Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-04-25
MONDAY, APRlL -. 1921.
Politics VS.. business

Il c ENAToR TRiNKLE continues to stress
~ the business administration" plank of
{ the platform on which he hopes to attain
& the gubernatorial nomination and, rs a mat
Z ter of course, the govcrnorship. BY his
+ constant rciteration of Virginia's need of
business administration. while perhaps not
making the charge in SO many words. he i'm
plies that Virginia is not now rcaping the
fruits and enjoying the prosperity of a bust
ness regime.
The public understands, of course. that in
politics there is n large admixture OF bun
combe, and that the business administra-
ton war cry. which the Senator has adopt
ed as his own, rings we'll in the popular ear
But when he goes to the length of charging,
even by inference. that Virginia has not now
business administration, the public not
only resents il, but demands that the Senator
point out wherein the present administra-
ton has failed in the inauguration and APP
plication OF modern business principles and
methods, and insists that he tell them in
specific terms how he would improve upon
the system.
His one concrete suggestion for what he
is pleased to consider an Improvement is in
the reorganization OF the Highway Depart
ment, whose duties he would divide up and
parcel out among officials resembling some
what the old-fashioned board OF supervis-
ors. Senator Trinklc knows as we'll as any
one else that all the vast and manifold
duties which he has pictured as devoIving
upon the shoulders of the Highway Commits
sioner, making the job; .as he says, too big
for any man, are not shouldcred by one
man, any more than the chief of any great
Organization looks personally after all the
details of his business. The chief is re-
sponsible, but he has in turn his heads of
departments, his advisers and his assis-
tants, who carry out his general plans. SO
il is with the Highway Commissioners. and
knowing all this, ii may be suspected that
the prospect OF political plums to be passed
out has rather twisted the Senator's per-
spective, and brought about his advocacy OF
such an unbusinesslkc procedure as the
decentralization of the department Vir-
ginia has experimental with that system be-
] lore, and it has so little 10 show in the way
! OF good roads for its pains and its money
that it has no desire TO return TO it.
i What, for instance, would the Senator
do to improve. upon what is now being done
Z for the betterment of the school system?
Would he upset the work of the present sur
.yey, and insist that there, too the old dis
credited unit system be maintained?
How would the Senator improve on the
husfpess methods now matcrializcd in the
budget system Of controlling and safeguard
ing the States expenditures. a system in
augurated and brought to a high state of
modern efficiency under the direction of the
present Governor? Surely, he would not
dare to advocate return to the old slim
shod. wastefui, log-rollnp plan
Doeasthe Senator know Of a better bust
ness method of buying the States suppIies
fou<. d various and diverse institutions than
u nd1gh the purchasing agent a system also
Eurated by Governor Davis, which has
.si!Smany thousands o. dollars 10 the
&. and will save many more. provided
asnot disturbed? What would The. Scua
3r substitute for that in the interest Of
great Ter business efiiciency?
{; G: AID what would the Senator do at the
s,,,,t,ni tantiary? Would ne pu, the prisoners
gbas L into stripes? Would he undo what has
3 Saens done and is being done along modern