Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-03-23

pretended 10y the public, but the
ever leSSening power of the indi-
vidual. unorganized voter to ex-
press his wishes effectively, has
made the necessity for a radical
change apparent to even the casual
wayfarer ON the road of politics.
at first the bamboozled public,
though chatting under the restraint
of dictated nominations. accepted
the glib explanations which were
checrfully offered to the adventur-
Gus questioners who demanded
better methods for determining
the peoples will. Those days are
now past. The public will no
longer be satisfied with explana-
tons: it demands changed methods.
and what Is more, it knows what
changes are necessary.
Senator Fulton, of Warren,
sums the whole question up
when he said: The failure to en-
act primary law Is simply with
holding from the people the right
to legally express their preferences
for the men they want to serve
them in public office. " 4 few
years ago the solution proposed by
Senator Fulton would have been
argued: today it Is argued on one
side and Smothered on the other.
To-day the people of Virginia know
that they do not have the right of
expressing their choice for the
men they want in public office. in
such a way as to make that expires
sion of choice effective. The pco-
pie are satisfied that ward and pre-
cinct masS-meetingS are failures
and that primaries without the
force of law. To say nothing of the
viva voce method of voting. are too
Objectionable TO be any real Solu-
ton for the difficulty. The peo-
pie also know that there has been
a persistent and 50 far successful
attempt on the part of the personal
adherentS of Senator Martin to
prevent the enactment ofany salts
factory primary law 10y the Legis-
lature.
The senator himself disclaims
any knowledge of action of his fol-
lowers in this matter. but when a
man Is raised by force of charac-
ter or circumstances to the posi-
ton occupied 10y Senator Martin.
he cannot escape the responsible
ties of leadership or the duties of
a public servant.
Senator Martin Is not and can
not be blind to the urgent and
widespread demand throughout
this State for a primary law. His
acknowledged position rs leader of
a numerous and powerful contin-
gent places him under the duty of
candid dealings with the Democrats
of Virginia.
To their question: What Is
your attitude on the primary" 1t
will not do for the Senator to saw.
Il will abide 10y the rulings of the
Democratic party and take my
chance under the party's plan.
whatever it may be-" For the
great unorganized public may well
answer: Your position and
power can largely determine what
the Democratic party of Virginia
Will do. And in order that we
may know how to act for our best
interests, we ask again, Are YOU
personally in favor of the primary
for he who Is not for it, is against. =
The issue has reached a point
which well makes it incumbent on
every public official TO distinctly
and unequivocally declare his posi-
ton on the primary.
Senator Barksdale has spoken
with no uncertain sound. and now
the people of Virginia require of
Senator Martin like declaration
not whether he will abide by the
ruling of the Democratic party.
but whether he will lend or with
hold his aid in giving Virginia
such primary law as the needs
and intelligence of the people de-
mand. - Richmond Times-Dis-
patch.
4 CENVINET At TUE CLTpWIV