The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-12
MAINTAIN PRIMARY.
ELLYSON DECLARES
State Chairman Submits Figure:
to Refute Certain Claims
OF Opposition.
STATE SHOULD BEAR EXPENSE
Restrictions Should Protect sys-
TEN as Fully as General Elec-
tions-About the Cost.

strongly in favor OF maintaining the
party primary system in Virginia,
Lieutenant-G Governor j. Taylor Ellyson,
chairman of the state Democratic Com
m:ttee. discussed the matter freely
when seen yesterday by a representa-
tive of The Times-Dspatch. answering
the contention of the opposition that
the system is more costly than the
convention method submitting some
interesting statistics in support of his
position, and proposing an important
change that will probably attract much
attention.
Mr.. Ellyson shows that the assess
ments upon candidates for United
States Senate and State officers in 905
were not heavy to start with. and that
after the primary was over and all
bills had been paid he returned to
each candidate 81 per cent. or more
than one-nalf of the amount originally
put up.
One of the significant declarations
made by the State chairman in his
Interview supporting the popular
method of party nominations. Is that
in favor of law providing that the
State pay the expenses, and throw
around the plan every possible safe.
guard against fraud. He suggests tina
any party which in the next preceding
general election shall have pollcd a.
many as $4,000 votes shall be entitled
10 have the State pay the expenses OF
its primaries.
This limit would reduce the number
Of parties which would come under
the provisions of the act to two, or
possibly three at the outside.
Takes Strong Ground.
In discussing the general. primary
question. Mr.. Ellyson dictated the fol-
lowing statement:
..The question of how best to select
nominees, especially In our choice of
State officers, Is ono about which
there is earnest difference Of
opinion among the Democrats of the
State, but l am firmly pcrsundcd,
after nll the arguments have been
weighed. both for and against the prI-
mary. that the primary affords bet
ter opportunity for free and un-
knce of the %Oters.,.
81 think a'"Ercnt dcnl of prejudice
has been awakened against the pri-
mary because there IL widespread
impression that 1t Ia so expensive ms
to practically exclude all but the rich
from competition for the higher hon
Drs the party Inns to offer. But II
this true:. un1csitatinEly sny 1t Is
not. We have had only ono State pri-
mary and only one assessment for
state officers In that primary.
Statement of Facts.
Snow, what are the facts as to the
post of ench candidate In the primary
pf 1905. II was my honor to be the
chairman of the State committee which
made the assessment. I disbursed the
funds In that campaign, and cnv
therefore speak with accuracy rs to
these assessments and expenditures
They were as follows.
candidates for the United state,
Senate and for Governor were eacl
assessed $1,000.
..Cnndidutcs for Lieutenant Governo,
were assessed 500.
candidates for State Treasurer wcr,
asSessed $500.
Candidates for Attorney-Genera
we're assessed $500.
Candidates for Secretary of the Com
nonwcnlth were assessed $500.
Candidates for Commissioner of AZ
riculturc were assessed $500.
Candidates for Superintendent q
= Public Instruction were assesscd $50,
Amounts Returned.
'.When the primary was over 1t WA
found that the assessment had bee
made much more than was needed
conduct the primary, and I, Therefore
had the pleasure of returning to cac
candidate 81 per cent. of the amour
contributed by them, so that
Candidates for United States Ser
Ate and for Governor had to nay OIL
x634.O6.
Candidates for Llentenant- Govern,
bad to pay S42.2O.
Candidates for AttOrney-Gcncralh In
TO pay S21O49.
Candidates for state Treasurer Ii,
to my Sl:6.o3.
Candidates for Secretary of tho Cor
monwealth had to pay Ss4.3O.
Candidates for Commissioner of A
Rfculture had to pay SS4.39.
Candidates for Superintendent
Public Instruction Ind to pa. SS4.39.
at Will thus be seen that the c
pcnse of holding the primaries in I,
the counties and cities Of The C0mmo
wealth cost each of the candidates on
the small sums above mentioned.
am, of course. aware of the fact til
larger sums were spent by them, b
this cannot be charged to the prima
SYSTEM, because wherever there II
been active competition those who a
familiar with such expenditures knt
thai equally ns large sums have he
spent, and In some cases, larger sul
hann rnut In ,o,.t,