The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-29
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20. 1903.
.
Us THE PRIMARY in DANGER'
r,. po,,opo Times saws.


The Roanoke Times says:
IL we are to judge from the prevailing
tenor of political gossip now going the
rouns OF the State, 1t is the present pur-
pose Of the original anti-primary ele-
1nent int the Democratic party to insist
upon the retention Of the viva voce pan
OF yoting-not because convinced OF It's
! merit but in order, through It's continue
/ alton, to render the general primary
scheme obnoxious to the masses. In other
words, being opposed to the primary as
such, they will exert themselves to the
end that the people shall not enjoy me
benefit Of it's fair experiment. lhat
about the size Of it, and 1t Is species
~ political sharp practice which, If We
mistake not a large majority OF the
Democratic voters of the State are in
no mood to contemplate with patience
or resignation"
There can be no doubt in the mind OF
any man who has watched the progress
nj the fall campaign in Virginia that
efforts have been made In various parts
of the State either to evade the prir
mary plan or to make It unpopular, and
this is a matter which demands the Sc
rious consideration OF the Democratic
masses,
things co. to get at the true sentiment
OF the people on any question and that
IS by ballot. In mass meetings there
are in any heated contest excitement and
confusion, to say the least, and it Is al
most Impossible to make such meet
ing a deliberative body. Without mean
ing to use the term extensively an eX-
cited mass meeting is a mob, and mob
rule is never safe. Moreover 1t is always
possible and usually practicable in close
contests for one faction or the other
to manipulate mass meeting in such
way as to defeat the will of the ma
jority. Sometimes insufficient notice Is
given; sometimes meetings are held at
inconvenient times or places; sometimes
snap Judgment is taken, and the whole
system has fallen into such disrepute
that many voters refuse to attend. Some
times, indeed, meetings are SO riotous
that they are actually dangerous, and
peaceable citizens are unwilling to par
ticipate. The difference between the
average mass meeting and primary
election Is the difference between confu-
sion. and order, the difference between
mobocracy and Democracy. In mass
meeting individuals are by no means al.
ways on the same footing. That party
in the mass meeting which happens to be
organized and usually there Is an or
ganized body In mass meeting, is very
apt to carry things it's own way and too
AZ, 80 10
community. Such method fosters and
encourages minority rule and ring rule
and tends to bring party methods into dis
reput. But in primary election each and
every voter stands on precisely the same
footing, each mans voice is as strong
as any other mans voice, each and every
vote counts the same, provided the cleo
ton is fairly conducted and an honest
return made. The primary election is the
only weapon in the hands OF the people
rule, and II the people of Virginia lay
that weapon aside they lay aside their
only defense and put their party affair.
and their political interests in the handl
OF clique
The Chattanooga Times reproduces some
remarks OF ours on the subject Of prl.
mary elections, and by way OF comment
says:
1.-The Tennessee Democracy has beer
very loud and insistent for the election
of United States Senators by the people
but up to this time the gentlemen VINO
have stood so manfuy for "pIatformR
thing TO secure the passage OF laws In
accordance with the platform declare
tons. But growing dissatisfaction anon
the people over the present convention
method OF selecting candidates. method
devised by politicians politicians no
TO get the Will Of the people
but to advance their own interest,"
Will force the party managers to max
a change AT an early day. Ii Is yer
difficult proposition, but the voters an
taxpayers can carry II II they Will per
sst II required hard fight, patient an
laoorious effort To down the mob primarie
in this city and county, but VIC hay
finally succeeded and now he would b
very unw!se applicant for public faRo
who would demand n nomination By III
old mass primary plan"
As our contemporary well says. hi
matter is in the hands of the voter
themselves, and If the primary systel
Is abandoned, it will be through the
fault. There are some features of Il
plan IN Virginia which are unDopula
notably the viva voce system Of yotin
But because one feature or two featur,
or three features of the plan al
Questionable 1t Is no reason why Ii
whole plan should be discarded. The Sc
sibe thing TO do is for the party man
gers TO take up this question doilberat
ly and make such changes In the pi,
as shall tend 10 remove the objections al
1ogularixs 1t ana nla4s It efficient as