The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-06
THE PRIMARY PROSPECT.
EVILS AND ERRORS IN THE PLAN
HERETOFORE ADOPTED.
Somo Suggestions That May Possibly
be OF Benefit to tho Democratic
City Committee.

The Democratic City Committee at their
meeting held Tuesday night decided that
a primary election was preferable to a con-
vention for the nomination OF members OF
the House OF Delegates.
The subject was quite fully discussed,
and the advantages and disadvantages OF
each plan were thoughtfully considered.
The result was that a primary was resolved
upon by vote OF Is to O. OF the six
there were some who were not opposed to
q primary, but did not vote for it then and
there, thinking that the matter should be
delayed for fuller discussion and further
developments.
THE PRIMARY PLAN.
A committee Of one from each ward
was appointed to prepare a detailed plan
and will report at the regular meeting Of
the City Committee TO be held tomorrow
night.
The companion Of views OF members on
Tuesday night disclosed the fact that the
friends OF private ballot were quite
strong. No vote was taken. but number
Of the speakers said they were for that
change.
BAD FEELING.
1t is n well-known fact that some candi-
dates have cut the acquaintance OF people
who voted against them at the primary.
In numerous instances bad feeling between
old friends has been engendered. The ad-
vocates OF a private ballot believe that 1t
will remedy all this and secure the truest
expression Of the preferences OF the voters.
The employe can vote to suit himself, not his
employer. A policeman, fireman, or laborer
in any department OF the city government
can vote Just as he wishes without danger
OF incurring any ones displeasure. They
will be voting at the primary then just as
they vote at the regular election, and per-
haps there will, as consequence, be a
check put to the steady decline in the legis-
lative primary vote. Many Democrats are
daily heard ayowing that they will not
subject themselves TO the annoyances the
uiua-uoce system permits and suggests.
and that they will rather stay away from the
polls.
DISTRIBUTION OF TICKETS.
Our voters, with rare exceptions. are in
dependent and intelligent. They want the
largest freedom OF action. They will vote
as they please or not at all. Rather than
have to press to the polls through crowd
OF vote-brokers and solicitors; rather than
have a group debating or suggesting to
them how to frame their ticket; rather
than have their votes cried out and offence
given to friends against whom they vote in
no unkindness, they stay at home primary
day and feel under no particular obligation
to come out on the day Of election.
For these reasons, ii is contended by
those who urge change, the private ballot
Is preferable TO the UiUa-UOce vote.
III these views are correct the tickets
should be distributed throughout the city
the day before the primary. They ought
to be distributed by boys up and down the
streets, so that il man wishes to fix up
his ticket in the quiet OF his own home he
can do it. After he has done that he will
feel like going to the primary to vote-par-
ticularly so as he will only have to drop his
ticket in ballot-box and depart to his
business.
now TO GET OUT CANDIDATES.
A private ballot and tickets put in adj
vance at each mans door will largely re-
duce the number OF solicitors about the
polls. To still further rid the people OF
this annoyance there are some members
OF the City Committee who think it would
be well for the committee to make de-
cided expression discOuntenancing the
custom Of candidates employing men to So
licit votes at the primary. 1t is hardly
possible for the evil to be extinguished en-
tirely. but it may possibly be abated some,
especially IL the candidates who deplere
the greatness Of the expenses OF primary
are sincere in their professions OF regret
that the vote-soliciting business has grown
to such consequence as it has here, and are
willing to aid in real effort at reform i'll
this direction.
MORE v0TING-PLACEs.
Another thing that will certainly help
bring out big vote is to open each voting
precinct in the city.
That was not done TWO years ago.
IL was not done because the committee
hesit1ted to incur the expense it would en-
tail, fearing that the candidates would not
consent to bear all that burden, as they are
required to do.
That was the trouble then, and will be
the one now; but since it is proposed to
adopt some methods which will In great
degree rid the candidates Of paying vote
solicitors, perhaps they would agree to
stand n little heavier share OF cost to open
all the precincts instead OF having only one
yoting-place in each ward.
THE DATE OF THE PRIMARY.
Another thing the committee will be
called upon to decide will be as to the date
when the primary can be most servlceably
held. 1t has usually been held IN Septem-
Der or early in October, and the experience
has been that after it is over many OF the
defeated aspirants take no further interest
in the canvass. Indeed, it has too often
been the case that the nominees themselves
have lust quietly concluded that after the
nomination nothing was left them TO do,
and the City Committee have had the whole
burden in the conduct OF the election TO
bear, raising the money and all. Whether
TO postpone the primary till near the cleo
tion. and from this time onward have the
benefit OF the zeal and activity OF all the
aspirants, or to nominate at once ana be
done with it and assign the nominees to
duty, will be a question for debate and de-
cision.
THE TICKET.
Would not a private ballot, broadcast
distribution OF tickets the day before the
primary, and polls open for the primary at
all the usual places Of voting In the city,
bring out a full votey Would 1t not also
bring out numerous desirable candidates?
And IL so, and the Democrats failed to
nominate satisfactory ticket, whose fault
would it bey
Their own.
THE DECISION.
These matters are discussed for the ben.
eft OF the people. 1t is one OF the privi-
leges OF the free Democracy. IL Is, how
ever, for the committee to determine how
far the proposed innovations shall be
adopted. And taking it for granted that
they have heard every argument that could
be offered, and considered these questions
q, oil their aspects. their decision. when