The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-20
- = --'- = - 80.
A Dangerous Pilot.
corruption

Tho Norfolk virglnian-P Pilot is pleased
that the City Democratic Committee OF
Richmond ''has seen Mt in tho primary
plan to pledge all voters who participate
in the primary to support the Demo-
cratic nominees in city. stata and ma
tional elections
1--WE cannot scc," says the Virglnan.
Pilot, "why tho Democratic Committee OF
Richmond should be censured for not
opening the gates for boilers in the pri-
,nlarics. If they do not want to vote the
national ticket they do not need to; but
If they do not want to vote the national
ticket they should certainly be restrained
from determining who Shall be tho nomi'
nee of the Democratic party for any
municipal or State office.
at sounds we'll enough to talk about
the independent voter and all the rest
of 1t, but as a matter of fact the fellow
who participates in the municipal pri-
mary and then bolts n State or national
ticket, Is, as n rule, one with personal
cni to serve. This is true as regards
both parties. Accordingly. II party
cannot without assistance put up u
ticket that will meet the approval Of
public sentiment, It Is not likely to suffer
seriously If he Is altogether debarred
from participating in the primary"
Here Is fine example Of tho doctrine
of those who hold that 1t is mans
first duty to "voto at his party's call
and never think of thinking for himself
Mt all" Our Norfolk contemporary ig-
norcs the fact that the State Democratic
Convention. which made the primary
plan, did not deem it wise to pledge
voters in a state primary to bind them-
selves to do moro than support in the
ensuing general election the nominees Of
that primary. Manlfestly. 1t thinks
that the State convention was short
sighted in making that provision and
lacking in party loyalty, and, manlfestly,
1t thinks that the City Committee Of
Richmond has done wise to override the
action OF tho State convention and re-
ul,ire as prerequisite to8votng IN the
city primary an ironclad pledge for all
time to come in city, State and national
elections that persons participating in
the local primary will vote for the noml-
noes of the Democratic party. Our con-
temporary holds that the man who is
unwilling to make such a pledge is unfit
to participate in any Democratic pri-
maries. and that he must bind himself
to this slavlsh oath or be excluded 1t
believes in the party yoke and the party
lash, and would ostracise every man who
is unwilling TO put his neck under the
yoke and move forever under the crack
of, the party whip along the road map
ned out for him. ..eg
Our contemporary is entitled to its
views, but it is preaching dangerous
doctrine in the State Of Virginia to-day.
There was time when Democrats, for
we'll known reasons, we're compelled to
stand together, whether or not, but that
day is past. There is no urgent necessity
under tho new suffrage for the white
men Of Virginia thus to be bound, and
they Will not be. There is spirit of
independence in Virginia politics to-day
such as we have not known in forty
years, and the crack Of the party whip
not only fails to terrify them, but ex-
cites their disgust, their indignation and
their resentment. The Democratic or
ganizatons may follow the advice Of the
Virginian-Pllot and attempt to rule the
white voters Of this State with blud-
geon, but It will do SO at the peril OF
the organizations