Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-16
VIRGINIA.

Special Correspondence of The Sunday Star
RICHMOND, Va, April 10. 1906.
Will the primary election law. as party
measure, prevail In Virginia after the com
ing state election? That question is begin
ming 10 be asked in many quarters and is
not confined to either OF the candidates or
factions That the primary is proving
luxury the candidates who are in the race
can testify. An estimate was made here
a night or two ago in connection with the
fight for the United States Senate, and
even the most conservative belief Is that
it will cost not less than $1,000 and prob
ably much $4,000 for the candidates
to make the race.
There are in the state 1,60O precincts,
and the expense TO candidates at each of
these cannot possibly be less than 81, and
five times that sum in the precincts in the
cities Then there is advertising, and all
sorts OF schemes are developing by which
the candidates are being mercilessly bled-
programs, church fairs. base ball score
cards. concerts and hundreds of other
methods for making the candidates pay
out money. If they get out at 81 900 on
that issue they will do well. Then head
quarters have to be maintained, there is
stationery. postage, clerk hire, telephones,
kilograms, travelling expenses and inciden-
tails. IL is easy to figure up not less than
WUG', and the trouble seems to be to keep
the sum within that figure.
Many Want State to Pay for Primary.
One hears such expressions as making
laws TO keep all but the wealthy from get
ting an office, and ii would seem that there
Is something in the claim. Many people
who favor the primary. and they are In
the majority in the state, want the law SO
changed that the state shall pay for the
primary and allow all who desire to do so
10 become candidates for office without let
n MI fhn
out OF the reach of the humblest of her
citizens The primary plan is popular with
the masses, but there is no question that
IL Is al the same time almost prohibtive
case In point is the contest for the
nomination for lieutenant governor There
are four candidates This office will during
the normal term Qour years. pay to the
successfui asplrant exactly $500 There is
reason TO believe that either of the can
IS can get out without paying very
- more IMAM mat for primary expenses
i5o,,,. men mere Is the possibility that the
remote, but d possibility
Public Instruction.
What promises to be one of the bo.,as, =,
all contests is that for the nomination of
superintendent of public instruction prof
John ID. Eggleston, jr, of Prince E,a1,a "a
county and Prof. George III. Hulve,- of
Rockingham are the avowed candidates.
Mr.. Eggleston has the holiness IN assat
the methods OF the department of public
instruction, though he makes no Criticism
or the state board of education in this re-
spect. Mr.. Egsleston does not mince mat
ters IN his structures on the department
charging that money has been wasted nv
lax administration of the laws regulating
the sale of school supplies to the school
districts.
Mr.. Eggleston is preparing to renew the
attack. and he has fortified himself with a
mass OF hgures showing that this state is
paying at least % per cent more for books
than is charged for the Identical books In
adjoining states. He favors the single list
OF books for the public schools He told
The Star correspondent that he would take
the stump and debate the issue of the cam
paign with any reputable man, and says
that IL an investigation of his charges is
made and he does not prove every asser-
ton he has made he will stand or fall with
the result of the investigation.
Martin and Montague.
Senator Martin has removed all doubt az
to his intention of speechmaking In the
campaign. He Is on the stump and Is at