The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-21

LETTERS On TOPICS or The DAY

n "
tho sprItnaty plan. Upon II my return. I
proceed to answer your Inquiries. 57,t I
51.6f Think that the people of my SEQ
tiul, favor the primary plan for rloHi1ih-
tons for public office. This fecliig does
not arise from partisan preference or
factionnl allegiance but Is due to the be
lief tho primary system Is tho best
and most satisfactory mems Of ascer-
tuining ana enforcing the desire OF tho
majority Of Democrats as to- their party
candidates. III
2. / was n member OF tho stLbconi-
milee appointed BY Chairman Ellyson to
draft n primary plan to PC presehted 70 9,
tho State Committee, and was tho only
member OF that subcommittee who ex-
pressed any oppositionBt to the viva vocce
System Of voting. thought VI clded treadl-
~ to the opinions Of my colleagues III IA :
vorl OF 1T. While there arc many nrg'l-
tnents in favor Of tho viva voce plan.
there aer moro than counteryalllng Y OBJ
jections to It. and have no doubt that
whether the future Of the primary pc
decided BY the State Committee or by the
Legislature, this feature will be elimi-
mated. 3 H; 81 s.i,.. y
81. have read the primary bill intro
duccd by Senator Machen, but have not
81 copy at hand as fIwrite. II the LeglS-
lat,irc is to deal with the question OF q
party primary without going to the ful
length OF adopting q hard and fast com
pulsory primary law. then. within the !e
field which It proposes u to cover re-
gard the Mac1len bill as on the whole
ncritorIo II cannot now recall all Of
Its details One, however. impresscs me
as Of doubtful wisdom. 4 refer to the
proposed participation Of the n Circuit -,l'f:
Judges In teh selection OF officials to COM
duct the primary. The Consti tutional
Convention and the Legislature have, In
several instances, imposed upon the g Clr-'5
cult Judges duties OF appointment Il IN
connection with election mac hincry l
think this unfortunate. Did our judges
hold their offices by life tenure. they
might be above the possibility Of the
suspicion Of self interest In the discharge
OF such functions, but as It ls In Viz
fgtnIa, IL is too much to hope that IN
heated political contests 1t will not Often
be charged and felt, whether just or
{unj,lHtly, that judges In making such
appointments have been sWayed5 by per.
,sonal and selfish tons. III e ef-
feet would be to diminish. in some meas
ure, that lofty respect for the judiciary a.
which it is 50 important & should exist
among the people. 555
4. wherever either candidates or dele
gates are to be selected by popular vote,
regard the primary plan as much better
than the old system of mass tings,
with their wranglIngs,S their contentious,
their disputes. But for all Offices. other
than United States senator. Governor.
and other State officials, that is for
II members Of & Congress, members Of the
Legislature and county and city offices.
n am disposed to leave to the congress
sional committees and the loca organ :
cations the question whether such Of
5ficers shall be voted for directly or nom 4
mated by delegated conventions. One
objection urged against the primary plan
has been that it does away with conyen-
tfons and lessons the enthusiasm which
Is stimulated by party gatherings. i
the view Just outlined should prevail, It
would be In the power and discretion&of
the party organizati ion referred to to have
I occasi onaiIy such old fashioned assem-
blages Of the faithful
N THE questions upon which you have
Intercepted me are large and many
sided. and hesitate, without further
study OF a subject which is to be viewed
In SO many aspects, to express a final
opinion upon it. Personally. however, l
am inclined TO favor, SO far as nominat