The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-08
PRINCIPLE. C.
OF PRl 4 I II
That IS What It's Advocates I'l
viii Contend For.
WILL BE a GREAT BATTLE TT ]:
Some Able Stump Speakers Who May
Advocate the System Before the
People -Another Story Of Poll 4
tlcai Activity at Hot Springs

Z AZ much attention Is being paid BY the
pniiiclar,s to the rumor Of the alleged
Hot Springs conference on the subject OF
nxhting for the Senatorial primary plan,
as to the nominations being made
throughout the state for members OF the
! 1Adaatura, and the suggtgtiotls that
some OF the most powerful and effective
campaigners In the State purpose taking
the stump in the spring and appealing
directly to tho people to uphold the prin-
clple has had q staggering effect upon
those who up to this time have thought u
would be easy to dlscredlt the new sys.
TEN before the Senatorial campaign OF
1906 comes on. ,5s 3s S
Further inquiry into the matter reveals
the fact that the subject was discussed 81
tho Hot Springs, and that some Of the
most eloquent speakers In Virginia agreed
that they would carry the matter oetore
the people in every county OF the state
rather than see the plan abandoned "a
advance OF fair and Impartial trial..
"A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE.
tits stated by e. gentleman VINO IS very
close to those who disguised the situation
At the Hot Springs that oil agreed that 1t
was the principle involved that rhoVed the
participants to agree to take the matter
uu at the proper time. rather than any
desire to make war upon any particular
candidate for the Senate, and that It was
the prevailing opinion that any man VINO
aepires to the most dlstn gulshed Once
within tho gift OF his people should be
willing to abide the method Of nomination
Fashioned by the party Organization, reg
llularly constituted, under the direction OF
tho Democratic people OF the State. after
the issue had been fairly fought out be-
fore and determined by the people.
The advocates OF the system are india
mayed at the apparent efforts to discredit
the plnn and to bring It into dlsrepute IN
different sections Of the State and II
gcoo political judges arc to be believed,
\ these alleged manoeuverings against II
are but furnishing the friends OF the
s plar, with arguments to be urged In Its
favor on the stump. j
It Is not known definitely who or how
8 many propose to take the stump, but II
al rumor has It. Governor Montague. Con-
Z 81 essman Jones, er-Congressman Tucker.
Walton Moore. Eppa Hunton, Braxton and
campaigners Of like ability shall thro"
down the gauntlet and champion the
principle before the people, having the
\ popular side OF the issue, they would
hardly be met by any speakers In opposi-
tion. i5 VEL
A POPULAR ISSUE.
There is scarcely doubt OF the pop
ularity Of the principle involved. although
4 It IL Admitted that the details Of the plan
i
70 substitute the secret ballot for the
viva voce system for instance. the friends
OF the principle say this could easily be
accom- plishcd by the very authority which
created the plan originally.
As IS usual at the meetings Of the Bar
Association 1t Is said that there was
z much political activity at the Hot Springs
, this year %
A story is going the rounds that one of,
the ablest lieutenants OF Senator Ne In
approached a candidate for the non1ina-a
Z tion of State Senator in one OF the dis
trcts OF the State and asked him how he
would vote on the United States senator
shin II elected. The candidate Is said TO
have replied that II a certain friend of
X his should be IN the race. and there should
be no primary he would vote for his.
friend.
"But II there should be no primary and
the race should be between Martin and
a Montague then what?" was the inquiry.
I'm that event, shall vote according
70 what believe to be the wishes OF my
constitutenta."s was the. reply.
This is said to have been unsatisfactory
10 the question, and something was added
about bringing out candidate In oppo-
sition. The race is still on, and there
"a another candidate in the field and
much public interest is felt in the result
B IN the light OF recent developments, It be-
Eins to look as II the main issue before
\ the people next year, will be primary or
no primary and II they shall be true, the
question Of sending delegates to the ma
tlonal convention will be a secondary
Y consideration.