The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-21


officers arc concerned, d drastic primary
law something like that OF Minnesota,
Under which the State should pay he
expenses OF the primary electlon or Mt
least should contribute tho major por.
lion thereof This would give to the mcri-
ltorions cAndidate. however poor. ;ii equal
chance. and would open tho door Of hope
70 deserving aspirat,ts to whom It would
otherwise De closed BY Ills Inability Ia
meet the r,ecesSa ry and very large ex-
perlses Of such candidacy,
G5 En- Very truly yours.
st3 n w Y. 4. IT, y. RICHARDS. n
Front Royal, VII
The Primary Here to Stay. n
Editor OF The Times Dispatch.
slr,-Yonrs OF the goth ultimo asking
inc whether or not, IN my opinion. the
people in this section favor the primary
plan OF making nominations for public
offices. and what think OF the Machen
Bhill now pending In tho General Assem-
bly,. and Of tic propriety, on my 1udg-
mont, OF leaving tho nominations OF cotlt-
ity and city officers as now to the dlscre-,
ton OF the local party, authorities, has
been received. 3
Az to the primary, PLAIN there Is d.
vision Of sentiment. but + believe ma
&jorlty OF the people In this section favor
4 It. or, at least, favor giving 1t further
trial. II an, one OF those who do not mp 4
prove it.8i believed at first that the
change IN the method OF making 1omina-
Stions was unwise and inexpedicnt, and
my observation Of the operation OF the
primary plan since its adoption has con-
fr1ned N.Y. prcconcelvcd opinion. I would
repeal It and readopt tho old time-honoredj
plan OF making nominations In conven.
tons WAS simple, caused no rambling
nor dissenslons, and, what was very de-
sirabe. at stated periods brought the
leaders and the rank and file OF the par
~ together. Strife and irritation. Il any.
ended with t he convent ton, and when is
work was done, rival candidates shook
his hand and pledged their loyalty ard are
support 10 the nominee. and It was over
and all went we'll. Not SO in. the pri-s
mary, The canvass for the nomination
soon becomes heated. and at length do
generates Into crimination and recrfmi-
nation. and often5results in breaches, that
cannot be heal ed. Moreover, interest
scenters. ana ends in the primary. The
election Is q farce (I&see nothing but de
imoralization and distntegratlon OF the the
party under, the primary system)
And, say what they will, the convention nv ant
N yrY,et . 4 Words no moro Opportunities for
\ ma nipulat.on than. and ts as fair and
voices. tie will OF the people as truly as,
the primary. HI.
BntIthe primary Us here and, ] believe,
here to stay, and. II 50, the plan should &c
be left to the party authorities: and tit
seems to me. now. tina sprimar,ies nave nay
been legalzed and penalties have been
provided for violations Of the law, the
plan now II, effect, With some m odif1ca-
tons will accomplish, SO far as IT Is
possible the object in view, and no $fllr-
thor legislation Is necessary. II. how :
ever. we must have a general law GOV
erning primaries. strip the Dill OF some me
Of its details. strike out the section which
relates to tho manner OF selecting the
Judges and clerks OF election and insert
another providing for their appointment
by the party authorities and pass the
}Niachen bill, which. cured OF these de-
3fects. is the best OF the kind that has
bcen offered Not that tho judges would
be dragged Into politics. for they are
already in. and. # as everybody knows,
they are elected not only because OF their
fitness and tqualif ton bu t because OF
their political convictions and the cour-
uge OF their convictionsS,as well, and
would not give a snap Of my finger for
Judge who did not have both---and. hav-
Ing both. does not, argue that he will not
hold the scales OF justice with i an even
and impa rtial hand. but I want the whole
nat ter left to the party organizations.
The viva yoce mode Of voting IS not
satisfactory, and should be polished,
and Il is best. In my Judgment. that the
method OF nominating city and county
officers be left, as now, to the local par
ty. authorities.
Very truly yours.
THOS. H. BARNES.
Elwood, Va.