The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-28
THE COMMITTEES ACTION BINDS

No ONE.
| The Dispatch denies that II has ever
declared a preference for the convention
| n,an. II SAYS II was the first newspaper
here 10 advocate the adoption OF the pri-
mary election system. from which we sup
nose I, intends TO say that II the question
| nero an open one It would prefer pri-
mary IN the present case. But the Dis
,atch surrenders 20 easily and readily TO
tho unauthorized action OF the committee
nrovldlng for convention that we can
not look on its supposed preference as
vary important or fixed one. The Times
Wow Of the case is entirely different.
The, Times insists on the primary, and
q abhors the ward meeting and conven-
ton. It's impressions are as fixed as the
everlasting hills: IL claims the primary
az its right, and 1t will not surrender
that right If II perishes fighting single
handed and alone for It. The Dispatch
says:
our City Committee has decided that
nominations for our legislative ticket
shall be made by convention. That
decision was incontestably within the
SCOPE of It's authority, and therefore the
party IL bound by the acts Of It's repre-
sentatyes.
We absolutely deny the proposition.
We say that the primary has been the
acknowledged and accepted method Of Sc
Iecting candidates In Richmond for TWEEN
tv-fve years. We say further that ninety
five Democratic voters out of every hun
dred want a primary and abhor a ward
meeting convention. We say then that
the primary is the unwritten and common
law Of the case. and that the CITY Com
mittee has no more authority 10 Change
II without the sanction OF the people
than II has TO fix the choice at such
time and place as would make fair
choice impossible. II has the same sort
OF nominal authority TO do this. but its
action would be void. and who would
abide by its action If it did it?
1t is true the Committee has, on rare
occasions, provided for choosing candi-
dates by the convention instead Of the
primary election plan. But these have
been occasions when no clashing interests
called for a primary and the public. in
different TO the subject. passed the case
by without protest or remark. But all
of these occasions have been regarded by
the voters with a Jealous eye as invasions
Of common right, from which no principle
or precedent was to be deduced. The peo-
pie have always kept II in their mind that
when clashlng interests were TO be recon-
ciled those interests must be referred TO
them for settlement by plan that would
give each voter an opportunity TO express
his unbiased and uninfluenced choice.
We repeat then that this has been the
unwritten law OF this case. and that
when the Committee violated IL It usurped
Jurisdiction and its action binds no one.
We make no threats. To DO so would
be both undgnihed and unmanly. But
the Committee can easily ascertain that
the sentiment Of the voters Of the city
IS overwhelmingly against it's action. 1t
is its duty to make its action conform
TO the wishes Of It's master, the people.
II should retrace the step it has taken,
or that step will become a source OF
serious and lamentable trouble here. We
shall have discord and division where 1t
is perfectly easy to have harmony.
The matter Immediately In hand is
motion to set time for holding a city
convention. Let the Committee adjourn
that question to next September and take
I'D what demands immediate attention
the method Of choosing our delegates to
the State Gubernatorial Convention. That
IS the matter TO be attended TO now and
II the Legislative matter IS postponed I'M
III the fall 1t will cure itself.