The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-11
~ i L Of Tie r eople
In Defcnsc 81 the I,rl mnry.
tor Of The Times Dispatch: l

Editor Of The Times Dispatch:
s,ir ,,.. = the intention Of
IN any way With the keen thrusts anu
a asl parties OF such masters OF fence
" yourself and Hon. Robert w. With
privilege to- make q few remarks, soto
vocc, upon the primary question.
~ VIII doubtlessly DO conceded that
al 9 3e an nGsr y q 9te e
a .ilaa,t. yet plurality Is all that is
required eah1I a.. to elect everything. from cor.
3, stiap D., up to presidential electors II
the !, objection applies with equal force
% the regular elections of officers. DO
tnn !. ndv9c a, Of majority nominations
manding majority elections as wellY
Is 1t sound to say that, taking away
srGm the at'lesntss al power TIE
which In sclf-government is the thing hi
mes. t9 be W %ssirSd will be aomewat
to say mat taking n awa ~ m fro tt ts
voter. who Is THE average man," tic
power to nominate candidates, would
lessen his interest In politics and thus
principle OF elf-governmentY The
power remains the same In either cnse.
and the question Is. Shall we take 1t
creascs their interest. does not the
taking i from the many voters de-
crease their interest?
Again, II n convention dominates by
a majority, what proof is there that
a majority OF the thousand delegates
voices the sentiment OF the majority
Of the hundred thousand voters OF the
state? There seems to be no way to
arrive atn majority nomination except
by SECOND primary after the eliml-
receiving the highest and next highest
jority. nomination is is concerned. til.
convention g and the plurality primary
represents the. will OF a majority of
the voters Of the patty, with this az.
many participate in the primary. while
but few participate in the convention.
After all. does not the ingeniously
OF Mr.. Withers resolve Itself into nom
nation by the few in preferences to
nomination by the many? Che plar Of
Ct Officers By pnraiS yose
ment OF the government, and II has
never given any trouble and 1t Is fair
to. presume that the same principle
give equally satisfactory results.
The STROBE primary bill was con-
strncted upon this principle. and pri-
be conducted by the regular election
officers OF the State. and the expenses
We're to be paid in the same way that
the expenses OF regular elections were
paid.
4 most valuable provision OF this
bill was one leaving: the option of
using It entirely IN the hands Of the
machinery for nomination free OF cS-
pense but the party could use 1t o..
not. as 1t chose This is in accord
ment. Ii should be recognized that
some localities neither want nor need
a primary: therefore. 1t would be
wrong to impose 1t upon them. but IT
other districts which both want and
need IL. II this law Is once enacted IT
will solve tho problem and live by viz
tue Of its capacity TO serve
Conventions are highly necessary n
party government. and we should have
them oftcner-certainly every other
year-but there Is nseessaIilX y, no COT con
nation OF candidates. Their peculiar
functions should be to consider and
promu1gate party principles and poli-
agement. we cannot well afford to do
without them They furnish occasion
for association and discussion when
are xerS essentiaf 70 pafs ,bat ample
oppor tunitys may be given the lions
to roar, the beavers to build their
dams, the tail sycam9rss from ON o Sme
and the dapper mockinEbirGls from thu.
swamps TO perch upon the Hottest pin.
nacles and trill their sweetest notes
10 stiu the turmoil OF party rancor or
send forth the clarion notes OF war
arousing the hosts OF Democracy to
that state of patriotic fervor that
thew will strike their shields in fury
and go forth to annihilate the strag-
Cling bands OF Republican marauders;;
but, above all. let us have legaliHed
primary to give us "hayseeds
chance to say who shall hold Office In
Virginia. Very respectfully
A. f. THOMAS.
Lynchburg. Va. July Z. 1908.