The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-11
Voice Of the People


TIC Primary, Pure Election i.n,v, Etc.
Editor Of The .ritnes.Dispatcb.
y. No candidate for Congress or for
citl,cr district or municipal Office .l,nil
capcna, pay, promise. l,onn, or become
pccnntnrily lIal,ic In nny way, for amy
money or valuable thing 10 Influence
voters II, his behalf, or permit tile
consent, by .j,ts friends, III my election
Or nominating convention. Eine not
icss thu 500 or more tim $1,000. or
Jn; \. from, one 70 twelve months.
This act was amended in Acts Of
1908. page SO, excusing all witnesses
who. testify in such CASES from prog
e ..sit r. the sixth District tllIs,
$500. the last time they were to be
assessed 5000, for entering the pri-
mary for the nomination. so last time
It was $500. Il only two candidates
were entered for the nominations; this
time IL was 5000 apiece II two con-
tested for the nomination. Next time
according to this ratio, 1t Will be $1,000,
as the election officers seem to be rats
I i 50. this system viii dnaiily lead
to Offering the privilege of being voted
for in a Democratic primary up to tho
highest bidder at public auction. The
party Theoretically. 1t works we'll
in local contest very often. but i
wont do to coop up, the people Will,
IL
then on the other side natter them with
false. insincere promises Of appeal.
Ing to them as citizens With certain
rights. There are two ways. to take
lative enlistment or by force: the 9TH
err the transparent trick ana INN
liam OF fixing it SO that all whom
the voter wishes to support are pre-
nous. assessments or by unjust dis
franchising pledges. IT a man believes
a matter evil in principle" and then
participates in that thing he thereby
if he does such thing knowingly
he must lose his sclf-respect and stand
ing with himself. and then. in this
case. lie is not fit to represent any
present Manipulated the committees
have too much power; they can elect
any one hey wish before an election
by heavy assessments, and il that will
election law. which nil officers are
sworn to uphold then Il candidate un.
der this plan buys q privilege to put
Then. after paying to get into hot
water" If he Is INSCRIPTIONS, he may
want to get sight for his stake up.
and. being interruptions, he might
nit perjury In a sworn statement OF
expense afterwards. This might be
q little tight on reasonably honest
| man. Now, there you are This plan
creates !ifc tenure in big elective
offices. 1t could make them hereditary
Thy sufficient rules aro manipulations
| j understand flow that some Congress.
men are educating their sons as their
successors. The Democratic party, II
| 1t stands for anything is fundamental
| " a fight on intrenched privileges
Now. this plan destroys equal oppor-
tunity. and causes the party to preach
one thing and practice another
through 'ts domestic law. II adopts
the schemes of trust promoters ant
will lead to nominating monopolists
on an antimonopolistic political ticket
| How can we have a monopoly candi.
date on Democratic ticket. nominat'
cd by star chamber proceedings. con
Etrolled by unfair and arbitrary rules
which exclude all candidates who can
not or who are unwilling to. pay any
| kind of freight to hold office, ever
not baking at perjury IL they are I'M
/ scrupuIous. under the pure election
| law? If the primary is kept 1t viii
! have to be regulated and made alb
solutely fair so any man can run fol
office according to his constitutions
rights having these rights not abatet
! one iot by tricks and schemes of par
] ty law. Respectfully. etc.
ROBERT D. YANCEY.