Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-09-17
Letters must give the name md
address, OF the writer. Name will
not be published u writer NO
requests. Communications should
he limited to 100 words,
Americas ancmic. In Virginia.
TO The Editor of The Times Dispatc,

-
TO The Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
Sir,--Within the last few years the
tomb OF n philosopher was, opened in
EGYPT. an eminent man who died
some 1000 years ago They found
among other things a manuscript in
which he had written that the cost
OF living was higher. women were
Naincr. and politicians were more cor
,rupt than ever before in the history
of the world" Things here today
would present very vivid picture to
this gentleman. IL he could look on
tn" America we know now. 1t Is
hardly TO he hoped that the view
would be more pleasing than the
world he knew. The reason may be
attributed To Americas enemies.
These may be classified under SOW
cral hcadS--thc first mentioned are
but the natural dangers to the coun-
try, tho usual stumbling blocks OF
progress; the foreign state. which
with cnvious eyes Covcts the wealth
of America. is ever present. yet as
a common enemy il usually known,
and the strength and patriotism of
the country has been sufficient In
the past to keep him in his place by
force of arms. Religious domination
has in tn. past been handled properly.
when II became too threatening So
cIalism has for years been tainting
our civilization. II probably has a
greater hold now than ever before. or
we are informed OF the activities IF
the lntcr-collcSiatc Sociaiistic So
cicty. among others. and the fact that
almost every university in the United
States numbers among it's faculty
one ar more professors who are
av"wcd Socialists. Usually in the
college. too. there is a chapter COM
posed OF members Of tho student body
and Marx doctrines are believed in
and taught. This enemy is indeed
dangerous. because h. is III. rotten
apple in the barrel. The fac, is al
most unbelievable. but true also. that
the 1000 and odd Socialistic. Holsh"-
vistic and other "'Istic' newspapers
and periodicals printed in America
are financed by the idle rich OF the
4 cult. The product Of this is the
fodder fed the news Items OF the
daily papers. with their ever repeat
ed story OF strikes and IA" activities
OF the |. W. W. These are some of
the cancers that are rnawinE at the
Nitals of our country, some OF the
enemies here at home. You may say
that this will adjust itself We have
laws against these doctrines. If they
who offend but these laws have been
made subject to so much law that
they are almost powcrlcss, for the
reason that the masses of the people
do not see to their enforcement. But
To protect the country against the
enemy, Of which YOU are ono. II YOU
can and do not vote. careless OF the
responsibility YOU inherited when
YOU became Of age. there is no statute
law-your sleeping conscience IL tn"
only safeguard To protect your fellow
men from misplaced confidence. Pub
lie office is Il public trust'-has been
the detained on tho huStinG III this
country sine" It's beginning by those
who arc seeking office by the votes
OF their fellow citizens. What pro-
NORTON Of that public is represented
by those loyal citizens. who listen to
tho impassi"ncd slogan, afterwards
vote and tender 10 the successful can
didatc that public trust? Why are
the larE. ma jority of the absent mem
hcrs OF that public not in evidence?
These are the real enemies Of Amer
lea tn, absent public at the polls.
nih yOu ever stop and think
whether YOU Yourself are a real Citi-
zen Unless YOU have registered and
cNorciS" regularly your sovereign
right - vote YOU ar" not. You are,
indeed, though YOU may not realize II.
"a very much worse enemy OF America
ana Of Your stat" in your paSsIrcncss
than was ;Nc German. who ma!ntaircd
and held for a while the IIindcnburr
line, than - III. Bolshcvlst. VIII"
would take All 10y force, because they
are open enemies, and Americans
broke tn" Iijnd-nhurE line and Will
again. Z necessary. American law,
even il badly crippled. viii! still deal
with th- i:olshcViSt-bu there IL no
law to deal with your unfaithfulness.
Yet you exist hy the country you live
in. Can YOU not realize that this is
your own country, your own state
your own city that YOU are Il stock
holder and a part owner therein. who
have Il right 10 say. and II is your
duty also To see and know. how the
same shall hc run; that in tn" final
analysis th,t The responsibility Of
making your state either failure
or Il success is yours? Can you not
understand that it is your fault e
the right man does not fill the public
office, take the public trust? You
may say There are a good many
like myself Politics is dirty bust
ness. have my personal affairs to
look after" II is only TOO true. and
Pity us. It's true" for many share
your selfish views, hence Virginia
with Il population OF 2.306.3Gl in 1920
only casa 22a.2"2 votes for all candi-
dates in the presidential election
the cities "f Richmond and Norfolk
cost only li3 and ~. respectively. for
every Loco population. while North
Carolina. with practically the same
class "f people from "a population Of
2,556,iSG cast 5%s.2?i votes, and other
Southern states in the same proper
ton.
You. so ungratcful to Virginia, have
n plenty OF company. hut way down
in your heart YOU know il is not very
good company. DO YOU not realize
that the social and commercial
statutes both rest on tho political, and
II the latter is bad. society and bust
! ness VIII become first tainted. and
| finally rotten? Did it ever occur 20
you that personally you will suffer.
I INFORMATION BIJREAIJ