The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-27

1 temporary believes the state Committee
/ would simply have to call for volunteers
| TO ret them in such numbers that more
wou,d have TO be rejected than accepted,
| 1t adds:
"But a. FREQ service OF this kind Is not
| the correct thing. Neither should the
| burden BIO placed on the candidates.
| The expense should be borne by the
| voluntary contributions of all the mem
! hers of the Democratic party. each
! man according to his means, and II
| should be the duty Of the committee--a.
pleasant and patriotic duty-to solicit
| and receive contributions for this pur-
pose. The cost of primary should not
be great; indeed, It should be very
small, and II should not be a burden
to any one whether he be candidate
or mere voter. To put the entire bur.
den on candidates inculcates the Idea
that public office Is public snap. to be
utilized for the pecuniary benefit or the
holder, and not a public trust, to be ad-
mnistered for the public welfare. That
IS vicious and degrading sentiment
In public life, and intvita bly, LEADS 10
of7cia REGULATION and fraud.
"a very small personal effort on tho
part Of TIE CITY and cou''+'t rotn~''tt""s
cessarv to defrav the expenses of these
elections. and the candidates would he
liberal subscribers to such fund.- OF
course. They should be neither pro-
hibited from subscribing nor compelled
To do so and we hope the State Cen
trail Committee will take action on this
point before another election occurs"
we quite agree with our contempt.
rary that it would be hardship and an
Injustice and contrary to public policy,
to put the expense Of the primary upon
the candidates themselves. IT would
probably cost between $1,000 and $4,000
to hold a primary in Virginia, II all cleo
ton officers should be paid for their
services, and this might preclude the
poor man from running. Election con-
tests should be as free as possible. ana
one Of the strongest arguments III favor
of the pure elections law is that, II 1t
be oboyed. the poor candidate Is at no
disadvantage.
Like the Index-Appeal, we have faith
in the loyalty and lberalty Of the Demo-
Gratis of Virginia, and we have no doubt
that In many instances, II not ID most
Instances, volunteers would come for-
ward and serve, free OF charge, as cleo
ton officers. But the question Is whether
or not such volunteers could be found
everywhere. at every precinct. If not,
the primary plan would fail. 1T we are
gong 10 have State primary for the
nomination of any officer, 1t must neces-
sarily be universal. The party authorl-
ties would have no power to compel any
members of the party to perform TINS
service gratis, and IT, IN a few counties
OF the State, no primary should be held
the result whatever 1t might be, would
not be satisfactory. primary election
TO nominate a candidate for Governor,
or candidate for the United States
Senate. or for any other like office,
should be, to all ntents and purposes,
the same as a regular State election
Elections should be held at every pre-
clnct in Virginia, under the regulations |
Of law, and the same regulations should
apply everywhere. a primary held IN |
some counties and not in all counties, or |
1t some precincts In some county and
not al all precincts in all counties. would
oe 10 primary at all. To attempt
primary on the volunteer plan would, at
,.sl. he an experiment. 1t might be
81 but il might not be- The
.Iain thing is TO adopt some plan for
meeting expenses which will absolutely
.Dsule a primary election at every pre-
llnct in every county OF the State.