The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-11
The Primary Triunphs.

1 u /. < "A 4 T K Il
The state Democratic Convention ''s71'
rornded up its good work yesterday ~
4 ! dopting primary election plan "n i
as Car as we are able now tosjudeiese' -
f,rst rate. and will prove to be sa tlsIac-
49,, n ali who desire full and Tree
and fair expression of the Demo '0ca
!. asses In the selection OF Candidates ~
state offices. The plan was consiuete g
.,an,th in n committed whose CHAIR
was the Hon. William A. Jones.
nv, ~ he a true and sta.unch friend OF
4, = .,,s+em. Mr., Jones and some others
l., f,yor of retaining the viva voce
4 method OF voting in State contests ~
MI +ney welded this point TO the ma)orlls
and brought in no minority report. MI
1ones went over the plan as AMENDED.
exnlaincd all the changes as they oo-
cured, and at the conclusion OF ms re-
marks senator Martin arose and moVea
that the report as substituted pc adopteu'
4 some member was rash enough 20
offer n substitute for the report. de-
cIarlne that the party was not In FAVOR
Of the primary plan, but his resolution
was taken as a joke, and when he at
tempted to make a speech IN advocacy
Of 1t. the convention laughed him down.
When the vote was taken on Senator
Martirrs motion to adopt. there was an
enthusiastic response in the affirmative
and when the negative side of the oues-
ton was put, only two or three scatter
Ing noes" were heard. This empha-
sizes the fact that the Democrats OF
Virginia are overwhelmingly In favor of
the primary, and that they prefer the
secret ballot to thea viva yoce method of
voting. Reports..'haa come to us from
various quarters that there was opposi-
ton here and thcre to tho primary plan,
and that tho opposition proceeded from
the friends Of Senator Martin. Out of
abundant caution we called attention to
these rumors from day to day and gave
warning 1t Ia now our pleasure to say
that although tho convention was In
control of Senator Martin and his friends
and while they could have prevented the
adoption OF any measure which seemed to
+ them undesirable. no opposition worthy
OF tho name developed during the CON
Yyention, and IT as fair and just to Senator
Martin and his supporters to say that
the primary plan was adopted through
their cooperation and support. This re-
suit is most gratifying to Tho Times
Dispatch, and we are glad to know that
there was. in fact. no ground for the
apprehension which we from time TO
time expressed. The party now has n
first-rate primary election plan, and II
elections held under 1t are conducted ii
fairness and honesty. and In the tru
spirit of the plan, it viii prove a blessin
to popular government In Virginia an
to the Democratic party.
rhe platform adopted by the CONVEX
ton is model of brevity drectness an
wise discretion. yet true and concls
exposition Of Democratic principles.
Is platform upon which Democrats ma
get together and keep together" an
from which they may fire solid she
al the enemy We hope that the sam
sort Of platform viii ba adopted by III
National Convention.
The convention was one OF the hes
ana most satisfactory gatherings In III
history Of the. party in Virginia, Til
work was HeR done. and we beliey
that never was congregation of Demo
Gratis on better terms we have rare
reon SUCH beautiful harmony In the e:
sentials as prevailed throughout the co.
ventIon from beginning 70 end, and II
party has been greatly strengthened h
..,.t6is great and delightful love feast.