The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-05-11

manhood. 1t would have been substantially
making wicked farce of the ballot box and
bartering away the elective franchise, the
highest and most sacred privilege of citizen
sh:r, for less than mess of pottage.
This plan was adopted in the organization of
the primary movement. 1t was cut from a
Richmond paper, aud placed in the hands of
one of the partic.pators in the primary, and he
read it, doubtless. without knowing whether it
had any application to, Staunton or not
When the attention of the people was called
to its arbitrary and dcspotc provisions, they
began to denounco them, and the prospects
were growing gloomy even for a bakers dozen
to lend their aid to the qualification of the sell
fish motives of the three or four gentlemen
who had instituted the movement. The Gen.
trail Committee realized the perpleNity of the
situation. They had gone into the movement,
and did not see we'll how to yet out of it, either
by withdrawing from itor going forward I'M
der the plan adopted. It was seriously sug-
gested to abandon the whole movement. This
was not done, however, but the next best thing
was adopted, and taht was to throw the Viu-
dacator and its little nest of vpers overheard,
repudiate the plan and substantially abandon
the essential features Of a primary election.
Instead of writing the names of the voters
/ across the ballot, and calling out the candi-
dates names, the secret ballot was adopted
Instead of requiring every man, whether the
voter or the candidate voted for, to abide the
decision Of the election, no conditions seemed
to be required. Candidates who had declared
their intention not to submit to the primary
were voted for and nominated-notably Mr..
Hudson, Commissioner of the Revenue, and
Mr. Futz, Councilman. Other gentlemen
who had been decided in their expression of
opposition to the primary, were voted for and
nominated. Persons were allowed to vote for
a particular candidate for q particular office,
with the understanding that they were to be
committed to no other. In fact all the essen
tial conditions of q primary election were dis
regarded and its whole purpose substantially
repudiated. Notwithstanding all this irregu-
larisy and looseness, and the most inveterate
coaXing, driving and impcrtuning, at 2 O'Clock
not over 100 votes were cast, we have been in
formed. as we were not in the city that day
The Court House bell sounded It's solemn ap-
peals in vain to the voters to come forward
The "Whppers-in" were disheartened and dis
coulaged and the whole affair seemed to drag
and flag, almost to a total failure, when an I'M
expected stmulant was given To the popular
pulse by the appearance of several personal
circulars on the streets. These were taken I'D
by the curb-stoners, msrepresented aud per-
verified. Other circulars of different charac-
ter were soon afterwards Issued. calculated TO
excite feeling, and the artfu leaders who were
about to fail i'll their primary, availcd them
selves of this state Of excited feeling, to rush
and push voters to the polls. In this way.
they counted up at O'Clock upwards Of 400
voters, about one-fourth Of the registered vote
Of the city, many casting their ballots under a
misrepresentation, others voting who had no
right to vote, and some voting for a particular
candidate with the condition that it did not
bird them except in the case of the candidate
indicated on their ballots.
1t will be seen from this showing that the
prominent and material features of primary
election were not regarded as essential in this
case 1t was not considered necessary that
candidate should have declared his purpose to
submit his claims to its decision. nor that he
should approve the policy of such an election.
1t was not required of every voter that he
should regard himself as bound by the result of
the election as to all the candidates chosen. The
primary and controlling object seemed to have
been to get as many votes cast as possible. it
nattered not with what understanding or from
what motye-so they We're cast. It could then
be paraded before the people that majority of
the Conservative voters Of the city had declared
for a primary, and participated in it, and the
party lash brought into use to whip the re-
cacitrants into the traces. With about 400
votes cast, ont of about 1900 registered, it can.
be judged how near the purpose was accom-
plished.
1t remains to be seen now whether the mana
gers OF this movement will demand the entire
and unconditional Submission of all who voted
on the 9th, from whatever consideration or
with whatever reservation, to the full result of
the primary. We question whether they will
attempt the force game. If they do, we will
await with some curiosity to see the termina-
ton of it.
~