The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-16
THE d DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

The new Democratic executive COM
mitteemen, assisted by their friends, the
numerous candidates foroffice, will doubt.
less make heroic effor to get out the
full Democratic vose OF the city at the
primary to be held Saturday. The new
committee starts out vigorously if 70.
wisely and proposes to make oil Offering
to vote hew to the line or not hew at
all There Is to be no monkey business
at the Democratic primary. II the
voter fails to take his political pedigree
to the polls with him. he will be con-
sidered q ''suspec." unless properly
vouched for by some brother IS having
taken all three Of the degrees and
served as torch bearer in q political
brass band procession. The rules are
iron clad and double deckcd. As the
voter approaches the polls he will be
met by past master IN Democracy
(uachine psttern). who will iniormh him
that before proceeding further he must
take upon himself most solemn and
binding obligation.
The first question that will De asked
the voter will be sumner to MANY
benighted citizen. 1t is this: Are you
Democrat" In other words, "do you
favor the policy of Grover Cleveland and
John Sherman, both gold bugs. or do
you favor the policy of John w. Daniel
and Gen. James Walker, both silver ad-
vocstes?"
Swearing Is freely INDUCED In by
those who vote early and often and these
Will not object to making oath to any
thing. There are others. however, VINO
are not built that way, and when made
acquainted with the fact that they aye
to be subjected to such a humiliation "a
to be required TO make oath that they will
Support and vote for the nominees of
this primary" they will stop to cogi-
tate. The thing will stick In many
good mans throat and make him wish
he had gone a-flshing.
To make man swear unconditionaliy
and unreservedly that he will through
sunshine and storm, in sickness sni in
health, approach the polls on cleo ton
day and take any medicine that is offered,
smscks Of tyranny with drag-ne. at
taohment. When q man lie called upon
to swear away the privilege OF leaving
the city or staying on his own premises
on election day IL is paying pretty dear
for the whistle. The boys start out
vigorously II not wisely. Special rule
number II, governing the primary reads:
SPECIAL RULE NO. II.
1t shall be the especial duty of the
Judges to see that no one is allowed to
vote In this primary election who is not
Democrat. and II there Is any appli-
cant to vote that thu judges, or either
OF them, have any doubt as to whether
or not he IL Democrat the iudges are
required to call before them any by
SsaDuer or other person who Is likely to
know the politics OF such applicant and
interrcgate such person concerning the
same; and II tine judges nre thereby
sahshed such applicant Is not O Demo.
crat he ahail not be allowed to vote, bu {
his vote shall be rejected without fur
tner ceremony. II, however 10 satis.
factory evidence Of the kind indicated ia
obtainable then the judges shall pro-
pound TO such applicant the following
interrog
1st. Are you Democrat?
%. IL you shall be allowed to vote in
this primary will you solemnly promise
to support and vote for the noninees OF
this primary In the approaching general
election?