The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-24
I,erelixiur Primary Elcctsons

-
Legalizing Primary Elections.
That "the bcst-,aid schemes Of mice and
men gang al, agEey" has long been known
by everybody; yet nonethe icssUoes every
man seem 10 be liable to the aciusion thai
his sche,nc OF reform is not cpn to the OBJ
lection that II Is impracticablo. PORE rest
lied that II was few Of all fhe ills of hh
thai laws conid cure; andNe all profess 70
have learned the same lesson, and we oct
accordingly until some scwl presents isseli
before lis which we wishso correct hsehe
strong hand Of the law.
In the uorthern cities primary elections
have dcgenerated iatc something worse
than mere caucus. Whey are no songer
the expression OF thewill OF the masses OF
either marty. A few Ective and unserupu-
Ions Iessicrs control them. BY means OF
clubs, or otherwise, these leaders agree be-
forebsnd upon the candidates whom they
win support; bring up the clubs to the
support OF those candidates; send out
members Of these clubs as active election
eerors, and, thus concentrating their votes
upon the candidates. agreed upon In adj
vance, make These the nominees OF the
party.
To remedy this state OF things Harper'S
UseLly lavors the passagesi law pro-
ylding liatprimaiy elections shall he held
under the sanctions OF an acs OF Assembly,
and thus bc.otiicered and controlled by
persons responsible for Their actsas judges.
superyisors,&c. II Is possible that some
good might be accomplished by such
law; but we doubt it. What is the real
eyily II consists in the fact that the result
of the primary electionis determined be-
forehand ly the action Of persons who pro-
fess to ACT In good faith in taking part
in such election. Suppose, then, that
the law shall provide for conduct
ing according TO law one primary election
TO be held previous to essh regular election;
what then? VIII that fact prevent the
party leaders from having a primary ctee-
ton of their own? or deyising some ether
means al deciding in advance who shall be
the nominees Of The party? viii the law
provide Cor legalizing enc primary election
to be held previous TO every regular elee-
ton. and make 10 an offence against the
Commonwealth for more than one such
primary election 10 be held? We presume
not. No Legislatnewill be likely to at
tempt to create new crime OF that sort.
There are too many offences against
the law already which are not nsaia in Sc
but merely n,aia proAi6ita. To make it
crime punishable by fine or imprisonment,
or by both, for voters TO hold primary elec-
tions on their own account would be to
trench upon the liberties OF the citizen.
Such law hwould be dillicultto enforce
perhaps impossible.
But even If the law could successfully
forbid primary elections, other means
would be resoIted TO in order TO accom-
pIish the end Sn view. The clubs would |
only redouble their efforts. The better
class OF voters would continue to be care !
less in the performance Of the duty OF pro-
viding good candidates; and the ward
DosscS Noulu 9cisist iu ~ ni"''""AihS
their forces as 10 carry out the orders OF
the city and State bosses. The law will be |
powerlcss TO preTent such efforts.
In Philadelphia committee OF one hun
dred OF the hest class of voters, who pledge !
themselves TO accept no office, have for a
year or two exercised wonderful and a
most salutary influence upon the results Of
he regular elections. The Newly m'kers
night follow with advantage in the foot
.ts.:~ EoIlox.. e,,A.o.xor,