Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-05-12
THE LoUDoUN PRIMARY.
LoUDoUN COUNTY, May /

To the Editor of The Alexandria Gazette:
People from Leesburg here to day
say there are nearly twenty-eight hun
dred voters in Loudoun county, but
that only 720 of them voted at the dem
ocratic primary there last Saturday"
The above extract from your Wash
ington correspondent of the'6th would
indicate an apathy and utter indifler-
ence as to the results upon the part of
democracy of this county. That, to say
the least, is remarkable. This is incor-
rect, more so from the fact that Lou
doun has been making large, loud and
not unjust claims for the honor of furn-
ishing the next Congressional nominee
for the Sth district. To learn now that
when the opportunity was given every
democrat in the county to emphasize
that claim and express his preference
for the nominee at primary election,
that two thousand voters positively de-
clined to perform that duty, or avail
them selves of that privilege, is astound-
ing and might almost. be termed Grim
inal negligence. Too much credit ana
praise cannot .be given those indefati-
gable, tried and true workers who la
boured as only men could labor who
had the interest of the party at heart
and who were fully impressed with
the gravity of the situation and the ne
cassity of rallying the full party vote.
No argument was left unused, no stone
unturned to induce the voters to place
themselves on record. Many days
they labored and many noble and
worthy efforts, these Jealous ad-
vocate and true upholders of
OF our county claims, put forth to en-
thuse their fellow democrats and get
out the vote. Much, very much, to be
regretted is the fact that their labors
were in q manner fruitless, their efforts
unavailing, as evidenced by the re-
turns, which show that seventy per
cent. of the voters remained away
from the polls.
The county press, too, should not be
forgotten in the very laudable and
praiseworthy effort made by it to bring
to the attention of every democratic
voter the importance of the primary
election and the significance attending
the size of the vote cast local pride was
appealed TO and party duty set forth.
Still the great majority of the voters
failed to be impressed and quietly pur-
sued their usual avocations regardless of
plain duty. 1t is but natural that the
cause of this, on the part of people
usually active in political work and
fully alive to their own interests, should
oe inquired into.
But just here we are somewhat at sea.
One, apparently well informed as to
the sentiment through the county, will
tell you "The people are disheartened
and disgusted with all political affairs
and decline to take any further part in
that work" Another apparently equally
as we'll infor med boldly proclaims that
the party repudiates the primary plan
adopted by the county executive COM
mittee and thus rebuke that much abus-
ed body. Still another who has made
this question special study and been
to much trouble and pains to get at the
bottom facts and true cause, does not
hesitate to say that the bulk of the
party is not in cordial sympathy with
the worthy and distinguished fellow
countymen who would lead his county
and district to victory.
Be the cause whatever it may, we
very seriously apprehend that Lou
doun's chances for naming the nominee
have been materially weakened by this
action on the part of our people. While
her 81 delegates will give their undi.
vided support in the convention to the
honorable gentleman who received the
500 votes at the primary election, the
fact that 1000 democrats failed to en-
dorse him, we greatly fear, will act as
an under current stronger than the
tide. OBSERVER.