Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-04-10
DIRECTIONS TO THE PRIMARY.

That there will be fight to destroy
the present primary election system in
Virginia at the coming State conven-
ton in Roanoke there Ia no doubt, for
in addition to what was said by Judge
Duke on the subject in the State CON-
mittee on Tuesday night, active work
is now being done by certain politicians.
A prominent leader in the Legislature,
who represents county in the Sixth
Congressional District, spent nearly all
OF yesterday canvassing against the
primary among the public men in the
city. and he declared last night that he
found only two in favor of sustaining
the system. cit will be absolutely
wiped out at Roanoke" he said glee-
fully in discussing the matter, "and in
my judgement. it deserves to CO.,
Times-Dispatch. 10
Underwater Democratl
The primary system undoubtedly has
its good features. but there is much
reasonable objection also to the plan.
The latter features are very clearly de-
lined In four reasons offered by the Win
chester Star. which in truth cannot be
denied They are as follows:
There is undoubtedly much reason
able objection to the present primary
system These objections may be clas-
sified as follows: ~ The great ex-
pense which precludes a man of mod
crate means from becoming a candidate
for any important Office. (2) The fire.
quency of elections which become
burden upon the people. For instance.
in the year in which a municipal cleo
ton is held in city there are two pri-
maries and two elections, practically
four elections. (3) The fact that under
the primary system Democrats, EXCEPT
IN the presidential year. cannot get to-
gether to formulate a platform, to be-
come acquainted with each other and to
renew the esprit de corps of the party.
~ The issue being purely personal be-
tween the candidates. the primary
campaign generally results in q cam
paign of recrimination. which leaves
sores difficult to heal. That the DEM |
ocratic primaries as now conducted are
constant additions to the Re.
publican party is apparent to the care
full Observer"
Eastern Shore Herald
We trust that this discussion will
bring out forcibly the contention that
We should abandon primaries and return
% the convention method of nominating
especially in the case of higher officials.
Not only do Republicans vote all over
he State in primaries. but the heat and
ire of prolonged contests in the party
'ring about all kinds of bitterness in
ne party lines. which is generally bur-
ed at convention and furnish cam
'aign thunder for the other side in adj
ition. Hampton Monitor.
So mote it be. 1t did not take the
herald long to get enough of prima-
les. We hope that the idea will soon
'e dropped by the party for good.
OPPOSITION TO PRIMARY. n
fredericksburg Free Lance Ie
A reference by Judge Duke of Char. ,
'ttesviiie, at the meeting of the State :
Democratic Committee, TO the primary.
which he emphatically declared his
pposition to that plan of naming can.
idates for any position, met with so
luch applause that opponents of the
Urinary felt encouraged to believe that
ne plan may be abandoned by the Dem
cratic Convention when it meets at
'oanoke, June 18th. We have predicted :
his final outcome. The plan is too
luch fraught with disagreeable and
Objectionable features to live for anv .
reat length of time. 1t engenders bad
ceiling, is expensive and cumbersome
nd often results in the nomination of c
minority candidate. The sooner. e
1erefore. that the old system of nom;- 0
alton is adopted. or some plan which e
Eliminates the Objectionable features of E
9TH the primary and convention sys-
Ems, the better. h