The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-20
An Evil and the Remedy.

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An Evil and the Remedy.
If there ever was n doubt that the
Democratic voters of Virginia wanted the
primary it has been removed. Every
| skeptic must now admit that the primary
is popular in Virginia. We feel sure that
thousands of voters, who would not other
wise have done 80, have paid their poll
tax in advance in order that they may
participate in the primary. All men who
have trace of sporting blood In their
veins love a contest It has been a
long time since there was any real fight
between political parties In Virginia. The
Democratic party has been having a
walk-over in the general election, and the
only contest Is in the selection of can
didates This year there is n spirited
contest between the candidates for tho
nomination for Governor and United
States senator, and Democrats will have
the privilege Of voting direct for the
man of their choice No wonder they
are taking lively interest. Hitherto
eral Assembly, and these members have
in turn elected the senator In the case
of Governor they have elected delegates
to State convention, and the delegates
have chosen the nominee of the party,
the great body OF Democrats having no
voice, except Indirectly. in the selec-
ton. But this year Democrats will vote
in the primary for the candidate OF their
preference, and naturally they are taking
keener interest than for many years
in the campaign.
But while the voters will have the privi-
lege and the fun. the candidates will be
called upon to pay tho cost Of the pri-
mary, and the assessment is a burden
some tax upon most of them. In addition
to the assessment, each candidate must
pay out considerable sum to defray the
expense of his canvass. and If any can
didate for Governor or senator gets off
with half a years salary for the office
for which he is running, he will be lucky.
This will be hard enough upon the sue
cessful candidate; it will be an exorb-
tant price to the others for the privilege
of running in the Democratic primary,
and unless something be done hereafter
to relieve the situation, the Virginia pri-
mary plan will be q failure. Either the
race will be between men of means only,
or the poor will have to call upon out
slders to pay the cost. This la tier would
be embarrassing TO the honest man. and
with others it would open splendid OPP
portunities for subsidy and corruption.
There is but one sure remedy. and
that Is the measure which The Times
Dispatch has long advocated. There
should be a legalized primary plan In
dotai and the cost Of election should be
borne by each county and city with
the restriction that only the leading
parties should have the benefit Of this
provision. There arc but two leading
parties In Virginia. The Republicans are
so welded to the convention plan that
they would not be apt to have a primary.
even If the expenses should be borne
ability the counties and cities would
simply have to pay for the cost Of the
Democratic primary, and that wosld BIO
so small that no county or city would
feel 1t Moreover tho money thus dis
bursed would not so out Of the commun-
ity. There can be no two opinions that
legalized primaries are In tho interest
of public welfare. and the Taxpayers
should pay the cost.
The fact is. Democracy revolts Mt the
bare suggestion OF compelling candidates
to. pay tho cost Of an election. In any
event, the plan Is wrong In principle,
and its tendency Is mischievous and
vicious, If candidates be compelled to nay
the cost of a primary eloction-and in
Virginia the primary Is a far moro i'm
portant election than the regular cleo
tion-why not compel them to pay tho
cost OF n regular election? It Is but too
plain that such a scheme would soon
result In turning over the entire gov
eminent to the money power. An elcc.
ton is for the benefit OF tho public and
not for the benefit OF tho candidates.
At least that Is the principle. and tho
people should pay tho cost.
The voters have the remedy In their
own hands, and they should require the
candidates for the General Assembly to
commit themselves to legalized prl-
mary, the cost to be paid by the coun-
ties and cities.