Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-19
Our Primary Elscslons.

While public attention u to consiaeSH-
bic extent fixed upon primary elections
let as discuss on, party's plan ana resolve
to amend Il for future use.
The DmpArcns suggestion that there
should be whae ballot for the genera
Offices 70 be filed and red ballot Tor the
ward Offices aldermen. common COUNCIL
men. and justices--and that In large pre-
cincts the red ballots should De placed IN
the hands OF special judges TO be counted:
canvassed. and certified, meets. we feel
sure. with general approval.
The election officers say that the metnoo
is perfectly practicable. And we all know
that IL will tighten the burdens OF the
regular judses and clerks, insure greater
accuracy in the count, and enable the re-
turns to be produced before the City Com
mittee al more seasonable hour.
Public opinion demands this change.
At one precinct where there were about
$50 accepted ballots cast at the last phi
mary 40 others were thrown out tor H.
formality. In one case the voter had not
struck a single name from his ticket. In
some other instances voters being un-
willing TO decide between the two candi-
datos for Commonwealth attorney had
deliberately left upon their tickets the
names of both of the candidates. In other
cases 100 numerous to mention" voters
voted for too few or too many Justices. vi
course oil such ballots were rejected.
That was the provision Of the plan. and the
judges had no alternative.
II is safe to SAY that 8 or Q per cont. OK
the vote cast here at the last primary was
thus vitlated. This ought never to occur
again. The remedy is easy and 1t ought 10
be applied. II is to make the voter vote Tor
the correct number of candidates for each
class. or else vitiate his ballot so far only
as il refers to the classes where he fails TO
observe the rule.
Public opinion demands this change also.
One reason that the City Committee has
heretofore hesitated to alter this provision
of its plan is that it has feared that TO do
so would DO to give quasi Democrats the
idea that they were only committed to sup
port the nominees made for those offices
for which they had cast their vote. what
nonsense. We should require every per-
sou who votes OF all thereby to pledge
himself to support al OF our nominees.
More than this-we should adopt some
better safeguard than we now have against
those persons who are Democrats at some
elections and Republicans at other elec'
tions, and who come in whenever they
wish and determine-or at least help To
determine-who our nominees shall be.
The public will welcome these reforms
also.
In many States Of the Union primary
elections are legalized and the oaths and
obligations taken by the clerks and judges
are as binding as if taken at and for q regu-
lar election. We ehould apply to the
General Assembly for some such legis-
lation.
The DISPATCH would like to see the City
Committee give early attention to oil these
matters. To wait until another municipal
primary election is upon US is to have to
consult the friends of this, that, and the
other candidate, and to steer against tide
of self-interest; whereas. for the committee
to act now-that is, within a month OF
two--is TO be free from all such compiled
lions and to have the light OF recent expe-
rience before US.