Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-04-14
THE DANGER AHEAD.

The approaching campaign is a very
important one to Democrats as we'll
as Virginians. We see it announced
by the Hon. Campbell Slemp that in
so far as the Republicans are concerned
they intend to make it q hot affair.
II he is able to carry out his threat
ened intention and the Republicans do
press their chances and make them
selves felt, it will be of the utmost
Importance that the Democrats re-
main united. There is approaching
before the regular campaign begins a
Democratic skirmish in the way of a
primary election. A primary is the
falrest way to get at an expression of
the people, but it has one disadvantage
1t ia the greatest party disorganizer in
the world. In this it differs wholly
from convention. In primary cleo
ton there is long hot fight, every
man, woman and child Is in some way
drawn into it, and before the campaign
Is over half the people in community
do not speak to the other half. This
comes from the fact that a primary
gets right down amongst the people.
If anybody has a grudge against a can.
didate he makes his dislike known,
often not in complimentary language,
and the candidates who started out
with the best intentions and entirely
without desire to sling mud or deal
in personalities directly find themselves
with mud balls in both hands and vi
tuperation on their lips. This is the
greatest objection to a primary. 1t
turns friends into enemies, and breeds
personal grievances among former
friends and neighbOrs, from which they
may not recover In years. 1t does not
Change the conditions that they are
ALL Democrats in the first place. The
next time an opportunity presents
itself to stab. the stabbing ia done in
good old fashioned Castillian style.
In the coming contest the hot part
of the fight Is sure to be between SEN
ator Martin and Gov. Montague. That
it will be hot everybody knows, be-
cause both have friends in great num-
bers, and both are capable of giving
hard blows. 1t would be unfortunate
if the fight should breed bitterness. 1t
does seem that such a contest could be
fought out under rules of high grade
and not such as have sometimes been
resorted to in some Virginia campaigns.
We all remember the beginning of the
contest among Democrats when Gen.
VIM. Malone and Maj. John W. Dan
lei, now one of our Senators, were
contestants before the Virginia Demo-
cratic convention for governor. Maj.
Daniel won the nomination, but lost
the election, ard the State as well for
some years.
The bitterness injected into that
fight has never been obliterated. 1t
would not heal. it antagonized men
who should always have been friends.
Father and son got on opposite sides
of the controversy, thousands left the
party and went with the Republicans,
and brilliant men left the State rather
than stay here where they had made
enemies and must be in constant strife.
There was great issue then. of course,
peculiar issue that does not often
arise In a State 3 history, but the issue
whilst it was the alleged cause of bit.
ter partisanism, THE MEN at the head
of the factions were the real and direct
causes of the intensity Of the feeling
and We may add, enthusiasm. With
out Competent leaders an issue soon
disappears. 1t is the men at last who
are the real objects for which other
men will often stake everything.
In the approaching campaign there
may be said to be no dividing issue.
But not SO. There Will be alleged
issues, and these presented by able,
competent, astute and magnetic lead
ers. will draw the people in and the
leader will carry them in bis train as
soldiers in opposing armies are borne
along. 1t is almost impossible for
even the smallest contest not to stir
up bitterness, great one like that ap-
preaching will inevitably do it, unless
the leaders themselves set the example
of making the contest on high plane,
treating each as he should be treated,
which is as gentlemen of that type for
which Virginia has always been so
much famed, and of type which must
characterize all men who aspire to
represent her in the United States
Senate