Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-04
peciai Dispatch to The Evening Star.

istration day, on which voters will have an
opportunity to change their politics from
one party to another, while those who nave
declined to reveal their political leaning can
have themselves registered as democrats or
republicans.
The $4,000 voters who. according to the
police census. refrained last fall from regis
tering. will also be given chance to have
their names enrolled. 1t Is probable, there
fore, that when the lists close at o'clock
tomorrow night. they will contain the
names Of about So 900 democrats. and about
$1,000 republicans.
exclusively to those who have registered as
republicans or democrats. None others
need apply. The prohibitionists, socialists
and other side parties. which did not poll 10
election. will have to get the names of their
candidates on the official ballot to be voted
on May by resort to petition
officials to Be Nominated.
The nominations to be made are for:
Mayor, president Of second branch Of the
city council. comptroller. four members Of
the second branch city council and twenty
four members Of the first branch or one in
each ward. In each party. interest In the
primary has been aroused to high pitch
by the multiplicity Of candidate for the
several officers. by the, terrific onslaught
upon the organizations Of the two parties
penditure Of money. Hence the prospect Of
a large vote at the primaries which will af-
ford most excellent opportunity to study
the operation of the law, and to determine
whether it will be applicable to such larger
cities as New York. Boston. Philadelphia.
Pittsburg. Cincinnati and Chicago.
The primary for both parties will be held
same set of election officials those officials
being selected by the board OF election su-
pervisors r,s.-a-..,.. g..
They are subject to the closest scrutiny,
inal records are barred from appointment.
These judges serve from year to year.
and also act registers of voters. Two
are democrats and two are republicans.
The primary. with few deviations, is con-
Quoted in the same manner as a general
election under the Australian ballot sys-
tenn. Violations Of the law are punishable
in the same manner as those of the gen.
eral election law-that is, by terms in the
penitentiary.
The chief difference between the primary
and the general election Is in the ballot
box. In the former two boxes are used,
one for republican and one for democratic
ballots. On Tuesday the republican boxes
will be decorated with pink poster. Into
this box must go all republican ballots.
which will be printed on pink paper. For
democratic ballots white paper will be
used. These ballotes will be deposited by
Of white paper will be posted. The demo-
cratic ballots will be counted first.
The enactment of the primary election
law is directly traceable to large and in
huential class Of citizens. members of both
parties. who believed that party primaries
as formerly conducted were farces. and
that they were so manipulated by party
leaders that only men who would do their
bidding were nominated. The BILL as orig
inally drawn, applied to the whole state,
W ito in he
senate each county member asked to have
his constituents exempted from the opera
tons Of the law. The chief objection was
the expense which the law carried with 1t.
When finally passed the law applied only
to the city. The democratic city and state
leaders who controlled the senate could
have killed the BILL but they believed
that its passage would attract to their
opposed them at every election. 1t is ex-
tremely doubtful If the law has served
its purpose in this regard.
Two Methods Provided.
The system provides for two methods >or
nominating candidates, the delegate and the
direct system. The party organizations
have power to determine the method prefer
able to them. The republicans chose the
delegate plan, while the democrats will Sc
lect their candidates by the same direct sys-
tenn that Is employed at the general elec-
system had they so desired, and the leaders
would have then been in a position to ma
nipulate the nominating conventions in their
own behalf. But they determined to go the
gal independents. They desired also to be
free of the charge that they had resorted
to other than the fairest means within their
power. / - --'"
The battle for supremacy within the two
parties Is the bittere6t witnessed her, for
many years, .rivaling, In intensity Of feeling
between the combatS the famous conflicts
OF 1888 and 1897. when a,tfght all along the
Senator German. He was defeated, but in
1899 he won back his old position at the
head OF the Democrat party, He Is not In
IN ii the a sht and from n, lis
selr from the city. Formerly he came here
once or twice every week.
Among the republicans two sides are con-
tie tending FOR Is really fight
headed by Mr.. William F. Stone, collector
Of the port Senator, MeCpmas is allied with
this faction. He, too. has given the city
wide berth since the fight started. The or
ganization has puuofotEard Mr.. w. d.
cut, for mayor He Was selected as can
didate by a committee Of business men who
sat behind closed DOORS This selection was
subsequently ratified by the republican city
executive committee. Even before Mr..
Piatt had been brought forward and groom
cd Tor the mayoralty race Congressman
franck G. Wachter was hustling for the
nomination. and he is still hustling day and
night Mr.. Wachter was promised the sup
port OF the organization for mayor when
he made his third fight for Congress last
fall Mr. Stone does not hesitate to say
that the promise was given in good faith
but he adds that when Mr.. Wachter failed
at the election to develop the strength
which he was expected to develop, the or
ganiza tion withdrew its support.
1t is toss-up between Mr.. Platt and Mr.
Wachter. with the odds In favor of the
former. because of superior. more COM
pact and more tractable organization
Four Democratic Candidates.
There are four candidates for the demo-