Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-09-06

| II those in control have been true
to their trusts: if they have been wise
and efficient; II the management has
been good. then it should be contiu
ucd; If not. 1t should be changed. not
in the interest of any person or party
put In the interest of Virginia. If
those intrusted with power do not
give us good management. it should
be changed again until those CHARGED
with the administration of the af-
fairs of this state are taught that
the management must he economical
and efficient; that they are the ser
| wants not the masters of tho noon,c
When the people of this State have
the independence and freedom from
party CONTROL thus to assert the power
of their citizenship, they will deserve
and have good government. and vir
| GINA will be free
One Party Control.
For thirty yearsV the management
OF 'he state and local governments of
virginia has been in the hands of an
| tani"a'ioh called the Democratic
iartE. l speak of il as an oE.uui-
eaton. for the very obvious reason
| mat Tor many years past that Marty
! ana through 1t the State, has been
| under the complete control of Il small
| political group In command of an
eNer-ihcrcaSinE army of oiiicc-hold-
ers, and the people who have voted
win that party have been mere i'm
| strumcntS in the hands of this ma
chinc for the control of the State.
Gnuer TINS inEcnius party machienry.
few men. generally Office holders.
supposed To be servants of the people
nave gained Il complete mastery over
virginia and every branch of it's po-
lttical and economic life They have
selected the candidates fpr office. and
forced the people to accept them by
| appeals to party Loyalty and the
! crack or tho party whD. They have
| ruthlessiy punished and Inundated
any man who showed independence OF
| thought or action. They have used
the state and local Offices to reward
| party services. and II their Organi1a-
| ton needed additional men they have
hcen supplied by increasing the num-
Der of office folders. and lcvying the
! cost upon the people in the form of
taxes. This has gone on until the
number OF persons officially connect
| ed with or employed by the State and
| local governments, and thus largely
| subject to the orders of this political
| ring, is in excess of $4,000. II evil
| dcncc were needed as To the com
| plctcnesS OF this control over the
| Democratic party and over this state.
| or OF the cynical efficiency of this po-
iitical machine. il has been furnished
| hy the events Of the past few weeks
| The responsibility for the results OF
| this one party management of the
| affairs of Virginia rests primarily.
therefore. with this political orEani-
zation; but in the last analysis it rests
| with the people, who by their indif-
| ference or blind following of a party
rame. which no longer stands for
principles, have continued this ma
| chine in power.
In every branch OF our social. po-
| litical and industrial life the results
| of this thirty years OF one party con-
! troll have been the Observation-Disclosures.
| waste, stagnation-with an evcr-in-
crcasing army of Office holders. and
| ever increaSed taxation. IL this We're
! a private business showing such re-
| suits. there is not Il man or woman in
/ Virginia who would not insist upon
/ an irnmcditc change OF management
| from top 10 bottom.
. No UrIicf From the Democratic Party.
The apologists for the Democratic
Party suggest that needed reforms
may be accomplished within that
party. Naturally they suggest any
/ thing that will continue the orEani-
cation in power. Since that party
present no PLATFORM. we are unable to
/ say what. il anything. IL proposes.
! Those in control OF the Democratic
| organiZati ton have complete control
over the State and local governments,
! with an unrestricted use OF the taxing
! power. They have two thirds Of the
white population of the state disfran-
chiscd They have complete control
over the election machinery and can
manipulate it to accomplish their will.
They have Il people trained through
/ generations to meek submission to
party loyalty" and slavery Io'a marty
name. They have an army Of Office
holders and employees subject to their
orders. and responsive to their Will.
Very naturally they do not present
any platform or propose any reforms
! which would change these conditions
or cndanger their control OF the
State.
Rut il is obvious to any one that
any substantial reform through this
| organization is Impossible. however
| good its intentions. In the last state
campaign they promised reduction
in taxes and improvement in the
highways. yet the tax receipts OF the
state have increased $1,000 900 in
four years, and comment upon the
roads is unnecessary Reform re-
guircs independence Of thought and
action: courage to contend with en-
trcnchcd power. None OF these are
POSSIBLE with the Democratic party
as now organized and controlled.
The political machine which domi-
| mates that party, demands and en-
forces strict obedience. Ii permits no
independence. no deviation from its
orders. Governor Montague tried
independence, He was promptly de-
fcatcd as candidate for tn senate.
Mr. Tucker tried independence. and
twenty-five years OF devoted party
service could not placatc the angry
gods Of the organization, or ward of
the punishment which awaited him.
Governor Davis, elected through u
temporary split in the party machin-
cry has tried independence. and 1t
takes no political prophet 10 see what
the organization has in store for him
IL the Ions suffering people Will per-
init.
30 one can he elected TO office on
the Democratic ticket except with the
support OF the machine and il would
! MT hn human eSDect those who