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

| right. vote with us on this issue.
l have undertaken to review. with
out passion or prejudice, the results
| of thirty years OF the management
of the affairs of this state by the
Democratic organization. upon every
| department OF the social. political
| and economical life OF Virginia. IL
presents an appalling record OF po,
| Ntical repression; OF devices to de-
! feat the free expression of the will
Of the people: of inefiiciency, waste
and resulting staEnatlon. with ever
increasing burdens upon the people
of this old Commonwealth II Is
enough to arouse the sober thought
and call into action the unselfish
citizenship of every man and woman
who loves Virginia: who values the
heritage Of It's past. and is conscious
OF obligations to It's future.
Tho Democratic Party offers no re-
lief. 1t has no platform. Any
change Is dangerous to it's power.
| Any reform which will help the peo-
pie must Of necessity prejudice that
office holding machine which It has
created. and upon which 1t mus, de-
pend for continued control. It is a
| question between the Democratic ma
chine and "A free Virginia. The pco-
pie must make the choice.
| Mr. TrinkIe's Position.
II We turn from the pnrty itself,
without a platform. TO it's candidate
for Governor, the outlook IL equally
barren and discouraging do not
! propose to discuss Mr. Trinkle per-
sonally. I believe him to be man
of character and ability. and respect
him as such This fact makes all
the more Impressive his utter want
OF any program. Of any suggestion
| OF relief for the people of Virginia
from those conditions which have
reviewed. and which are painfully IA
| miliar to us all.
He has been in public life for years.
and In primary campaign for
| months. and must he presumed to
have formulated his ideas as to flu
tuTe policy. II elected. He is reported
| In the press TO have said that he has
no platform. and refuses to say in
| advance what will be his policy, but
that IL elected he will give his entire
time to the duties of Governor! AS
the laws of the State require this, he
could hardly promise less!
One of the reasons urged for his
| election LIS the fact that he has heen
for six years member of the State
| Senate. / have examined his record
| in that body to the best of my abii-
ity, and cannot find that he has ever
! originated a single constructive
measure. or made n constructive Rug
gestion for the benefit or relief OF
the people Of Virginia.
In the six years of his service the
cost OF state government in Virginia
has gone up from s7.sOO.OO0 a year
to SlS,500,o0O year, but can find no
record OF his having suggested a sin
gle economy or reform: or a single
| effort on his part To reduce the tax
burdens of the people.
lie has voted consistently with the
machine organization and their en-
thusiastic support is his reward.
In this period OF his service the
number OF ice-holders has heen
greatly increased and I cannot and
that he ever voted against the crea-
ton OF an office.
1t Is a record barren OF encourage
ment and destructive OF hope to the
people OF Virginia: one which can
hardly be urged as sound reason
for his elevation 10 q higher post.
Mr.. Trinklc cannot favor any re-
orEaniza ton OF the political syetcm
in Virginia. which Is essential to the
restoration Of its freedom. for that
would be blow at the office holding
machine OF which he is a part and
upon which he Is dependent for po-
litical support. He stands for the
maintenance of that utterly immoral
| and repressive system.
| I understand he Is opposed to any
reform in the electoral system. Natu-
rally so. for he and his organization
have promted by present conditions
and the Acknowledgement OF two
thirds OF the white people OF Vir-
ginia. am Informed that at tina
last session of the Senate II was
proposed to give to the young SOL
ders who fought IN the late war,
and were disfranchised by failure to
| nay the poll tax during their alb
sence, the right to vote on the same
basis as veterans of the Civil War
without payment of that tax. HIS
| opposed II. Naturally he did not dc.
sire TO release theHe young men into
the electorate to endanger the exist
ing machine. 1t remains to be seen
what these young soldiers Will have
to say on the subject!
II he favors any reform In oar
school system, have been unable
to find any suggestion to that eff
feet The present system is an es-
sential part of the political machine
and its reform would be destructive
OF their interest.
| ne FpttN FOF the creation OF the
present ridiculous State Highway
Commission ana now proposes to
| remedy the defects Of this commits
sion government hy creating more
commissions in the districts. This
means more waste and less eff1-
cheney. more office holders and less
roads: while the people need less Of
| ice holders and more roads.
| II he has any policy as to the i'm
provement or development of agricui-
ture in this State, ! can find no record
| OF any such suggestion. The pres
ent organization of the Agricultural
| Department Is an essential part of
the political machine. or course he
can promise M relief.
II he has any policies as to the i'm
provement Of Industrial conditions In
| Virginia; the relief OF industry from
| its present stagnation. and the de-
velopmeDt Of our natural resources
| he has failed to disclose them.
II he has any policy ae 10 child
welfare, mothers relief or improve
ment Of the conditions OF labor in
| this State, he has made no such sug-