Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-08
The Primary Election.


The Primary Election.
The plan adopted by the City Demo
cratic Committee for making nomina'
tions for the Senate and House of Dele
gates is the result Of q compromise, fol-
lowing great deal of public discussion
of the matter, and it embodies primary
election and convention features both.
The actual nominations will be made
by conventions. The Richmond dele
gates 10 the cOnventions--on set for
both conventions-wi be chosen ut a
primary. The Richmond and Henrico
delegates will meet together and nomi-
nate two senators. The same Rich
mond delegates will meet as city con-
vcntion and nominate five members OF
the House. In like manner we suppose
the delegates of Henrico county will
serve both in the senatorial and House
conventions.
The expenses of a primary in this city
will amount TO about $500. which sum
will be assessed upon the ten or more
candidates who are expected to offer FOR
the Senate and House. Whether the cam
didates for the Senate and for the House
are to be assessed the same amount Is to
be hereafter decided.
We are aware that there are some OBJ
ieciions to this plan, but we never yet
heard Of any plan that gave entire salts
faction. There Is 10 reason which we
can discover why it should not work well
and give us a good ticket In some re-
spects ii has advantages over any plan
for making nominations directly by the
people. Here the candidates need not
spend any money OIL workers at the
polls. Indeed, they shouldn't spend a
cent for this purpose. The public would
very much applaud them if they would
solemnly pledge one another and the
public not TO expcnd any money at the
polls
Another thing a convention may do
which the people at primary election
cannot dot can make the nominations
one by one, and thus see to it that the
various elements which compose our
party in Richmond are properly recog-
nized and represented.
The Democratic majority here is now
about five or six thousand, but we can
reduce it very largely or dissipate i en-
tirely by inattention to those precau.
tions in framing ticket which we would
unquestionably take in close fight
Let Us not presume upon our strength
too much.
1t would be unfortunate AID unjust
for the party to ignore the claims of any
class of our people who are entitled to
consideration at its hands. II the con-
yenton will deliberate on these points it
will frame a ticket which will capably
represent US at the Capitol and possess
great strength with the masses. We doubt
not that there are some aspirants for
Legislative honors who would submit
their names to convention who woud
not run IN primary, because of late
years the cost of running at a primary
election has been much increased-un-
necessarily increased, we think-by
reason of the custom of employing an
army of "workers" at the polls at high
prices. Now. however, the candidates
have it IN their power to relieve
themselves of this tax ii they heartily
wish 10 do so. Thelo will be little oc-
casion for workers" services if the
names of candidates for places as dele
gates are ticketed in alphabetical order
and our citizens go to the polls resolute
in the purpose to vote for the best men.
We do not say that no combinations can
be made but we do say that they will
be more than ordinarily hard to make.
A big vote is always dangerous to the
slate ." big vote will render combina-
tons of little use, provided that the
masses are imbued with the purpose OF
securing as delegates the best men
whose services can be commanded.
1t is understood by many that neither
the senatorial nor the city convention
to be organized under this plan will be
authorized to seek nominee outside of
the list of names of those who have paid
the prlmary-election assessment. That IS
not our understanding There is con-
tingency imaginable where 1t would be
very desirable to bring in new men, and
not to allow the conventions that power
might be TO enda1ger party interests.
The detailed plan is yet to be adopted
by the City Committee, and we recon-
mend that in it attention be given to
this point
Now that the plan is agreed upon, it
becomes the duty OF the Democratic
public 10 bring out such candidates for
the Senate and House as will, if nomi-
mated and elected, do credit to our com
munity ard be of service to the whole
State IN the important work which will
come before the General Assembly at its
next session.