The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-19

We think that the alumni bill assures It,
But he says in our endeavor to so as
sist the board as to assure this goodwill
and support, we wish to control, because
the board on tho nominating committee,
has vote of but three out Of nine. He
thinks the poor, flustered faculty" and
their allied alumni are unnecessarily
alarmed and are harboring ignoble suspi-
cioEs OF the board. Why does he think
tl,at the three alumni will vote with the
faculty in making nomination, rather
than with the board; 1. e., granting that
these two are to be, as he supposes, at
enrsito? AS I said before, think that
the alumni can be trusted to elect rep
n sentatves OF independent views, and
II these represe tatlves go with either
board or faculty against the representa-
tves of the other body. 1t can be safely
stated that there will be good and sutli-
Gent reasons for their doing SO.
PRIMARY.
I will say frankly to Xxx that his
idea of n primary election had never oc-
Cured to me in connection. with the
nomination OF president for the Uni
versity Of Virginia-I had never thought
Of that nomination as the place for a
display of the strength of the party ma
chine. as offering q field for the pro-
fessional politician, as a contest to be
won by a ring. II boss or even by a
lobbyist
Can it be that xxx really thinks so?
The primary. referred to by Mr.. Bryce,
on whom he relies, is very different
affair from what we have in view.S In
leading UP to this matter Mr.. Bryce
says that the parties who take part in
such primaries exist practically for tho
sake of filling Offices" and for gaining
strength by doing so.
Under such circumstances are candi-
dates nominated by securing primaries in
the method described.
These are the primaries determined by
the list Of voters prepared by the man
aging committee" in such way that lin
point of fact the rolls of membership OF
many primaries are largely bogus rolls,
as Is vividly set out In the very passage
cited by xxx, but in portions omitted in
his quotation.
Then are the primary lists so contrived
that only traction OF the party get on
s. Them These are the lists referred
to- and these lists can be thus controlled
because the mass Of tho voters are ig-
norant; knowing nothing about the per-
sonal merits of the candidates, they are
ready to follow their leaders like sheep.
repeat i'll never for an instant
thought that the body of men who would
be called together to nominate a presi-
dent for tie University of Virginia would
be OF that class. nor that candidates
would be brought forward with any hope
OF success by party which exists for
the sake of filling office.
But If such methods are to be at
tempted, will not xxx admit that they
are far less likely to meet success with a
nominating committee of nine composed
OF representatives elected by three sepa-
rate bodies, than with a single body Of
nine appointed by one man, and that man
one VINO may be elected in n time of
political unheaval
The holding of a primary, nomlnat-
Ing convention or whatever YOU NAV
choose to call it, would seem to be not
In direct conflict with a primary axiom
OF good government. as Xxx has said,
for his own authority, Mr.. Bryce, In dis.
GUESSING the systems for choosing candi-
dates, names the primary system as ono
of the most prominent, states at length
the reasons for it and its advantages
and says that 1t secures union because
the minority. having been fairly out
voted, are likely to fall into line and sup
port the nominee.
II this be true in the case of a party
candidate in political contest, with the
voters, as described above, how much
more true when no battle is being fought
but educated people. with no bogus lists
to contend with are seeking the well-be-
Ing of their common alma mater.
And this, even gran ting to xxx, which
do not, that the nominating committee
| viii send in but one name and will abso-
| lutey dictate the election.
| CHARGE AS TO CERTAIN FEATURES
The non-clgibillty of members OF the
faculty and board for d certain time is
| a feature in the alumni measure not
in the faculty suggestions.
NM thinks that no member of Il
| body which may control nomination
can. with decency. be candidate for
the office. lie thinks the faculty will
control the nomination. lie thinks that
no member of the faculty should be
nominated for the first president, but
he thinks that any member of the IA
Guilty should be eligible for future nom
inations.
lie. however differs so violently with
the trainers of this provision that he
even states that, like all the rest of this
! measure II Is designed TO accomplish a
personal and individual end behind the
screen Of general legislation
That is serious charge. Tho men
who framed that provision were follow
ing the lead of the Virginia Constitu-
! ton In the matter of eligibility. Their
| names were published In The News
Leader the day their bin was proposed
They are men not without standing in
| Virginia Even XXX admits that they
ARE nctuated by high motives and sin
cere affection for the University of vir-
ginia."
Surely he does not bring this charge
/ against such men, following such a pre-
cedcnt without full and reliable justin-
cation.
Possibly he will be frank enough to
adduce his evidence.
He thinks that the faculty will offer
the best field for finding a suitable man
this same faculty that should have no
voice In pointing out such a one,
4 Well possibly some other faculty will
have q man Just ms suitable, Ills election
viii not cause the bitter feelings OF tho
faculty factions that xxx in his refer
ence to Princeton says occur on such
an occasion when the professors are
themselves eligible, While this rule
would have denied Wilson to Princeton,
iIadley to Yale ETC., etc., II would moi