
Third. to foster patriotism by keep
Ing permanent record OF the work
done and results achieved by the men
and women OF each locality In connec.
ton with the Red Cross work and tho
y. NJ G. A. service.
To give authority and conference to
the work OF the Virginia SymmAehy.
It's work might be placed under the
auspices OF some permanent and prom
inent organization. such as tho Vir-
ginia Historical Society. although
there is no reason why such an or
gan!zation should not have a separate
and independent eXistance.
There should be no salaried officers,
bu, the work should be labor OF
love. and all these chapters should
unite IN sending delegates to q stated
meeting in the State capital to or
Gamize the Virginia Symmachy with
suitable constitution and by-lawa
The leading journals OF THO State, fully
alive TO the historic value OF the scat
tered Items o. wartime informant
appearing in their news columns, may
be counted on to aid In this patriotic
work, and thus the annals OF tho Vir-
GINA army in our own camps and on
the baltic fields OF Europe. as we'll a.
the small beer chronicles" OF local
activities for patriotic ends will DO pro.
served for ready reference and for the
sitting that time will bring Tho GU
mulntive value OF the records OF such
Virginia Symmachy can hardly DO
ovcrstated ~