The Washington herald., 1908-05-13
Special TO The washinaton Herald

Richmond. Va. May 12.-Politieal revo-
iutions do not usually go backward; and
as rule, when reforms come in party
affairs. they come to stay. However,
there are exceptions to every rule. The
active and spreading opposition which
has eveloped to the State primary sys-
TEN has aroused its friends TO put forth
their best efforts to save Il, thus bring
ing on a fight. the elimination of which
promises to constitute one OF the sensa-
tional features Of the approaching Demo-
cratic convention III Roanoke.
When Judge R. T. ". Duke, OF Char
lottesville, a candidate for governor
made his anti-primary declaration in a
recent meeting Of the State Democratic
committee. IL was regarded simply as the
expression Of one man. and inasmuch
all manner Of primaries" came as a
mere incident TO a debate on another
proposition. but little attention WIS paid
to It at the time. But the fight has now
developed into something serious. OnlE
few days ago a strong party leader
who is earnestly in favor Of the present
system, stated that he was deeply con
cerned regarding its fate IN the coming
convention.
Poll shows Strong Opposition.
Shortly efter the utterance Of Judge
Duke against popular nominations, Col
A. N. Bowman, of Salem. made a poll OF
the house Of delegates, then In session
and declared that the result was emf
nently satisfactory TO those who. Ike
himself. believe the system ought 10 be
abolished. This was move number two
on the part Of the opposition. Then came
the election Of John Whitehead, OF Nor
folk, as a delegate 10 the State cOnven-
ton. Whitehead has always been vio-
lently opposed TO primaries. and. being a
man of great activity and determination,
he at once took up the leadership of the
fight in his immediate vicinity.
Perhaps the most direct and striking
anu-primary development up TO this time
however, Is 10 be found in the action OF
the Democratic mass meeting held IN
Nansemond County two weeks ago, when
resolutions were adopted denouncing the
system and demanding that il be an
-1GllNu Dl llC IkDuuUht LDliNEE-lA1H 44c
meeting has had a faT-reaching effect
upon the situation. for it was conducted
by party leaders whose opinions are in
iiuential throughout the State.
All this opposition, save that IN the case
Of Col. Bowman, is in Eastern Virginia
and only a few OF the delegates have
been chosen. There are two Congress
sonal districts which may be set down
as being almost solidly against the pri-
mary. These are the Fifth and the Ninth.
The system was never popular in either
and from It's inception the leaders in both
have been sharpening their knives to de
stroy II at the first opportunity. In still
another section of the State the primary
Is more or less unpopular. This Is the
Upper Valley and Rockingham and othel
counties IN that locality viii vote aye
as certainly as a resolution to abolish Is
considered AT Roanoke.
Leaders TO Hold Conference.
Il is expected that important confer.
ences Will be held by the leaders on botr
sides before going TO Roanoke. It /:
absolutely certain that after arriving OF
the ground. this issue viii be as promi-
nenUy before the delegates as any to bt
determined.
Many reasons exist why various party
men desire the primary undone. TC
start with, a large number of them never
wanted it from the first, and. although il
has been in operation since 1902, they
have never become rec0nciled TO IL Then
it is argued that the primary is an ex-
pensive method Of making party nomina-
tions, and that il bars from the run
ming men Of small means.
Again, Il Is eontended that Il entails
two elections for the same Office; that
joint debates in the campaign prior tC
the primaries tend to create bitterness:
and 10 disrupt the party. and finally
that it deprives the party Of the enthusi
asm, which marked the old-faslaioned
speIl-binding convention.
Lineup of Defenders.
Broadly speaking. there are three
grounds Of defense which the advocates
Of the system will set up These are.
That the people demanded the primary
and, as a rule. are satisfied with its
operations; that it is the fairest and most
honest method Of making party nomina-
tions, and that il is founded upon bed
rock Democratic principles. in that Il
offords the broadest opportunity of any
known system Of aseertaining the exact
viii of the whole people.
A fierce. If not a bitter. debate over the
matter is now expected. Congressman
William a. Jones, who, with former Gov
A J. Montague, laid the foundation for
the system, will be one OF the strong
speakers IN its favor. Congressman Hay
former State Senator J. Boyd Sears, s
L. Kelly, Congressman Hal Flood, and
many other skilled debaters will likely
defend the system in the convention Il
Il shall appear necessary.
Some Of the chief speakers on the
other side viii beAJudge Duke. Robert