The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-03-20
MR.. MARTIN And
The PRIMARIES
Willing to Submit His Politica
Fortunes to the Voters and
Will Abide Ruling.

Senator Martins attitude toward the
been widely misrepresented recently. A
dispatch from Richmond regarding q
speech by State Senator Barksdale. pub
misrepresented Mr.. Martin, who has
never even discussed the subject Of the
Machen bill with Mr.. Barksdale.
81 have expressed my views on the sub
ject of a primary so often,' said Senator
Martin yesterday, when asked about the
recent reports. that hesitate to repeat
them again. notwithstanding a manifest
disposition in some quarters to mlsrepre-
sent my position.
"If had undertaken In person or by
letters or kilograms to give shape to any
primary election bill or to urge It's pas
sage, would / have no doubt, haye
drawn at once the criticisms of the same
people who are now complaining of me
because the Nlachen bill did not pass.
1.-THE last Democratic State convention
provided a plan for the nomination of all
OF its candidates. including United States
senators, by primary election. The Legis-
lature followed this with law legalizing
party primaries, so that VIC now have In
force, and lcgal2ed by statute, the pri-
mary election plan for nominating our
candidates Since the Democratic State
| convention adopted this primary election
| plan. have from time to time. at short
| intervals. by authorized interviews III the
| papers Of the State, expressed my desire
to see the plan have a thorough just and
! fair trial and to see 1t improved ana per-
| fected In the light OF experience. So far
| rs MY own political fortunes were con-
/ ccrned. ! have time and again stated that
| i would as soon submit them to the DEM
ocratic voters Of the State under pri-
LII II ,t
| Personally, any plan the party may pro-
| vide will be satisfactory and agreeable
| to me. Until It's recent adjournment
| expected and desired to- see our Legis-
luture carefully consider and revise the
| legislation on the subject, and ! regret
| it was not done. l have never read the
! Machcn bill, am not at all familiar with
| its provisions, and do not know whether
or not II would have been an Improvement
on the existing law. | know nothing
| about the causes that led to its defeat.
During the session of the Legislature
which has just closed legislation on the
subject Of our State primary elections was
never discussed between any 81 my
friends In the Legislature and myself.
| Occasionally the matter was referred TO-,
and on all such occasions ! distinctly
stated that had no desire 10 make any
suggestions IN respect TO the subject,
4 other than to say that IL was my wish to
See the matter disposed Of In the interest
OF the Democratic party, and without rsi-
erence to my candidacy or the candidacy
Of any one else. | stated that / be-
icYed that could get along with any law
or plan under which any other candidate
could live. and that II mas my sincere
desire that the Legislature should con-
slider and dispose Of The matter solely
with reference 10 the welfare OF the Dem
pcralic party
II feel the same way az To any action
the Democratic State convention may eee
fit to take Washington Post.