The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-15
CURRENT TOPICS.

The special attention our newspapers
gave to Mr.. Cornelius Nanderhit's eH-
PLANTATION of his patented locomotive ire
box before the Society Of Mechanical En-
Gineers last week is regarded 10y the
Hartford Times as an illustration Of the
facility with which New York bends dou-
bic TO wealth" Is it not rather an illus
tration Of the pubic readiness to welcome
and applaud any achievement by d young
man which gives Himself other and higher
title to distinction than the mere inheri-
lance of rich possessions?-New York
Sun.
Quite So The people are always pleased
to see the rich man do a mans work in
the very DAY world. and they honor him
when he resists the temptation to lead
life Of useless luxury. There is no
prejudice against that kind Of a rich man.
Ex-Governor w j. Stones address to
a club i'll Kansas City On the evening OF
January S. contains some sensible com
nlent on the recent policies of the DEM
ocratir party. 1t is admitted by Mr.
Stone that the party is too much one of
ncgation that it is not sufficiently as
Tom Reed said: The Democratic
ra~ty's motto is: 1t can't be done =
This was one of Mr.. Reeds wsttclsms,
but there was much truth in it.
The first message Of Governor La Fol
Iette TO the Wisconsin legislature is
forceful and comprehensive in its ad-
vocacy Of needed reforms in state gov
ernment, and. as might be expected. takes
advanced ground on questions pertaining
TO taxation, trusts and primary election
laws
The most practical as well as the most
timely suggestions in TIE message pertain
TO radical reforms in primary elections
along the line which Mr.. la Toilette
has advocated for a number of years
past These recommendations propose a
remedy for the machine caucus and con-
vention similar 10 ,tlat embodied in tie
new Minnesota law. whic:i provides for
the nomination of candidates by direct
vote Of the people.
In common with other citizens who
have been participants IL convention pro-
ceedngs and are familiar with the usual
procedure of the politicians IN m"njpu-
alating caucuses Governor La Toilette
political ills lies in the ability OF party
bosses TO control existing party .nachln-
cry in the interest of favored candidates,
Even where laws governing primaries
have been enacted and where delegates
are voted for under the Australian ballot
system party dictators are able TO name
each set of delegates to be voted for IN
the primary
OBVIOUSLY the only remaining remedy
for machine caucuses and conventions IS
the direct nomination of candidates by
the voters Under the caucus or "onv2n-
ton system it IS -: snown that IN 10
case does majority of voters determine
the nomination. AS Governor La Eel
Ietts says. lit not infrequently happens
that tie candidate nominated has scarcely
beer. considered as q candidate during the
selection of delegates. i'll which case alb
soiuteiy no opportunity is given the voter
TO express any choice.
Nominations. in fact, are usually the
result of much shifting, trading and com
promising, in which the voter is per-
mitted 10 have no voice. Under the plan
proposed By Governor La Toilette the
voters would actually name the candl-
dates to be voted for in election ana the
power OF the party boss would be broken.
Chicago Tines-Herald.
There are some timely hints in the
above 10 the voters in Virginia.