Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-14
Tho primary Election Plan.

Committee TO consider carefully every pro-
posed departure from that primary cleo
ton plan which has found favor with our
people. That some changes In It are de-
sirable experience has taught u.s. For in
stance, the counting Of the vote Of the
large white precincts should be expedited;
1t should no longer be required OF the
Judges of election to ''throw out" a voters
entire ticket because he has made errone-
Gus marks upon II AZ to candidates 70,
| one or more Offices. and persons who wish
to contest the returns from any precinct
should have their right TO do so more
clearly defined But we doubt II enough
time remains TO US to try the Australian
ballot at this primary. We sympathize
with the purpose Of those who would free
voters from unnecessary solicitation at the
polls. and with the candidates who would
like to be able to conduct their can
vases more economically than they are
now able to do, but we must consider the
practical difficulties in the way.
The General Assembly did not make
the Walton law applicable to this springs
elections. for the reason that 1t doubted II
by that time the public would be SUM-
GENTLY we'll informed as to the modus
operandi OF the new system. As originally
drafted the Walton law was to go into
effect upon its passage; but upon recon-
slderation Of this detail the conclusion was
reached that II would be safer to make
test OF the system in November. when
there will be only few candidates Offer
ing for the SURFACES Of the people. and
when the voters will have an opportunity
10 experiment with the law under the sim
plest and most favorable conditions.
That II would be we'll TO try the law
at primary before trying 1t at general
election We concede. AS to this Chairman
Patteson made a good point In his speech
before the City Democratic Committee.
And we may add that his position is the
position that the Dispatch has long held
to-wit: That where possible the system
should be tried at primary as prepare
ton for the experiment at the general
election. But IL we cannot arrange to try
the Walton law at our municipal primary,
We come TO elect delegates to the congress
sional convention this fall?
We do not say that the City Committee
should not try the experiment at the APP
preaching primary but we do say eui-
phatically that in our judgment the COM
pertinent until II has ascertained beyond all
question that at our largest white pre-
clncts there will be no difficulty in poll |
ing the entire Democratic vote. So numcr-
GUS Will be the names Of candidates upon |
our primary ticket. we apprehend that the |
average voter will take all OF two and one |
half minutes 10 mark his ticket. Never |
at any general election will so much time |
be necessary TO mark an official ballot |
0ickeD as there will be to mark our tickle, |
at the approaching primary. where there |
are as many as a dozen men offering |
in some wards for the City Concll or the
magistracy.
The simple question Is. therefore. whether
Richmond's voting precincts are now So
arranged as to enable the full Demo
cratic vote to be polled at a municipal
primary held under the Australian sys-
TEN, without mourning the risk Of having
10 close the polls at the appointed hour
upon line of good Democrats, who after
patiently waiting have been unable to
gain access to the booth or ballot-box.
II there is any purpose TO raise this
question again in the City Committee, we
earnestly trust that those who propose to
advocate it will present figures from the
registra tion-books to prove that our vote
can he easily polled. Not to take this
precaution would be to ask the City Com
mittee to assume a risk which would be
wholly unjustifable.
We do not forget that " the Australian
ballot were adopted by the City Commit
tee for use at the approaching primary
the committee would have to go to the
expense of providing booths and paying
special constables. This. however, Is
of far inferior importance
to whether after all our expenditures
and trouble we could poll the votes of
all the voters who presented themselves
at the large white precincts.