The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-24

no man can justify hlmSei III Aoh""ihS
IL into error. The safety OF our institu-
tions depends upon a conscientious citi-
zenship
THE SENATORIAL PRIMARY PLAN.
We find in the Northern Neck News
OF October 22d, an interesting article on
the subject OF choosing senator's in Con-
gress by primary election. The News
copies an article from the Clarke Courier
with comments thereon from The Times
and says that 1t appears from what the
Courier says, that Congressman Hay. who
was one of the most pronounced oppon-
ents to this plan in the Roanoke Conven-
ton now finds it necessary to explain
his conduct on that occasion TO his con-
stitutents. 1t is also significant. says the
News. that the Democrats of Shenandoah
county recently adopted resolution Ia
voring the primary plan. which shows
that Mr.. Hay and the delegates from that
county. who voted against that PROPOSE
ton in the Roanoke Convention did not
represent their constituency in Shenan-
doah or else that there has recently been
a remarkable change in sentiment in
that county.
The News thinks that The Times is Ia
boring under a Serious Misrepresentation
as to the scope and purpose of the reso-
luton in point which was defeated by the
Roanoke Convention. That resolution
II SAYS. did not undertake to provide the
details of a primary system TO which IL
sought to commit the Democratic parry
and only went into detail in two particu-
lars. And the News further says that
IL was Of course contemplated that after
the plan had been prepared by the state
Committee, that body would take the
necessary steps TO secure an act OF dS-
sembly protecting il. IT is a mistake
adds our contemporary. to believe that II
the primary resolution had specihcaiV
provided for a legalized primary. It would
have disarmed the opposition and nave
been adopted as no objection was raised
TO the resolution by any Of its opponents
because 1t did not provide for legalized
primary. The resolution was opposed
SAYS the News. by those who actually
fought it because they objected to any
primary plan which was TO so into effect
before the. election Of Senator Martins
successor, and which would instruct the
! Legislature that shall elect his successor
upon that subject. it was not the details,
but the principle involved in the resolu-
ton thai was obnoxious to its opponents.
We did not attend the Roanoke Conven-
ton, and We are not prepared to speak
by the card as to the ms and outs Of this
discussion. But 1t would appear TO us
from reading the report of the proceedings
that Senator Daniel in his speech before
the CORY ention embarrassed Mr.. Jones, the
patron of the resolution and confused the
real issue by putting all sorts of qustions
to that gentleman as to details which ne
unfortunately attempted TO answer Inc
point that We have made was that the
real question at issue was as to the
principle involved rather than as to minor
details and we still believe that If the
resolution had Simply declared Tor the
primary principle and put the party on
record as favoring that principle with
the single additional provision that the
Legislature should be requested to pass
an act making such q primary legal
emitting all unnecessary specifications as
to detail. the resolution would have been
adopted by the convention. And II the
party had thus put itself on record the
rest would have boen simple. The friends
Of the measure could easily have taken
care Of the details in framing the bill.
We repeat that it is not yet too late to
pursue that course before the Legislature.
Senator Daniel, Congressman Hay and
other opponents have to all intents and
purposes declared that they are not op-
posed to the primary plan, or at least TO
the principle involved and If the friends
OF the measure will only make a vigorous
night for it when the Legislature meets
next winter. they can have such a bill
| passed