The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-04-02

That thought should ne Sufficient In Itself
80 stimulate public spirit III every COM
m,initS
The Primary
some ,inktn1 ard incisive persoiis " ties
Tie .rimcs-Dispatcil n question, printed,
in lis editorial columns this morning, coflas
reri,Ing primary elections, ms follo
"sl,ould a man. who, though a Demos
ctnt, but who probably declares that he
would rot support the ticket u certain Ia,
parties were the nominees. but would
s,,pport tile Republican ticket Instead, be
pnrinittei to participate In tho primary
,ro tits our contemporary replies by
quoting from the official primary plan
and nddihg: &, &.
II is very plain from this that only
Democrats are expected to participate IN
tile Democratic primaries and every DEM
ocrat who does so participate ut1uouptedly
pledges liinsclf to support the nominee or
nominees OF that primary IN the ensuing
general election
Here the pnlc auglir muttefing stands.
Hero the Delphic oracle respond5 with
cuuivocation. Hero tho Juggling ,fiend-.
this H. quotation md Is not Intended
10 Apply Neutrality-suspicious. with gus in
double sense anl Keeps the word of2prot1i-
Use to the ear. but breaks 1t to the nope
Does 1t mean that any Democrat narticl-
pating in any primaryls bound to sup
port all the nominees 81 the party I'm
the ensuing general election" Or does
1t mean that If we choose to have two
or six or ten primaries TO nominate can
dldates for the various offices, tho voter
will be bound to support only the ndn,l-
nces Of the primary or primaries III which
lie participates: Speak up, oracle; enuil-
cinte, augur; penetrate to the root of
~ tx,t, r;,,, ~ tn ocns vi
two primaries, ought a voter participating
in one to DO bound by the results OF both;
or should he go into the general election
political Colossus, widely straddling, fixed
and ilnmutablc In his pledged faith TO
support one section Of the Democratic
ticket and free TO vote for Republicans
as against the other sections Could he
be II Democrat as to local affairs and
Republican as to State affairs, or, getting
the thing down a little finer. could he DO
a Democrat as to tho office OF high con-
stable and Republican rs concerns the
sheriff?-News Leader.
TO this testing, ill-tmed and befuddling
style Of argument we have no reply. The
wisdom of the country, the strength OF
earnest citizens, the experience of pio-
necrs in better city government are all
in favor Of a primary, Democratic or Re
publican, as the case may be, which
brings the clty's affairs before the voter
without any chance for their being In
fluenccd by State or national politics. AS
to Democracy or Republlcanism in Rich
lnond such q question Is falcical. We
are all citizens, and, as such, are pro-
foundly interested In the government of
this city. III State politics the Demo-
cratic party will be divided into fractional
fights, whose interest In no way con-
Germs and should in no way be allowed 10
interfere with city affairs.
This is a sclr-evident proposition and
is as little susceptible OF proof MS the
gliding and heavy satire Of the News
Leader is OF answer.
The Timcs-Dispatch claims no skill in
that form or argument. which the News
Leader has seen fit to use. Our atLi-
tude towards this whole question is based
on the needs of the +ctizeus, and on the
force and Judgment Of those who repre-
sent the citizens we are content to rest.
The freedom Of municipal politics from
outside influence can neither be destroy
cd by what the News Leader is pleased
to consider dullness on our part or brill
liancy on It's own Ri a,
For a categorical reply to what we
conceive to be the general trend OF the
Nows Leaders question We would say,
Of course, man is only bound by the
primary in which he participates; his
right, however to participate in a prl-
mary. must be passed on by the party
or organization in control
-------.--------------s------4 "A %
State Sunday School Conven-
ton. ,S.ii,
We are requested to call attention In
these columns to the fact that the annual
convention OF tho Virginia State Sunday
School Association will be held in the
city Of Staunton OH April 10th-12th. The
work Of this association Is interdenomi-
national in character and President II. 4
G. 5Marchant. of the Charlotte NNooi-s
ell Mills. writes us that 1t is earnestly
desired that every Sunday school In the
State shall be represented at this meet
ing, Speakers representing the National
will also be made BY somo Of the most
earnest and active Sunday school workers
Of Virginia.
The hope Of tho church is in the sun
day school. and the hope Of the country
is in the church, Therefore, it seems to
us entirely appropriate for a secular
newspaper to urge each ana every Sum
day school in Virginia to send representa-
tivcs to the State convention, and thus
aid in promoting the good work.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The State Superintendent.
Under. tho heading or "a Most 1mpor-
tant Oflcia1." tho Richmond Times-Dls-
patch says In Il recent Issue that just
at this time the most important office
to be filed III Virginia Is that Of Supcrln-
tcndcnt or Public Instruction. 1t then
| goes on to describe the qualifications the
man should possess who could MI the
position, and says the friends OF educa-