The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-12
THE DECENTRALIZATION PLAN.
Have the Committee Not Made Mis-
take I'm Fixing the Date Too Early.
To the Editor of the Dispqtch .

10 the EdttOr OF Me DtSpdtch /:
II may seem too late to provoke any dis
cussion as to the proper time for holding
our primary, since the City Committee
have already decided upon the 9th Of Sep
tember: but | submit that they have made
q mistake, which, as it is not too late to be
corrected, is my motive for writing this
letter.
In the first place it is well known fact
that q primary nomination i'm the city OF
Richmond (such being our majority is
equivalent to an election. As a natural
consequence, therefore, the candidates do
all their work before the primary. and take
rest from then until eection-day proper.
IL is nothing but human nature. Now. |
hold that the different candidates are the
proper parties TO bear the brunt Of the Ia
Dor i'm the canvass. No one can be
expected to take the same interest
i'm the result. The ward clubs and
precinct committees must do their
share, but II is the candidate himself whom
the voter naturally desires and expects to
see face to face-the candidate himself
whose opinions and promises they want.
II is his work and the work OF his per-
sonal friends which, If properly conducted,
has the most telling result. II is our poll
cy. therefore, TO keep the candidates in the
field as long as possible-to keep them at
work up TO the day OF election. We know
from experience that they fold their hands
after the primary. 1t follows, then, that
the primary should be held rs short
a time before electiOn-day as possible GER
tainly after egIstrltion-dav. which is fixed
by law at ten days before the election. BY
such an arrangement the candidates Will
see to it personally that no one fails to reg
iSter who NAV be induced to vote for him,
and the more candidates the more COM
plete will be the registration. II the pri-
mary i fixed after registraiOn-day the
effect OF the candidates work will be felt
both on Registrations and election-days. II
is our policy and a Democratic measure TO
poll full vote on the primary aud to keep
up the interest, the excitement, and friend
ly rivalry until elcctiOn-day. The day Sc
lected by the City Committee fails in this.
1t leaves the candidate too little time for 4
thorough canvass. II encourages him
nay, it invites him-tO a perfect
apathy from the 9th OF September
TO the 9th OF November, and throws
it upon committees and clubs who have no
personal interests whatever, at time, too,
when all the interest and excitement OF the
real contest have passed away. | submit
that the day should be changed until after
rcgistratiOn-day. It is incumbent upon us
for two other reasons, the first Of which
is that throwing the work and expense
where it should fall-that is, upon the cam
ddates-it will enable Us to help our friends
in those doubtful districts where Mahones
and jersey Joncscs are aIeady stretch
ing 1.-the sinews Of war" The second OF
which is that by prOlonging the real con-
test and the work OF the candidates until
close to clection-day il will enable Us to
thwart any unexpected movements OF an
enemy accustomed to moving in ambush
10y Genera! commands from the pulpit.
fTms whole subject was carefully con-
sdered in committee. They feared that if
they asked the people to leave their busi-
ness three times in ten days I 90 to regis
tratiOn, to the primary, and then to vote for
the nommces-that on each occasion they
would fail to get a satisfactory turnout.
Further, the fact was recognized that in
primary contests some feeling is almost un-
ayoidably engendered between opposing
candidates and their friends. The plan
allows time for such feeling, if raised. to
die out before we are asked to vote for the
nominees.
Finally, experience in the Bradley john
ston primary teaches that a primary
election plan once announced should not
be altered or amended except in case OF the
clearcst necessity; to do it raises more or
less suspicion that it is done in the interest
OF some particular candidate.
The author OF the above communication
we know to be far above any such purpose.
He is Il committeeman (but was not present
at the last meeting), and in this matter
seeks only the public good. DiSpdtch.l