Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-04-20
SENATORIAL PRIMARIES.

been discussing the question of having
primary elections to select United States
Senator's as means for securing the cleo
ton of Senators without the use of fraud
and corruption. The Portsmouth "Star"
remarking upon the position of the
Chimes" said:
"From this it is gathered that the Times
believes that senatorial primary would
give lis senators chosen by the people.
If we are right in supposing the Times
thus sanguine, we have 10 ask upon what
it bases hope at once so improbable and
so bright?
In this matter the Star is seeking after
light, if happily it may find it.
The principle embodied in the so-called
senatorial primary plan is above argument
and beyond suspicion. But there are cleo
ton laws in Virginia designed to defeat,
and do defeat, the will of the people in
the choice of Senators, as we'll as in other
directions.
The Times, as matter of course, knows
of these election laws, and the Times is,
we take it, familiar as to their practical
workings. This being so, where, then, are
the people bettered in voting directly for
United States Senators, rather than indi-
rectly through their representatives in the
Legislature, seeing that in both instances
they vote under election laws which are
capable of giving majority to any man
regardless of the number Of votes cast for
the other fellow?
These inquiries are seriously put. We
feel sure that the Times will answer them
if it can. For ONCE, we want to see the
voting precincts of Virginia fairly, honest
ly represent the will of her citizens. If by
a senatorial primary, held under existing
conditions, this can be done, then, in the
name of decency, let it be done, ana
quickly. If, however, it be found in poll
tics as in physics, that you cannot sweeten
the water of the stream by clearing pro-
cesses had at its mouth, then let's away
with halfhanded measures-child's play
and like sensible men get at the fountain
head of Virginia's political troubles-her
foul election laws"
The Chimes in replying to the inquiries
of the "Star" admits that "frauds in our
elections have become SO much the rule in
some parts of Virginia that there is no as
surance that the primary election will give
as the party's candidate that man for
whom the people have declared" As a
matter of consolation the Chimes" says
however: "But the primary election of a
Senator would be exclusively amongst the
white people, and we apprehend that the
ballot boxes would be very differently
watched from the way in which they are
watched when the negroes vote, Virgin.
ians are not prone to surrender their
rights, and we should expect to see good
Zeal of vigilance at the polls in the pri.
mary"
The Times" loses sight Of the fact that
the negro districts and counties in Virgin
ia have in recent years been going Dem
ocratic, and that the Democratic machine
claims that the negroes have been voting
the Democratic ticket. Is not the machine
likely then to utilize the negro vote at
primary elections as we'll as regular
elections?
The admission of the "Times" that there
has been cheating and frauds of all kinds
n the elections in Virginia, and that there
uas been no vigilance On the part of any
PORTION or part of the Democracy to pre-
vent it, is a very gave admission, 1t
,hows that Democracy as a whole is ac-
luiescent in fraud when practiced against
Republicans but vigilant when Democrat
is trying to cheat Democrat. The 'Times"
ruly remarks that: 1.-THE man who will
cheat is as ready to cheat friend as foe. y
The Democrats in Virginia who are revolt
ing against the Martin machine have
realized the truth of the above remark.
They are getting desperately mad at being
cheated by the machine. Perhaps their
selfish anger may eventually make them
honest and earnest enough to see that it is
wrong to cheat Republicans as well as
Democrats.