The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-06
TATE PRESS
EDITORIAL E;XrR EssIONs on TIE SUB
JECT or THE PRIMARY.

Cheaper and Better.
Whatever arguments may DO brougl,t
against II, 1t is quite likely that the primary
VIII continue to bc The party pan OF VIZ
primary havo brought against II what ap.
pear TO be some powerful indictments un"
vi they are analysed.
The assessments on the candidates enter
Ing. any race for state honors are unde-
niablN high but whether tho amount 1t -
neccssnry to expcnd In this manner Is any
greater. or rs great, In fact. us the sums
formerly, disbursed among the faithful by
the candidates, Is the question which has
not t.. yet been nnally answered.
There nre many who believe that if fuil
accounting could be had OF any race under
the old convention plan It would be found
anat NE NE. state primary Is bit cheaper and
tom formerly IN yogue.--Portsmouth star.
Blunder to Destroy Primary.
The Petersburg delegation to the Roanoke
convention, headed by Hon Francis RiNos
Lassiter VIII advocate the return of tho
democratic party in Virginia to the conven-
ton method OF nominating state officers
ana members OF the Federal House OF Rep
Iesentatives. We think this to be one OF
those fel.,, political blunders which, almost
reaches the dignity OF a crime; but at least.
~ serves TO dissipate the contention of the
panville Register that advocacy OF the pr.
iI.ary system owes It's inspiration TO an Of
Its are the Virginia Representatives in
Consrcss--Norrolk virsinian- Pilot.
Not Perfect. But Best.
Perfection is not claimed for the primary
system. nor has It obtained in Virginia lon;
enough. since its formal adoption In the fall
OF 1901, to attain to flawlessness. were
wo believe that the basic principles or tho
primary system are better than the conven-
ton plan and less liable of harmful results
lied n principle TO the general elections
that IL the primary IL wrong the elections
are too. The primary gives TO people at
large n better chance to vote for thelr
choice of men, for, while the ski,ui mani
pulator OF parliamentary practice and wire
pulling Is easily master IN the convention
rail-, a battle of ballots or battle there must
PEI gives to each man an equal chance against
his opponent. which is not always true IN
| the convention halls. where fluency Of
speech and knowledge of the rules OF the
body often defeat the will of the people,
Underwater News.
Improve the Plan
Democrats OF the state should be sos
to listen to these appeals The primary
has serious defects, undoubtedly. but they
are apparently not such as cannot te
amended. At least an honest effort should
be made to amend 1t. SO that the plan may
| have fair trial. Thi, we trust the state
convention now approaching may ind tine
to do We have not the remotest idea that
me pan VIII be abolished In Its entirety.
But 1t should be mproved.-staunton Dis
| patch.
Has Come to Stay.
| The present plan. although generally
| speaking. 1t has worked admirably. may
not, OF course, be perfect. and It Is always
| open TO amendment and change; bu, that
!, the primary principle for the selection oi
| party candidates is the correct principle
| cannot be successfully controverted. The
| primary has now become a fixed institution
IN nearly every State of the. Union bu,
there are no two plans that are exactly
similar. Like the Australian ballot system
row OF almost universal application where
| the elective franchise prevails. but which
nevertheless differs greatly In detail In dit.
ferent communities and countries, the pri.
mary system has come to stay--Northern
Fairest. But Too Costly.
There are some things about the primar,
! conducted to get an expression ~ the vii
or choice of the people, but none bur tn.
| wealthy can afford it.-South Boston News