The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-24
PRIMARY THE
ISSUE TO-DAY.
Continued From First page.)

IObOL " SuI
tcontinuod From First page)
OF the city are entitled to participate ~
The primaries this evening and the pol's
viii be kept open at all the precincts until
o'clock p. NJ, ~,
The city Democratic Committee WIN \
/ meet at Sanger Hall at o'clock to'n'gnt,
70 receive and make public the returns.
The issue before the Democrats OIL
Richmond In their primaries for the cleo
ton Of slxty-ono delegates to the Stule
convention this evening IS Whether tne
primary system OF nominating candidates
for public office, inaugurated after long
years OF struggle, shall be perpetunted'
or whether the voters are willing TO re-
turn to the old method of ward meetings.
conventions and Legislative caucuses.
The lines OF battle are clearly drawn
between the friends and enenivs OF the
system of popular nominations, ana the
slogan on both sides is War to the
knife. and knife to the hilt." The re-
spective forces were lining UP for the
struggle last night and all the forenoon
to-day will be taken UP In further prepa-
rations for n desperate finish.
The primary object of this evenings
election was to choose delegates to the
state convention, but the candidates
for these honors having all practically
declared for Judge Parker for President
and Hon. Charles v. Meredith for one Of
tho district delegates to ST. Louis, the
question OF preserving and perpetuatlng
the present primary method OF making
party nominations has risen to a place
of interest and Importance in the strug-
gle, which makes it easily the supreme
issue Of the hour
-Four Hours of Battle.
The voting will be from fP. M. to s
F. Nj. at all the usual polling places Of
The city, full list of which are printed
below, and all registered white Democrats
are emitted to cast their ballots between
the hours named. The returns will be
received and made public by the City
Democratic Committee at Sanger Hall
at o'clock tonight and they are ex
pected to be In promptly, as the count
will not require great deal of time.
There are no contests for delegates
except in the Second Clay, Fourth Mon
roe and Third Marshall precincts, and 1t
is understood that practically all the
candidates are for Judge Parker and
Mr.. Meredith. But the battle over the
primary principle is expected to rage
fiercely from The opening to the closing
of the polls, although the opponents OF
this oft-endorsed party tenet are doing
their work quietly and without any
flourish of trumpets.
"A Plain Proposition.
Notwithstanding the strenuous efforts
on the part of the enemies OF the primary
system, to hecloud the issue, the matter
of voting this evening, on that question
is very simple one.
At the bottom of each ballot, the fol-
lowing words will be printed
primary.
"Anti-Primary,"
The voter. who desires that he shall be
cut off from direct participation in the
nomination of candidates for public Of
flee, and that the party shall declare for
a return to the old courthouse and ward
meeting system, has but to run his pen-
ell through the word primary" and he
will have correctly recorded his views.
On the other hand, those who believe In
affording the freest expression in the
matter of choosing candidates, and who
desire the opportunity to vote directly for
those who shall represent them in pub
lie places, will have only to erase the
word, anti primary in order to give
proper expression to their wishes on the
subject.
M aklng Still HUNT.
The antl-primary people. who appear
to be mainly the politicians. are making
'still hunt for votes. and are not
raising the issue against the principle In
the open The leaders were saying yes
terday and last night that there would
be no great interest In the contest, and
that they expected burt small vote to be
polled. They are evidently preparing TO
spr!n., a surprise, however, for it leaked
out last night that the lleutenants or
the leaders had received word that they
were expected to 81 their level best IN
the crucial test which will come during
the four hours of voting this afternoon
and evening. @F
An Easy Guess.
No one disputes the contention OF the
primary advocates, that Richmond IS
overwhelmingly primary city, and II
the quiet voter. composing what is known
as the rank and file of the party here,
shall turn out this evening, and take
part in the primaries, every one, at a.
familiar with local conditions, can cal
the turn on the result before the vote Is
taken
Mich has been said concerning the
nrobable attitude of the working people
with reference to the primary principle.
Several Of them were discussing the SUD-
ject, with representative 81 iNe iHiies
Dispatch last night, and they agreed
that the best interests Of the laborins
classes, as we'll as those Of all other
good citizens, demanded that they should
keen themselves in a position TO be aple
ia nxnress their preferences directly. as
between the men who offer themselves for
public office.
Will Decide Much.
rhe issue which is to be Fought out
here in the contest this evening" VIII
mean much to the primary principle
throughout the State. II by failure OF
the people to turn out. Richmond shall
register here vote against the principle,
it is the deliberate judgment OF many
well posted ones, that the anti-prlmary
people Of tho State, will bring the matter
up in the convention here on June pm,
| and push through resolution declaring
| for the old time method OF party nomi-
/ nations. The only other question of In
terest to be determined in the Richmond
and Henrico primaries to-day. Is who
shall represent tho city and county on