The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-16
mot IN acc ORD
AS TO The PLAN
Senators Glass and Barksdale Hold
Different Views.
WILL KEEP POOR MEN OUT.
Halifax Member Thinks Candidates VIII Still
Be Assessed, While Lynchburg Man
Says Dragons Fangs'
Have Been Drawn.
WILL KEEP POOR MEN OUT.

zdFeSSeu the committee and helu eW4ueiS
1 different views, each gave out a state
| nlent yesterday. In reference to the de
| feat OF the assessment feature of the
| plan, Mr.. Glass said :s''We,ve drawn tbs
dragons fangs.
Last night, in discussing Mr.. Glass
statement, Mr.. Barksdale said:
II wish I could agree with my friend
| Senator Glass, in his view of the effec;
| of the primary PLAIN adopted by the State
| Committee last night. / would like to be-
li-ve with him that the amendment adept
| ed striking out the assessment feature
| will be effective, and I would love TO be-
| lcve that we had drawn the fanSs OF
he dragon.
Il am satisfied that the assessment will
| still be made, possibly not by the State
Committee but perhaps in a more Oh
jectionable manner, viz: by county and
city committees.
1T viii cost a small fortune certainly,
| in ali human probability a large one, to
make the canvass for United States Sen
| ator and the canvass for the governor
| ship will be no better; possibly worse.
y believe Mr.. Glass was right when
| he maintained that the pan would de-
| pr!ve a. poor man of talent from ever
| aspiring to represent his State IN Con-
gress. ! only disagree with him i'll this,
|
| concealed, not drawn The plan OF the
| State Committee omits to say that the
candidates shall be assessed. but they
| will be, You can be assured of that.
| POOR MAN NO CHANCE.
''The chances of q poor man as against
| a wealthy ono is reduced to a minimum
| for any office embraced in the plan. /
| sincerely believe that no man who is net
ich himself, or has capital behind him.
| can ever, with any degree of hope. enter
subernatorial, senatorial or congress
sional canvass.
The avenue to political prcferment has
been narrowed, and a gateway erected
| which can only be opened by gold
Il believe in reducing the effect OF
money in elections to the minimum
81 am satisfied that the primary places
it q the maximum.
Il do not think there was any demand
for such a radical change in Democratic
policies and methods, if there was any
call from the people for such action.
wanted TO make it clear and distinct by
referring it TO them and let them speak
when the issue was not clouded and the
demand, if made, would not be doubtful.
NO APOLOGY TO Make.
Holding these Viss,ws, I have no apol-
osy for my positioJaon the primary plan.
As d Democrat, Il believe in giving it a
fair trial. If it succeeds, Z shall be glad;
if it fails, shall DC sorry, but With pro-
found confidence in the Democratic party
and in its future destiny, l am persuaded
that If the plan is bad a future conven-
ton will repudiate it and all the evils
that follow its train.
Il am in favor of pure elections and
against 3 corporate electorate I believe
in Democracy uldeiled, and am against
commercial Democracy. l believe that
the power OF wealth and monetary nflu-
ences should be curDed, restrained and
prohibited, as far as the electorate is con-
cerned.
Il do not think the rtan adopted will
have this effect, but the opposite. | hope
l am mistaken. do not believe we drew
the fangs of the dragon. I trust we did =
Nirws OF Mr. Glass.
Senator Glass gave out this statement
in explanation of his remark that the
'.dragon's fangs'' had been drawn:
"Why, | meant that the most obnoxious
feature of the primary plan had been
eliminated. The assessment feature was
a monstrosity It would have driven
every ambitious poor man out of the
Democratic party and fastened on us a
system Of pecunarv cxactions that would
have made it impossible frequently TOR
a poor man to be candidate for the
| most Insignificant office. The proposition
put it beyond the means of any poor
man to offer for Il Federal or State OF
flee.
Mr. Henry c. Stuart, of Russell, stated
the matter punsently when he said II
was Z; property qualification on candl-
dates for pubic office.
HELPS POOR MAN.
"Nhv. take an illustration. ohm Jones,
a man of means, with fair average abi!-
ity, shrewd and resourceful in political
mana cement, offers for the position OF
United States Senator. James Brown,
a poor man. of high character and great
reputation for ability and usefulness.
might desire TO oppose him. Inc one
man may be positively distasteful to the
people of Virginia; the other may be
their popular idol. John Jones might,
and very likely would, instantly perceive
that his fight would. be Won If he could
control the State Committee, Tor. under
the nlan proposed, the State Committee
was given unrcstrainc6 power to fix the
assessment at what it might please.
THE State Committee might please
to fix it to suit the pleasure OF JohA
Jones, say at $500, on the presumption
that $1,000 would be required to defray
the expenses OF the SSlittloi AL ~ ;
John Jones would post his stake prompt
". James Brown could not raise the
half of s., 500 and thus would Ire squeezed
out Of the contest at the very beginning,
leaving John Jones g clear field.
what would then hapren under the
proposed plan? Jones being the only
candidate able to post the stake OF
81, 800 would be declared the nominee, the
primary would be called off and Jones
check for $3.50 would be HANDED back to
him. Jones would thus get the Senatorial
nomination without the expenditure OF
one cent, purely by reason of his ability
to draw his certified check for a large as
SeSsment.
PEOPLE INTERESTED.
''What I have said as to candidates for
the United States Senate applies with
equal force to candidates for every State.
Office and to candidates for the House OF
Representatives. The man with money
and with political shreWdness enough to
control the State or Congressional District
Committees would be absolute master OF
the situation. The poor man, with only
character, ability and the affection of the
people behind him, but the enmity OF
state o. District Committee against him,
s,,,-ou,d {. and M earthly chance. 5S11ch II