The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-25
THE PRESS AND THE PRIMARY PLAN.

THE PRESS AND THE PRIMARY PLAN.
Several days ago. we stated that, so
far as we had seen, but two Virginia
PAPERS had expressed themselves as ap-
proving the action OF the Roanoke con-
vention in defeating the senatorial pri-
mary plan.
Tho Lynchburg News in reply names
the Richmond Dispatch, Norfolk Land
mark and Pilot. Alexandria Gazette. Char
lottesville Progress. Roanoke World, Win
chester News, Scottsville Courier, Frank
lin Times Democrat and Lynchburg Press
as opposed TO the plan.
We have never understood that the
Richmond Dispatch was opposed TO the
primary plan but opposed only to putting
II into effect In the Daniel election. AS for
the Roanoke World. the News is wrong.
as the world is heartily in favor OF the
proposed measure. The Scottsvlle Cou-
rier is published at the home OF Senator
Martin and we have already mentioned
the winchester Times as being numbered
among the opposition.
On the other hand, the Petersburg In
dex-Appeal. tho Roanoke Times and
World. the Alexandria Times, the Norfolk
Ledger, the Portsmouth Star, the Freder-
icksburg Star and Free Lance, the Staun-
ton News. the Bristol Courier. the Clarke
Courier. tho Salem Tlmes-Register, the
South Boston News, the War-enton Nir-
ginian. the West Point Vrgnian, the
Lebanon News, the Madison Free Press
the Accomack News. the Pennsular
Enterprise. the Newcastle Record, and
others which we do not now call to mind
are all heartily in favor Of the primary
] plan and say that the people demand 1t.
! But the News continues:
There is an inside history 10 this busi-
ness that may yet be put before the pup
| lie: and. when it IS disclosed the intri-
que and trickcry practiced by certain
persons who undertook. In the name OF
the people. TO Job a scheme upon the
Democratic party that had not been sub
| mitted 20 the people Of single election
precinct In Virginia. Will be made mani
fest. The. gable about "the people in
| this affair comes with considerable pre-
sumption from the political self-seekers
who were afraid 10 trust their plan TO the
people. but who essayed, by manipulation
and otherwise. TO thrust 1t upon the Roa-
| noke convention without previous dis
cussion, and as many are inclined TO be-
! lieve. for personal purposes.
The News is not prepared 20 say that
| Il opposes upon principle a different
method from that now prevailing Of Sc
! Letting the party nominee for United
! states Senator But If a change must be
made It should be made deliberately by
| the people Of Virginia who compose the
| Democratic party. and not by few poll
! ticians I'm the name Of the people and
without consultation with the people.
! There Is one thing the News Is prepared
| TO oppose and that Is a senatorial primary
| without the sanction OF statutd laws.
with its essential safeguards. restraints
and penalties. for such primary would
| be a curse 10 the Democratic party and
| a mockery Of decent observances I'm poll
| tics. Just such a primary plan was that
against which $50 Democratic delegates
voted in the Roanoke convention. And
they are offering no apologies for having
| done so.
We do not know what our contemporary
means by the "inside history or I'm
trigue and trickery." We did not attend
| he Roanoke convention, but the editor Of
the News was a prominent delegate and
we hope that our contemporary will not
content itself with a general charge OF
this character, but will tell the whole
story in detail and expose the plot. which
| 1t alleges to have existed. The Times is
not advocating this measure in the inter
est OF any individual. nor in opposition
to any individual. but in the interest of
the Commonwealth and clean politics.
| As TO the question OF a legalized pr-
mary. the News and The Times are en-
tirely agreed. Indeed, so far as we know
TO the contrary. the suggestion Of legal
ized primary came from The Times and
we have repeatedly said that the mistake
which the advocates Of the primary plan
made before the Roanoke convention was
that they should have attempted to go in
to details. instead OF simply having the
convention declare itself in favor OF the
principle, leaving the details TO be work
ed out by the Legislature
We have also contended and still con-
tend that the proper course now to be
pursued IS for the several counties and
cities Of the State to instruct their repre-
sentatives in the Legislature to vote for
legalized primary for the selection Of
Senators in Congress.