The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-25
WEDNESDAY, MAY Is. 1904
The Primary Wins.

T, n :, ,,os RI ba expected, the Democrats
ar Richmond have declared oy tre'' oai-
;aots that they are in favor OF the Pr
I,o,ry e1actiop as means Of nominating
u ,a;d,tes. There was no possible chance
(sor the result to be otherwise uniess mo
FRIENDS Of the primary had remained away
b5ron, the polls. There is no DOUBT tila1
rthe great majority of Democrats OF h'cn-
.,nond are heartily in favor OF the Pr
,rnary election principle, and Rlcht'oiu
tsenda that message to democrats
throurhout tho entire State. The pri-
t.nary is our only safeguard against tiioN-
very and manipulation. The primary IS
In tho interest OF fair and honest elec-
tsions. in the interest of clean politics anu
An the interest Of peace and orde!. MISS
;.nee1ings are clumsy and sometimes rlo''
;snus and in many ways 30 objectonaoie
s4hat many Democrats will not attend
;4hem. There have been mass-meet'ilss
Snut In Henrico county. which were as
I,x,,ace upon the face of the earth. HAN
Sarunseu men were swearing and using
flndecent language and threatening to cut
~ shoot. and decent men felt ashamed
e. he caught in such company There
Sss reason to believe that such meetings
sare often purposely made d1sagfeeao1e'
Ian order that peaceable Democrats may
spe kent away, and that the meeting may
iba controlled by the machine. II mas
s,ften happened on such occasions that
L4ho han has been packed IN advance ana
4. 81 -oee;hle rhanCe for any
;th,nr like a. full and free discussion anu
~ fair decision. Democrats are ureo Oh
+hat sort OF procedure. and hence theS
nre In favor OF the primary eleclioh'
~. When the state Convention meets there
Is good reason to believe that the SEN
tluent in favor of the primary will be
overwhelming, and that satisfactory
plan will be promulgated.
but there is an element IN Richmond,
as elsewhere. in opposition to the prl-
mary plan, and that element was very
much in evidence In yesterdays election.
Some Democrats voted against the pri-
mary, and worked against 1t, and did all
that they could to make the Rlchnono
Democracy declare itself In opposltlon 10
&hhe principle From what source does
i,1hat opposition come. and what is It's pur-
{epnse? Why should Democrats be SO OPP
inosed to this method OF selecting candl-
Sdstess Why should they wish to aban-
,non plan that is fair on its face
tplan that is conceded to be the best IN
SNogue, to return to the old-tire, out
Cot date mass-meeung? 1t cannot be In
Ssthe interest OF a free expression OF the
hpopuIar will. 1t Anust, therefore. be IN
t4he interest of those, whoever they may
:sbe. who prefer machine methods and ma
ttn!pulatton.
|; But never mind the why's and where
flores; never mind the source from which
Sthe opposition comes. There is oppo-
E,sition to the primary. as we have time
hand again stated and once moro we put
f1he friends of the primary upon notice.
t1f they are not alert, the State Conven-
stior may either declare against the pri-
imnry or take no action. Democrats In
sa!l parts of the State should see to 1t
sthat the men whom they choose to rep
Present them III this convention are COM
r1rltied TO the primary plan. They should
fbe sure that the delegates whom they
belect are at heart In favor of the pri-
.rnary principle and that they will make
snn honest endeavor In the convention TO
Iprocure for the people first-class pr-
k11ary plan,
Richmond Democrats have done their
lHuty. snd they call upon their brethren
Throughout the Commonwealth to do like.
wise.