The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-11
FIERCE FIGHT ON;
LEADERS ALARMED.
Unexpected Strength of Opposi.
ton to Primary System Causes
Concern Here.
ISSUE NOW IN MUCH DOUBT
Bitter Struggle at Lynchburg
Seems Inevitable-Botl Sides
Actively at Work.

Political revolutions do not usually
go backward, and as rule, when re.
forms come in the conduct Of party
affairs they come to stay.
There are exceptions, however, AMI
the active spreading opposition which
has developed to the State primary
system, has aroused It's friends to put
forth their pest efforts to save 1t, thus
bringing on a fight, the elimination
of which promises to constitute one OF
the sensational features OF the APP
preaching Roanoke convention
Developing Strength.
When Judge r. 4. W. Duke, of Char
lottesville, candidate for Governor.
made his anti-prmary declaration in
recent meeting OF the State Demo-
cratic Committee, 1t was regarded sim
ply as the expression OF one man, and
inasmuch as the remark that he was
opposed to ali manner of primaries"
came as a mere incident to ~cbatc
on another proposition, but little at
tention was paid to it at the time. But
the fight has now developed into some
thing serious. and only a few days
ago. strong party leader who is
earnestly in favor OF the present
system. stated to the writer that he
was deeply concerned regarding Its
fate in the coming convention.
Shortly after Judge Dukes utterance
against popular nominations, Colonel
a. NJ Bowman. ofsSalem, made poll
OF the House of Delegates then in ses-
sion, and he declared that the result
was eminently satisfactory to those
who like himself, believe the system
ought to be abolished This was move
No. on the part Of tho opposition.
Then came the election of Hon John
Whitehead. of Norfolk, as a delegate
to the State convention.
Mr.. Whitehead has always been
violently opposed to primaries, and be-
Ing man of great activity and deter
mination. he at once took up the lead
erslHp OF the fight in his Immediate
section.
Another Adverse Move.
Perhaps the most direct and strik-
ing antiprimary development up to
this time. however, is to be found in
the action OF the Democratic mass
meeting held in Nansemond two weeks
ago. when resolutions were adopted
denouncing the system. and demand
Ing that 1t be annulled by the Roanoke
convention. This meeting has had a
far-reaching effect upon the situation.
for 1t was conducted by party leaders
whose opinions are influential through
out the state.
All this opposition. save that In the
case of Colonel Bowman, is in Eastern
Virginia, and only a few OF the dele
gates have been chosen. There are
two congressional districts which may
be set down almost solidly against the
primary. These are the Fifth and
Ninth. The system was never popular
in either and from its inception the
leaders in both have been sharpening
aftl II =
opportunity.
In still another section Of the State
the primary is more or less unpopular.
This is the upper Valley and Rocking
ham. and other counties In that local
ity will vote aye as certain as q
resolution to abolish is considered at
Roanoke.
1t is expected that important confer
ences will be held by leaders on both
sides before going to Roanoke. and that
after arriving upon the ground this
issue will be as prominently before the
delegates as any to be determined.
The Two Sides.
Many reasons exist why various
party men desire the primary system
undone. To start with, a large num-
Der of them never wanted it from the
first, and though 1t has been in opera
ton since 1902, they have not become
converted. Then it is argued that the
primary Is an expensive method of
making party nominations, and that 1t
bars from the running men of small
means. Again, it is contended that 1t
entails two elections for the same office;
that joint debates in campaigns prior
to the primaries tend to create bitter
ness and to disrupt the party, and,
finally, that 1t deprives the party Of
the enthusiasm which marked the old
fashioned, spellbinding convention.
Broadly speaking, there are three
grounds OF defense which the advo-
Gates of the system will set up. These
are that the people demanded the
primary and, as a rule, are satisfied
with it's operations; that it is the
| fairest and most honest method of
making party nominations, and that
1t is founded upon bedrock Democratic
principles in that it affords the broad
est opportunity of any known system
Of ascertainins the exact will Of the
whole people.
VIII BE Bitter Flight.
| a fierce If not a bitter debate over
the matter is now expected, and If the
opposition continues to develop strength
at the present rate, the sessions of the
convention may be prolonged far be-
| yond one day.
! The resolution to abolish will, of
course, be referred to the committee
on resolutions, and the preliminary
skirmish will occur before that body.
| Whatever report is made. however, the
Nnal struggle is sure to come on the;
floor of the convention. and 1t promises
to involve the most prominent party
men in the State on one side or the
otho'.
Congressman William A. Jones, who
with former Governor Montague laid
the foundation for the system, will
be one OF the strong speakers limits
favor and 1t is a coincidence that he
Will be called upon to help save the
! system in the Very hall where ne
first offered 1t in 1897.
This was the occasion when the
! famous debate took place between MT.
Homes and Senator Daniel, the latter
opposing tho primary plan, and defeat
Ing it in the dying hours Of the con-
INention by n narrow majority.
Congressman Hay, FORMER senator
j. Boyd Sears Matthew's; Hon, s. l"
| Kelley, of Richmond, Congressman
| Flood and many other skilled debat-
Iers, will likely defend the system N
1.-THE convention, If it shall appear neces-