Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-09-06
Total .,l7e,sos.al


The individual Governors are help
less so long as the organization Ii SUI
preTnc.
What does the Democratic orGani-
cation propose 10 remedy this Condi-
ton? Nothing. II has no platform.
II is not to be expected that so long
rs the people blindly give their sup
port TO n party name, II will reduce
taxes or do anything else to limit or
restrain the power or influence Of tho
office holding group. Why should the
organization change conditio7
which takes the voting power from
the people VINO pay the taxes and
puts IL into the hands Of people who
levy the taxes, so long as the people
vote at every election to approve the
present conditions and maintain that
control?
The Repubiica platform pledges
that party. IL given control. to a com
plete reorganization of our State and
local governments on business and
efficient lines; the reduction of the
number Of Office holders and en-
ployes to those required for the busi
ness administration of the govern
ment; a complete revision of our tax
system on the basis of equality and
equity: the complete abolition OF the
fee system; the extension OF the bud
get system to all branches of the
local government. II also pledges
that party to n complete audit OF the
accounts of this State and It's public
institutions by an auditor not con-
nected with the government, some
thing which has not been done for
generations. and material reduc-
tion in the taxes now imposed upon
:he taX-hurdGned people of this Com
monwealth.
DO you want n reduction in taxes
and revival of the industrial life of
this State? II so, vote with us on
this issue.
Enforcement of the Laws.
The general spirit of contempt for
the law and its eforcement. even
among some Of our best citizens, is
an alarming evidence OF the extent to
which we have departed from the
principles Of free government In Vir-
ginia. This Is particularly true with
respect to the laws as to elections and
the prohibition laws. the disregard
of which endangcrs the foundations
of our institutions and strikes at the
health and moral welfare of the PEG
pie.
II is a notorious fact that many of
stantly ignore the provisions of tho
election laws. The failure or refusal
to provide adequate polling places and
booths deprived thousands OF people
of their ballot in the last election.
The law gives the minority party the
right to one Judge OF election In
every precinct. This Is constantly
ignored. The law requires that the
ballot box shall be at all times in
public view. This is constantly ig-
nored. The law prohibits Judge OF
election from marking the ballot OF
any person who registered since 1904.
unless such person be physically up
able to do 80. This is constantly ig
nored. The law requires voter to
go into a booth and mark his own
ballot for the protection of the Sc
crct ballot. This Is constantly ig
nored. The cynical disregard of these
and other essential provisions Of our
election laws make our elections n
farce. and prevent that free express
sion Of the will of the people which
Jeffers9p declared TO be the essential
OF free government.
The utter disregard OF the will Of
the. people through the violation Of
the prohibition laws is n matter of
cannon knowledge. The Illicit dis
tiller and bootlegger have become