The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-23
PRIMARY ELECTION BILL.
Some Explanation Of Its Provi-i
"a @ sions and Purposes.

MOI p n ETTT = j
1t MA sions and Purposes.
Editor pf8The Timcs-Dispatch:
Slr,--since tho bill to provide for prl.
mary cleo tons WINS introduced Into the
Senate thore has been d general interest
manifestnd In Its scope and purpose, and
It may not be untiniely to mention what
seems to be the necessity for suchga law
visions.
Those who oppose all primary elections
cannot Of course, be reconclled TO my
marles clean and effective and therefore,
pont,lar., Fortunately, such people are
few, and from al Indications are growing
tryending, It would seem not improbable
that before many years people holding
, that view will DO more remarkable . for
their ecccntrlcity than for their numbers
The real difficulty, In drawing bill to
legallze primaries Is to harmonize the
conflicting, not TO say ntradictory, opin'-
mary SYSTEM 'S THAT tbs dialeulty Is not
who undertakes tho task. Some think
haustive plan going into the rllinutest
the party authorities Others hold TINT
there should DO no legislation EXCEPT such
pa msfo psr Pts mag se%o
be satisfied with the mere thought that
n party plan has been legnllzed, 4 while
others Insist that the legalizatlon nmointS
can enforce their rights In the courts
inal statutes against those who may
tice.5 Some think primaries should be-
optional with the parties. while others
Wish them compulsory: Some believe
absolute control over the machinery Of
the primary election. while others think
they should should have S,e,I no q!n sr
whole expense Of prmnries;s others that
only. part OF the expense should be borne
by the State, while stlll another class
ali for such purposes. Some want straight
primaries In all cases others want con-
ven ttons In all cases, while still others
niaries in some cases, and conyentions in
Others. 1t Is clear that no bill will! be
satisfactory mall RESPECTS 70 all 9 these
classes Of persons. The best that can "a,
as possible meets the views of all. with
out being wholly obnoxious to any. Gcyi-
ternment has been defined to be tho sci
have have Tie The Ia law which Which Is Ideally the best.
We can ut least have tho best to be had.
The general public has an interest In
the fair selection OF candidates. because
those candidates become officers and I'D.
people. A candidate who obtains his
nomination BY fraud may, perhaps, make
general election w!than elaborate system.
Of laws. though these elections In many
cases merely sratify party nomina tlons,1
while the nominations have no safeguard
provided. a fair, orderly and decent sys-3
tenn Of party. nominations cannot fall TO
mark an advance in good government by
preventing demoralizat ton among the
people and by encouraging self-respccting
ri ans RI Acan
From a party standpoint It would seem
Of prime Importance that alls.nomina.
the suspicion Of fraud IL the party VII
is to be fairly ascertained aid dissatis-
faction and disruption avoided. t is true
that under tho best system that can De
10 that extent. n law for the total pre-
vention OF fraud Is attempting the I'M
possible SO our laws against crime 90
son has advocated their repeal, on that
account That an evil Is prevalent and
impossible of eradication Is the strongest
possible reason for reducing ~ TO min
''''A'' THE SYSTEM.
From a Democratic point OF view there
IS no longer the necessity OF argument
in favor of primaries. They have been
until to-day the sentiment Is oyerwhsim-
ingly in their favor. The last State con-
vention adopted them as a rigid party
policy In the absence Of s sta Plan pan
trail Committee to formulate one and pro-
mitigate 1t for all nominal tons dow 20
members of the General Assembly and
elected last fall as well as Senator Dan-
Tel, who -shas succeeded himself in The
United States Senate, received their nom
nations IN this Mariner r.a res 80 tho man
objeottonable 10 many The viva yocee
method Of voting was protested .ag 90 y
many parts Of the State. The opinion y
practically unanimous that " should ny
| have been adopted, and VIII not. be io!-
| Grated again. The fact that tho pan
made primaries compulsory IN all con p
gressional and legislative districts. with
out regard to local conditions was g., re- Z
gardedh g9 msfaRs o as he
not Of tho committee the turlhor =, da1I !,
that the number Of Judges and CLERKS ~
was not limited and their pay y, n ,,r ra se-
\ sonable assessments upon ,candldaFGG q.
4 There was no provision n the pin,n+ |, p ~
! which any voter could know Whetner
| candidate to know whether the returns
were fairly made. Il the judges were n lt
~ ~ 4 y " ~ DEFECTS.
I, The pollsbook were left In the CUSTODY
II the the custody of tho chairman or Is, some
other members q the eemmittees ~
from these SGGkbs 70 s a4oa as
| heem sent, provided, OF course that nc
Hsrpes aga at, seoh 81 so pos
/ who had checked up the vote as i was
given could Of course fhe de rePssn1 % w ee
false, but the Judges might outswear him
Re could take al sn the 5eG tpain Whe
the the committee. It is not intimated thai
any Of these things did oce Wa IL ywo 9na
4 be needed to restrain those who are lay,
INCLINED r.d un ndna the Plan aye q bee
! proven, and. if proven. lnculd not haye
been + wEn9 "a sss9f heh sas
Ing This It Is not intendea to reflect y
the slightest degree upon The myem nne So o.
4 ce m and doubtless thought they had SO,
/ cured the best plan in sight. AT criticism
i of them because of defects IN TIE plan
4 and there were some harsh or' S'clsi'ls-
A was entirely unjust 4, ,a,d n,,t1
L Nf,aN ( 4