The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-10
PLAN WORKED WELL,
SAYS A CHAIRMAN.
Mr.. Epes, of Fourth District,
Gives His Views.
ONLY TWO SOURCES OF FEAR
The Cost May Be Excessive and the
System May Not Arouse as Much
Enthusiasm as Conven-
tons.
ONLY TWO SOURCES OF FEAR

The general IMPRESSION seems TO be that
the Urinary plan of nominating ":-iters
with II e viva voce system Of voting has
wicked well IN the congressional G'.triess
where it has been tried There have
been coplaints in some quarters.
With view to ascertaininS how the
plan worked IN the Fourth district, the
nrst one in which it was tried, The Times
addI essed a letter early in the week
to District Chairman T. Freeman II es,
requesting an expression from hiSl as TO
now the plan worked. HIS reply follows:
Blackstone, Va, August sth.
Editor Times:
Sir: Your letter Of August 9Th request
ing my opinion of how the primary plan
of nomination for Congress worked in
this district and how the people liked
this plan and the viva voce system of
volng has been received.
I will state at the outset that personally
I do not see sufficient advantage as yet
to warrant the expense which the pri-
mary has entailed in other districts Cor
In fact has been ascertained to be neceS-
sary) and which I think will be so in
this one hereafter. The plan worked
harmoniously in most precincts and [
think the people are satisfied with the
fairness to all parties OF THIS system, as
any frauds can be SO easily located, but
I do not think the system reached the
expectations OF its friends, but was SUI
perior to the hopes of its enemies.
This was the first district in the state
to hold its primary and there was no
experience OF others to profit by except
some local nominations and many Coun-
ties in the dictrict had never before held
a primary. The primary has some de-
fects that should be remeded but how:
THE HEAVY COST.
First and a very grave question, is as
to the cost. The cost in this district was
only S151, which was divided equally pc
tween the two candidates The friends
of any candidate who feel interest enough
TO act free and especially where they are
few. always feel that they can accom-
plish more on the outside, and conse-
quently it is with difficulty, am advised,
and especially in small country precincts,
that judges can be secured who are Will
ing to devote a whole day in the judges
room without pay
There is but one more serious dlSad-
vantage that 1 apprehend, and that is L
am afraid it will fail to create the enthu-
sasm of the conventions and mass
meetings, but this is merely a fear on my
Part which I hope will prove untrue.
These are, I think. the only serious dis
advantages in the primary that have yet
presented themselves, and seem nard to
solve. and both OF these in this district
are more fears of the future than occur
rences in the past. The real dissatisfac-
ton, if any. that exists among the peo-
pie. I think, comes from a new expert
ment which presents defects that can be
remedied-for example, as to the length
of time before the primary when no.
tice of candidacy must be given and as
to the delay in securing returns. &c.
This delay in this district was due partly
to the novelty of the system. in that the
IL. Is floy>
stand just what to do with the returns,
and partly because Of the great inconvc-
rience in some precincts to get the re-
turns to the county chairman, and for
this they could not be criticised, having
served a whole day free, and then to be
expected to give another day to getting
the returns to the county chairman was
asking right much.
CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE.
The vote was considerably larger than
in mass meetings, but as in other con-
tests friends Of each candidate would in
fluence their friends to come out and
vote for their choice. where the voter,
as is frequently the case. was not ac-
uuainted with either candidate. and 1t is
hardly fair to say that a better actual
expression Of the democracy of any com
nunity was obtained by the primary than
bv g mass meeting. However, it must
be said that among the people as a whole
there is greater confidence in the fair
ness of the primary, which does an i'm
mense good in promoting harmony should
both plans be fair.
I have not sought in this letter to eS-
press my personal preferences. but to
state fairly and frankly the impressions
of the primary as I gather them pro-
n,scuously, and the workings thereof.
7 may say in conclusion that there are
no sores left to my knowledge, and that
the friends of both candidates are ready
and willing to give their support to the
election Of the Democratic nominee. and
I hope that such enthusiasm will develop
,doon the declaration of the committee
made to-day that Hon. Robert G. South
all is the Democratic nominee that all op-
position will be crushed in its infancy.
remain
Yours very truly.
T. FREEMAN EPES.