The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-28
THURSDAY, JANUARY IS, 1901.
The Primary Plan.

In brief discussion in yesterdays paper
OF the Machen, primary bill. we wore NOT
] considering the measure from our point
Of View, but from the view Of those VINO
are opposed to any primary plan what
soeyer, There Is undoubtedly strong oppo-
sition In Virginia to the primary ana nd II
4 II. would be unwlse for tho General AS
pembly at this time to enact any law
on that subject which would 30 open
! to serious objection and attack.
Let us take a look at the Machen
bill and see what objections could be
raised TO It by the enemies If the pri-
mary plan.
Az the outset let 1t be noted chat this
bill does not make primary elections com
pulsory. It provides that whenever the
party authorities shall order a primary
election throughout the State, or IN any
POLITICAL subdivision thereof, such pri-
mary election shall BIO conducted in the
manner and upon tho conditions provided
in the bill. In other words, 1t Is left
discretionary with tho party authorities
4 whether or not primary shall be held
but il the primary is held it must be In
accordance with the provisions OF TINS
bill, and not otherwise.
Now, then, as to the objections when
the oppositionists might raise: First OF al,
they might contend that the machinery
OF election was taken out Of the hands
II Of the party authorities and put into
@ the hands Of the court for the bill pro-
vides that the court shall select the
Judges and clerks of election. In vain
would the other side plead that the Sc
lections OF the court were to be made
i out OF list of ten names furnished by
the committee.
5$ The oppositionists would still contend
that the appointment was at last made
L by the court, and there are many Demo
Gratis who hold that the government has
no business thus to interfere In the al
fairs Of any political party.
Again they might argue that all party
contests growing out OF primary cleo
tions. instead of being decided by the
committee would be to all intents and
purposes decided by the court. 1t is
true that the bill simply provides that
any person voted for In primary, who
may be aggrieyed by the action Of the
Judges or clerks at any precinct, may
take his case. to court and have y
threshed out.., and thdt the Judge shall
= To- ha oEf, irroa ;, Of
committee without rendering any fna
decision. But the oppositionists could still
contend that the Judges finding would
II be practically a. final decision.
on the other hand, the oppositlonist
might put their objections on still highe
grounds, and contend that the whole pla,
would drag the judiciary into the slum
b of politics." would bring the Judges o
" our courts and politicians OF the Stat
into dangerous relationship; and TIL
s argument could be used with great force
Still again, the bill provides that al
primary elections shall be by ballot. an
while we feel sure that tho great ma
4 jority OF Virginia Democrats are or
posed to tho viva voce system OF voting
1t has many strong and influential nc
4 yocates who contend that that syste,
4 Is the only sure protection against fraut
It is not necessary to say that ri
Times-Dispatch Is heartily In favor OF II
primary system. Nor have we any g,
rious objections to the Machen bill. o.
preference would be for general Lax
u which would interfere as little as possib
with the rights OF political parties. lea,
4 ing them for the most part free to NAL
their own rules and regulations, hi
throwing around every primary electlt
u the safeguards and protection OF the Ia
In order to insure q free and fair co
L test, and to prevent intimidation. bride
Il and fraud. But the primary elections
81 Virginia are now SO important we h
y almost said SO much more tmporta
q than regular elections, that we wot
be willing to have u law more speci
* In its details than that enacted by t
K last Legislature, and we would be will
To accept and support some such measl
as that which Senator Mnchen has p
posed. But that is not the question
all. The question is whether or not ST
law would be acceptable to the mass
& whether 1t would promote or defeat
cause for which we and other friel
OF the primary system have for so L
81 fought. The Democratic party cannot
compelled to accept any primary
M which the Legislature may make. uni
4. the law itself should be made CONF
sorry, and that would never DO. Thereof
II It would be unwise to enact any
which should be so open to object
as to make 1t unacceptable to the DoI
cratic party, Such g law, SO far Il