The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-07

see anything done which would give Its
enemies iii advantage. When tho pros.
:pnt pnrty plan was under consideration
tho viva vdcn system could never l1nvo
commanded tic SUPPORT Of I! majority !,
or tho committed, but 5sfDr tlio cry OF
fraud which cttiiie UP from certain sec
lions Of tho state. aud tho committee was
induced To adopt this system Ill order
to rcnder fraud impossible.
Now In some sections OF the Stnte.,
indeed I'll tic large mnjorlly or tho
state tho people trust thelr local con,-
iniuees, nd II would have been mu .,Ii
wiser had tho committee given tho local
committees tic power to- control the
The chief objection to the present plan.
80 far hH 1 have heard, Is tlie objection
itO the viva voce vote. 1 prefer IT, but
recognize tho fright Of tho majority to
rulo, and, therefore, think the party plan
should be SO modified as TO glVo tho
largest discretion to the local authorities
which Is consistent with tho principle
Of tho primary.
Ny Fundamental objection to the Mach,
en- bill Is that It undertakes tho iinpos-
3sible. 1t Is simply impossible to pre-
won't fraud IN n community which has
not the nloralltS, the energy and tho pub !.
lie spirit to put 1T down ana keep, 1t
down. 10 illustrator: You may have tho
tbest prosecuting officer in tho State, and
he cannot punish crime unless tho pub
| l,c sentiment In his community demands
Its punishment. e5
Political parties arc the agencies
through which tho people express tho
public sentiment Of tho community, md
when a party gets into such u condition
| TINT It must have M act or tho Eegls-
lature to prevent its members from
cheating each other, then It IS time to
cult that party instead Of making q law
To compel 1t to be honest.
These are some Of the general objec-
tons to the bill, but there are others
which nre more specific. Tho bill In
wolves the aid OF the Circuit Courts, but
confers upon them practically no pow
er; tho Judge Is to appoint the judges
OF election and clerks, but he must
appoint then from list Of ten furnished
him by tho chairman OF tho local COM
mlttee.
RI this chairman Is n bad man and
wants rnscals appointed he has but TO
sclect ten such, and you force your cir
cult Judge to nppolnt Il man perhaps know
to him to be utterly unworthy or con-
fidence Now, If the chairman OF the
committee Is fit to select the ten, ne IS
tit to select tho Judges.
II, however, tho selection wero left
to,thc local committee, 1t is probable that
lHCSe WYNN ~.
committee as n whole, and not by he
chairman. An appeal is given from the
Judges Of election to the circuit Judge,
and he Is required to 60 through the
fornality Of recounting the ballots or
examining the question Of false re-
turn, and, after, perhaps long ana M
borio,s contest, hc Is to certify ms 1lnu-
Ing to the chairman Of the committee
orr local authority having the election
in charge. His finding does not hind
anybody, and may be totally disregarded
b. some petty party boss, am not
,nmindful OF the fact TINT it Is the
moral power OF the judges findings
which is sought but should we place
the time honored judiciary of the State
In such a position! 81. 4, -,
There are other conditions In tho bill
which I cannot touch upon without tres-
passing upon your kindness. | 1eel Ncr!
kecnly the danger of having the primary
system OF tho party secured after hard
fight, perhaps killed by the kinuncss OF
It's friends. q,
rerent sections OF the State nre so dlf-
fcrent that almost any general prin-
ciple will work great hardship IN some
particular section. ~ f, ;. :, Y
Tho true solution Of this very Diff
cult question, in my Judgment, IS 70 confer
larger power upon your local authorities
and thereby secure In It's fullest measure
local self-government, but this should
be done by the party, and not the
Legislature, ,ss