The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-05

mailed to them. Price, oo con'' -
Z month. 35 IN 53 ~
STAND BY THE PRIMARY.
*, New York exchange OF ours discusses 'c'lts
the growing popularity In the South OF the
urinary election system ana says
Z Alabama has adopted It; MISSISSIPPI nus nus
nn,a r9ed and elaborated 1t. "The popular
urinary has also ,8been introduced into
Arkansas. Florida and Virginia. and II
seems certain to win its way in Louisiana
ana In other Southern States. where. with'-
out It politics would be left to droop ana
! starnate." Mississippis first tria! or inc
Eoe1 primary election law has shown
the value Of the primary scheme IN SUI
ring publio interest and developing and
recording public opinion" In no State or
national election since 1888 has thevo IN
Mississippi risen as high as 10000. The
Democratic party cast G., 1858 votes for Mr.,
Bryan in 1893, ana 81, 7o6 votes for him in
1900. Yet in the first primary election.
& held on August 9Th about 1000 votes were
cast and In the second election last week
about $1,000 state issues have been
thra shed out on the stump for more thar
two months" VI q
r. The primary election system Is popular
H In Virginia. but It has been put to q
severe test this year. The State conven-
ton left to the State Democratic Central
Committee to decide whether the voting
should be by ballot or viva yoce, and
\ S,,
the committee by a small majority. 1T Il
Undoubtedly it's object was to shut the
mouths Of those who believed. and with
good ground, that there had been fraud
in the count in some former primaries.
It was known that In local elections
particularly, some men would object to
letting the public know for whom they
voted. but + was argued in the commit
tee that this objection would be moro than
countcrbalanced by the lncontestabe &c.
curacy OF the count. And SO the committee
adopted the viva voco system. and 1t has
been or will be carried out In the great
majority of counties and cities: but III
some localities the ballot has been sub
stituted for it. and In other places 1t has
been or will be used with reluctance. es-
pecIally in choosing county officers.
hi It is obvious that tho primary election
system will be the subject OF contention
In the State convention. which will be
held next year to choose delegates to tho
National Democratic Convention, and for
the transaction of such other business as
may be brought before It,
There viii be delegates In that oonvon.
don who will be anxious for the party to
abandon altogether It's stand In behalf
OF nominations by primary elections. But
there will be formida BILE number who
Will vigorously oppose that course, and
who will demand that Democratic primary
elections shall be by ballot, Still others,
we daresay. will contend for the contlnu.
anee Of the present plan as 1t came forth
from the hands Of the State Committee,
and yet others who will Insist that tho
local authorlties-in local primaries at
least-shall be permitted to determine
what method OF voting shall be used.
And 50 we look for lively discussion ui
the subject.
Yes. we look 10 see the primary become
an issue next year-preparato tory to the
elections OF 1oOt-when State ticket and
the usual quota OF Legislators are to be
elected. and when. as Ia now proposed
the choice of the. people for unltce
States Senator is to be expressed,
In the meantime the Legislature will
be In session and 4 ~ to be hoped tina
1t will pass general primary election
law. 1t can and should say that wher
primary elections are held they shah
as fully safeguarded by law as the rogu
lar elections are
The penalties against fraud committe
In primaries should DO as great as agains
frauds committed in regular elect!on
In most cases In Virginia the prima1
is the decisive election. and what excus
can be given tho public for not pre-
tectins 1t from dishonest men,
We are speaking now OF a primary cleo
t!ort lava thing separate and apal
from the Bark%dale pure elections law, A
10 the latter It unquestlonably could b
Improved and public opinion ought to h
exerted OH legislators 10 Improve it. III
people Of Virginia went 70 a very heay
expense to hold State Constitutions
Convention. mainly to SECURE fair ee
lions In this Commonwealth, and the soc
work done by the convention should
followed up by the Legislature. In fin
the primary should be protected BY
general law and the Barksdale pure e!e
tlons law should be amended and II
proved wherever experience shows that
Is Desirable.
NE conclude that IT'S the duty q Y