The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-05-11
CITY Primary,

The so-called Democratic Conservative COM
mittee have determined to hold primary two
days before the regular election day, for the
purpose of selecting candidates for all of the
city off ces. In other words, few small-fry
politicians, knowing that they would be utter
ly repudiated by the people ON their merits
hope to displace competent and efficient Off
GERS by stirring up party feeling, packing pri-
maries, and thus securing the nominations.
The committee haye published the plan of
their operation. 1t is rare document A
blind man could see that it is simply trap
into which men who could well afford to stand
on their merits and their records, are to be in
weighed and sacrificed, that those who would
have no chance before the people may be
foisted into place. Among the provisions of
the "plan" are the following:
The City Committee shall provide printed
tickets to the number of 1000, containing the
names, in alphabetical order, of all persons
who shall have announced themselves, or been
announced by authority, as candidates for the
positions named, to the Secretary of the City
Committee on or before 8 0 clock of the night
of Saturday, Goth day of May, 1882, and shall
have paid, or caused to be paid to the Treas
urer of the City Committee on or before said
goth day of May at o'clock, P. NJ, such
amount as may be assessed against them for
the purpose of paying the expenses of this
primary election and shall have pledged them
selves as provided in the following section.
No candidate shall be voted for who does
not pledge himself to abide by the result of
the primary election.
No other printed ticket except the one print
ed by order of the City Committee shall be
used in this primary election, and such tickets
shall not be delivered to the Ward Superin-
tendents until the night preceding the day of
the said primary election, who may distribute
them to such registered candidates as call for
them.
In other words, before man is aHoaoed to
ask the suffrages of his fellow voters, he must
obtain the permission of the Secretary-a GER
tificate of character, as it were,-and pay fee
for his abandonment of manly independence.
This would be step too far even if primaries
were designed to reflect popular sentiment and
accomplish that object. Every sensible man
knows such is not the case. They are con-
trolled by little ciques ard rings. The places
are parcelled out before vote is polled. A
certain set may always be relied on. The bulk
of the business men, disguised with the objects
in view, disguised with the means employed,
disguised with the assumed bosses, stay away
| from the polls, and the contest is decided by
those who were instrumental in getting it up.
Many good men who unquestionaby condemn
such methods, are forced into the fight to aid
some friend who, in all probability, has sub
mitted his claims against his own Will and
Judgment, and others still are carried away by
the excitement of the moment and the appeals
to party fidelity.
The contest before us is fair specimen OF
the primary practice, At the last city cleo
ton there were no special nominees. Every
candidate ran on his own merits. The result
was that corps of efficient officers was
elected. Those officers-all Democrats-have
faithfully discharged their several duties, and
so far as we know given general satisfaction.
There is no just reason why they should not
be retained, and if a vote were to be taken to-
morrow, we venture to say that every single
one of them would be installed in the office he
now occupies. We do not know that there is
| any ulSDOSlllOu W lHhhC Il CLdLSC. Nv isli oH
we have heard, the opponents of Democracy
are not asking anything save and except that
the men selected to manage the affairs OF the
city should be competent. This they have
reason to believe is the case with those who
are now holding the offices. There is no pos
sble justification then for this primary bust
ness, if the interests of the city are to be con-
suited. There is no justification if the party
interests, pure and simple, are at stake. No
one, we suppose, will question the Democracy
of single gentleman now holding office I'M
der the city government. Every one of them
is recognized as party man, and as long as
they are in control, the city may be said to be
under Democratic rule. 1t is neither the good
of the city, nor the good of the party that is
to be encompassed by this primary. 1t is
simply an attempt to place in power those who
dare not come before the people as men should,
and ask that their claims be recognized.
| We trust the business men of Staunton will
put their foot down with emphasis upon this
whole primary scheme Many of them, it is
true. have already been partially led into it.
e'AANA
| if all were as fair and honest in the matter as
they, there might be little objection to It, But
the history of all primaries is that they are
managed and controlled by small politicians
for selfish purposes without any regard for the
interests involved. Let these little fellows 60
on and hold their primaries. If they make
good selections, let them be voted for at the
election. If they make Objectionable ones, let
the people be prepared to place the seal OF
their condemnation upon them. There is not
single officer in Staunton who has faithfully
discharged his duty who has any fears OF not
being elected if his claims are fairly before the
voters There are more than one of the "outs, -
however, who, conscious of the fact that they
have no claim to the confidence and support OF
the citizens of Staunton, are seeking, by means
of this primary, to tie the voters hands SO
that they may attain to those places now
worthly filled by men of their own party
household. In this grab game of the primary
| the greediest hope to bear off the prizes.