Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1929-09-28
"AcIN THE GOVERNMENT"

Inc eQlIOIldl uIIei 'iiSSo -
Richmond, Va, Times-Dispatch OF
September oath, under the above
raption has occasioned much thought !
and comment as to just what the
very able editor had in mind, when
he practically read the "riot act' to
those machine Democrats, who would
lul the rank and file of the Party
into feeling Of false security. he
said: !
DESPITE the air of confidence which
marks all gatherings OF Democratlc
leaders, strange reports keep seepiing
IN from the counties of surprising
enemy strength. Modest observers,
outside the inner circle of either
narty. who predicted Hoover vic
low in Virginia last fall are just as
certain that Brown will win in No
vember. 1t may be true that the
coalition candidate has failed to re-
Veal a single indication of his ability
70 administer the government OF the
Estate. it may be true that his blunder-
mo attempts to make certain North
| ern industrialists an issue IN the local
| fight have panied his followers to the
point where they will not gather ana
listen to him talk, but these, wise
acres say that he will, nevertheless,
oct more votes in many counties than
will DR.. Pollard. They say, in fact,
that he will win the election.
In the face of all the facts that
can be marshaled to prove that the
Democratic party today is giving
Virginia a remarkably efficient ad-
ministration, in the face of the fact
that DR.. Brown has revealed nothing
but stupidity and extravaganza in his
campaign utterances, it still must be
admitted that his victory is certainly
a possibility. 1t is true that the anti
administration allies cannot use, with
full success, the issues that brought
victory last November, but it is equal
" true that they have on their slae
! thousands of former Democrats VINO
would follow any candidate who came
out in opposition to their old party.
We do not believe that the Times
Dispatch has misstated existing con-
ditions as every person, versed IN
past political situations have been
able to see them. 1t says further:
The coalition forces have this OBJ
vious advantage: they entered the
field with a following that no argu-
ment in the world could shake, that
no development of the campaign
could swerve from their purpose. 1t
is easy to prove the truth of this as
sertion by engaging the average
coalitionist in debate concerning the
respective merits of his and the
enemv's candidates. They are not
concerned about Browns weakness
or Pollard's strength. Neither can
didate means anything to them. Iney
are simply out to beat the govern
ment. - =,
It is interesting (if unprofitable)
to speculate on the reasons Tor TINS
queer state of affairs. Our own feel
ing is that it is the cumulative effect
of wears and decades of uninterrupt-
ed success on the part of one party.
I Each election finds certain number
of voters who are bitterly opposed to
the administration candidate. He
loses. and nurses his grievance unit!
he is given another opportunity to
relieve his feelings by giving the can
didate of the enemy poke. IN the
eve. He is permanently alienated.
He may be known as an indie
pendent, because he has left one
political party for another, but he is
no more Independent than the slave
of any passion. His life is dedicated
to revenge. He lives, politically, to
see the party in power grovel IN the
dust. -.
Issues mean nothing to him, statis-
tics showing progress in road build !
ing. education, public health work or
any other function of government
merely annoy him. He is "agin the
government" and he will remain so
until the government" has been
beaten. !;
This is political gospel based upon
past political experience. 1t applies
with equal force to both of the old
political parties. 1t carries the
analysis further and draws upon
lurid facts when it continues: :,
Once that happens, once the ruling
powers have been thrown out and
another group placed in power, ne
may return to some semblance OF
reason and sanity and mark his ball,
lot as his judgment dictates. But
until the symbol of his hatred has
been Inundated and dethroned, he
will remain, if he should live CEN
tury, an automatic recruit to the
ranks of any army that sets itself up
against the government.
1t is inevitable that, sooner or
later, the Democratic party will be
beaten in Virginia. So will the Re-
publicans lose one day in Maine. For
the good of the State, however, 1t IS
to be hoped that the Republicans and
whatever allies they may summon to
their aid will not gain control OF the
local government until they have
managed to pick from their ranks
some man who gives promise OF CIV
ing the State at least mediocre ad-
Notwithstanding their
constant appeal for more indepen,
dence in State politics, they will IND
that, if they should decide to select
a candidate who gives promise OF be-
ing a better Governor than the
Democratic nominee, and who re-
veals proper conception OF the re-
sponsibilities and opportunities OF the
off;oo +bav will find MANY Democrats