The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-26

cessty Of wisdom OF primaries. Let us
consider tho kind OF men likely to control
and manage primaries. obviously not
those considered best men or even better
men, because GENERALLY they are too busy
pushing tho fortunes of their community
to devote to managing primaries.
Naturally and inevitably, therefore. pri-
maries fall under tho control OF third.
rate and under men, men Of little or no.
business. or idlers and incompctents SO
far as useful business Is concerned; mon
short on deed, but long on talk.
In other words Of men who live IN
part or wholly mostly wholly by poll
tics; mon who have q Vital. or at all
events a material, pecuniary interest that
primaries should go their way. for II not
they might be oustcd and others step
into their shoes. In great degree they
are like Judges trying their own cases.
They are interested parties and
when self tho wavering balance holds
'Tls rarely right adjusted"
Primaries too, are not conducted under
the strict supervision OF the State, but
under the loose and easy supervision OF
politicians and partisans whose con-
vcnient maxim Is, all's fair In politics.
and It's smart to cheat ones political OPP
ponent whether OF ones household or
not.
Considering, therefore. the character OF
the men who run primaries. and both
the temptation and the opportunity TO
cheat, what else can be expected, of pri-
maries but dishonesty, or at least, as q
general thing, unfairness or partlality,!
but especially when contests are close
or heated, and Judging by the charges
and counter-charges OF fraud frequently
heard after primaries, facts seem to con- 4
firm the. expectation. and to prove that
primaries, though so seeming fair. are
by no means a fair method OF reaching
public sentiment, but that, on the con-
trary. they may be and often are made
instruments for binding the public In the
tolls OF needy, greedy and interruptions
politicians.
Primaries though so seeming fair are
superfluous, wasteful and harmful, and
their only Justification Is to avoid party
split, where parties are very evenly d.
vlded; but even then their public benefit
Is very questionable, because IT Is much
better to lose n candidate occasionally
than to be under the dominion OF pri-
maries, which in turn are under the fdo-
minion of politicians, who In turn are url-
der tho dominion OF the loose principle
that all Is fair In politics, and that 1t Is
smart to cheat political opponents.
But where party has no opposition, and
where a dozen candidates might run at
~
OF party defeat, primaries arc positively
absurd, unless 1t be not absurd to bleed
candidates for tho sole benefit of those
who run primaries-men usually of small
consideration and OF smaller usefulness
to public welfare. OF course, II bleeding
candidates be the object OF primaries.
then primaries are not absurd. but are
means perfectly adjusted to their end.
Where party supremacy Is assured. pri-
mary nominations are the real election
but though the real election the expense
has to be incurred again at the so-called
real election. Primaries do not save the
State money and do not preserve party
supremacy, because that Is safe anyway
but they cause candidates lot OF un.
necessary expense, and all Tor what!
For the benefit Of tho managers and
controllers Of primaries. Truly there
fore where party supremacy is assured,
primaries may BIO fairly represented as
Esuperfluous, wasteful and absurd.
& While the foregoing remarks are gen
eral and not special to Richmond. our
present primary affords perfect Mus
trat!on and justification OF the charge 4
that primaries are wastcful. superfluous
and absurd. Thus there is no question
of party supremacy, because dozen can,
dldntes might run at the so-called real
election and a Democrat would still be
elected; yet the whole city Is set topsy-
turvy to the injury of business and can
dldates are heavily taxed in order to
decide whether A. or B.. both equally
good party men. shall bear the honors
and enjoy the rewards of office. Our
primary is thus n purely personal matter.
and our city Is thrown into n state OF en-
element, not on public. but on purely
personal grounds.
OF course, the merits OF candidates are
discussed, but they could be discussed
and verdict rendered equally as VOL at
tho real as at the primary election, and
the EXPENSE, turmoil and bad blood OF tile
primary would BIO avoided. But that
would not suit the politicians, big and
little. and, as politicians like other ,peo-
pie, must live. and primaries are perhaps
tho easiest way Of supporting them 1t
may, after all, be best to uphold pri-
large class of very deedy, If not very
L. II B.