Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-07

state bar. The editorial work win not re-
quire much Of his time, and he will be
able to give time enough to the organi-
cation OF his forces before the next state
primary.
In this connection, 1t is not out of place
to say that the opposition to the party
primary plan is growing. The idea OF
having the people take part in the nam
ing of the candidates Is universally popu-
lar. however. There seems to be a grow
ing desire on the part of some OF the big
men In the party-and some Of them are
candidates for office at the hands of the
party-to substitute county and city cleo
tons for delegates to q convention, the
delegates to announce their choice and to
be voted for by the people. the delegates
to go to state convention and to fight 1t
out there. The people do not like the idea
of not having state conventions-a general
assembling OF the party leaders from all
parts OF the state at least once In two
years. Last year there was no semblance
OF platform. There Is another feature
that is factor in opposition to the primary
plan-the cost. Candidates were voted for
In the last primary and the votes they re-
ceived cost them more than 30 cents each.
This city has already sent to the San
Francisco sufferers more than $4,000. The
relief committee has sent $12O00 the city
sent 5000 and various organizations have
made contributions direct. Treasurer Hill
has now In hand nearly $1,000 additional,
which Will be sent by wire during the COM
ing week. The money is still coming In.
The Grand Lodge Of Odd Fellows convenes
here next week. and an appeal by the
grand master has brought forth some 81, 500
for the fund. The Grand Lodge will I'M
doubtedly make the total $4,000 before
making a remittance. All the Pythian
lodges In the state have made contribu-
tons, and 1t Is believed that they will
make further contribution at the session
to be held in the city OF Staunton the third
week In May.
The military OF the state is IN better
condition now than for many years. The
new adjutant general, Charles j. Ander-
son. Is doing much to arouse interest in
the companies. Several of the commands
have recently changed officers and recruits
Of much higher caliber are being en-
rolled The cities of the state, as rule.
are paying more attention to the militia
In the city of Roanoke however. there is
some trouble. The city owns the armory,
and at a recent drill night, when the men
assembled for work, 1t was found that the
drill room had been rented to negroes for
a secret society meeting. The soldiers
have resented this have neglected drills
and order has been issued for an in
specton within sixty days with a view to
disbanding the company. The company
served through the Spanish war, doing ex-
cellent service.
A negro dope joint. operated by negroes
and patronized by them, was unearthed
here yesterday. Rachel Hope, a colored
girl. was taken suddenly ILL., Physicians
were summoned and the girl restored to
consciousness. She then told whore she
had gotten the drugs. Henry Foster, a re-
spectacle coiored man. ascertained that his
daughter had been invetgled into the place
and he went there and demanded that his
child DO gwen to him. She had been miss
ing two days The girl was brought out,
in o stupor The negro woman who ran
the place. when she found that She lad
been discovered, at once sent the parents
800 each. The man went to return the
money and when they arrived tho woman
had closed up and left. Warrants have
been .sworn out for her. The place had not
}dngIh ppsradiSslos sinuoo nlssa 5
: s1s'sra of 10 ~ ehi 80 msat ewor
The mortality records Of this city yahoF
that the negro race IL not holding Its own.
The death rate Is greater than the birth
rate. Consumption and kindred ailments
are the causes. With q population one
third az great AZ that Of the whites the
death rate OF the negroes exceeds that OF
the whites In point Of numbers. They pay
little attention to hygiene. diee and habits
In the winter months they ara victims OF
pneumonia and kindred troubles. Taken as
a race. they are bad morally. though thcre
are souie respected and honorable among
the race. r-tnking by negroes Is largely
on the increase, great bulk o. the patty
crimes In the police court being due to that
Cause. The death rate among negro chill
dren Is appalling. those dying undsr the age
OF twenty-one being certainly 30 per cen: OF
the total among uogrooa