The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-15

bill on the subject. His bill failed, but
| he is still as ardent as ever In his advo-
! eacy Of a lesalized primary plan, and re-
lluuests the cooperation OF The Times
| Dispatch. our position on this subject
to give Mr.. Machen and the general pub.
lie the assurance that our efforts in this
direction will be continued when the next
General Assembly meets.
Mr. Machen calls attention to the pro-
phccics which were made last summer
that the primary would disrupt the party
by furnishing ammunition to tho enemy
and by stirring up strife within the
party ranks and causing many Democrats
TO so to the Republicans. "Btt the re-
turns are all in, says he. ''and the re-
SHIT has been the opposite of that pre-
dicted. The Democratic voters who had
gone into the primary supported the NOM
inees with practical unanimity. All felt
that they had had their say, and did not
hesitate to supprt the nominees because
they had preferred tho nomination Of 9TH
ers. The effort on the part Of Republi cans
to reopen issues which had been discussed
in the primary fell fiat and stale upon
the cars of the Democrats, who had al
ready decided them. All the efforts OF
the Republicans, State and national, could
not shake the position III which the Dem
ocrats found themselves confidently en-
tranched after the primary"
We have already expressed the opinion
that the adoption OF the primary plan
saved the Democratic party from serious
internal strife, If, indeed, II did not save
i, from disruption. The impression had
grown ,lp and prevailed that there was a
nolticnl machine In Virginia.; that the
party was boss-ridden; thatsino man
could receive a nomination within the
Democratic party without making his
peace with the machine, and that the pop
ulor will was thwarted. We have1no dis
position to revive disagreeable topics, anu
there IS no use at this time to- discuss
whether or not this impression was we'll
founded. 1t is sufficient to know that
such an impression was widespread, and
n tho urinary plan had been defeated by,
the convention Of 1904, with many DEM
ocrato voters the impression would nave
become n conviction, and serious det1ec-
tion in the party ranks would necessarily
hive followed. But the primary plan
was adopted. The voters at large had
the opportunity of going to the polls and
expressing their choice of candidates. ne
primary election was so fairly conducted
that there was not even II suspicion of
fraud or irregularity. and 1t was not
question that the successful Candidates
were the choice OF the people. The de-
feated candidates accepted the results IN
good faith and In good temper, and there
is to-day a better feeling within tho
party ranks than there has been for many
years In other States tho people rose
Up and srnotc the bosses In Virginia the
cry OF bossism was not even raised The
people had the affair in their own hands,
and there was no ground for complaint
The primary election plan has been q
godsend to the Democratic party and II
should not only be continued, but should
be legazed.
AS for the expenses we still maintain
that the actual cost of election should IAN
upon the State or upon the party organl-
cation, and not upon the Individual can
ddatcs; but each candidate must, or
course, pay his own campaign expenses
and Mr.. Machen expresses the opinion
that in case Of sharp contests for state
Offices the primarytis less expensive t ssiit
the convention system. lie points Out
that the expenses Of the candidates In
the primary received special attention
from tho public because the law rcquir-
ing candidates to publish accounts OF their
expenses applied for the first time to the
nomination of state officers, but he asks
If MIR. swanson, o. Mr.. Montague, who
we're aspirants four years ago. have been
heard TO say that the convention plan
was cheaper to the candidates than the
primary plan. We do not know, but we
cannot believe there was any great DIFF
ference. 1t takes money to make cam
paign, no matter what method OF election
be adopted, and 1t would be unreasonable
TO expect the people to abandon their
choice Of plans In order that a few dol
lars might DO saved TO the candidates
The primary plan is Enthusiastically the
best plan and the candidates must con-
form. our elections nre conducted, not
in the interest Of candidates, but in tho
interest of clean politics and good gov
ernment. Let us perfect the plan, and
then legalize IT. The primary is the best
remedy we know for bosssm and ma
chine made candidates,
-:;====:=-== ===:==:=s====
Save the Game,