The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-18
Voice Of the People
is the prln,nry mn Assured success.

Editor Of Tile Times -DIspatc:
l. Sir.---In discussing this question we
| have to admit that tho theory upon
which tile primary IL based is genuine
" Democratic. The principle that
every Giector, sllall assert az the polls
within his own party is tile embodiment
! OF pure. Democracy. hut can you 80
pop,iiarlze II MS 70 make II practicnli'
place, we Of the black belt are hear
tIlN tired or this everlasting '.politi.
eating" For about forty years we
struggled with spersfstent energy and
Saxon supremacy. After tile adoption
of the new Constitution. by which, tho
negro was practically eliminated from
politics, the Democratic voter thought
thnt there would be some rest. some
relnXation from the tremendous strain
which had been imposed on 81 long
-s s,d,s bsople for more tlan gen
not entirely satisfactory had in the
rural districts become recognized as IL
el,inely; people had grown accuston-
change. These meetings were sener-
ally held on Saturday evening, at
which time the farmer, In going to thu
store to lay in his weeks supply OF
nience, take part in clecting dele
gates to tile county convention. whic.
usually met on the following Monday
SSa aUa he day). THIS his, may Or may not
have said, our citizens had become
habituated to 1t and liked 1t. Now
take the primary. This year there are
In the Eighth District there will be
congressional, gubernatorial and eve
may. possibly iave) presidential pri-
naries to select electors. Why, think
Of it, Mr. Editor. the voters will have
to stand a constant political bombard-
ment for the next six months.
Now picture an enthusiastic politi-
cian riding into Il field and addressing
busy farmer thus:
Mr.. a, are not you going out to-
morrow to the gubernatorlaI primary
L, to vote for Mr.. Blank men,loning tie
name me OF his favorite candidate)2"
Mr.. a replies: well that depends
tween now and tomorrow night"
But" says the solicitor surely you
don,t mean to stay away from the
MI Mr.. 4: Well, now listen. With ten
poet pc, for rain. am not going anywhere.
MI A1r :, Tucker or Judge Duke or Judge
else for Governor Will suit me, provid-
ed that l secure this crop, and that I
am certainly going to try TO do. pri-
mary mary or no primary. start that mower.
boy: Good morning. SIR
THIS is no imaginary case.
Again. Mr.. Editor, in your editorials
.(always on a high moral plane), you
have. assumed that everybody that
voted In Il primary would abide by the
result. Never was there greater
mistake. OF the many voters that
lose their choice, who knows what they
are going to do? Some may go fish
ing on election day, or IL they go to
the polls and vote. they may scratch
the nominee or fail to scratch the OPP
posing candidate, and in one or dozen
ways, vitiate their ballots.
With our abominablc secret ballot
system. there is little assurance what
a dissatisfied elector may do. Now. let
me ask: VIII the action of your City
Democratic Committee in your mayor
atty contest commend the primary sys-
TEN to our Virginia Democracy? May
not the conditions that prevailed In
Richmond obtain elsewhere throughout
the State? AS rule the great body
of our people do not talk much; never
write for publication. but think and
vote according to their convictions. II
this primary question ever gets square,
ly before the people, the press and the
public men TO the contrary notwith-
standing. 1t will die and "be no more
Judge Duke has sounded Keynote
to which the popular voice is almost, II
not already. attuned. w. II. NJ
Louisa, Va, April 49, 1905.