Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-05-15
SOME PRIMARY TALK.

mary law OF the Virginia Democrats at
the Roanoke convention it will not be
supported by the members of the Virgin
ia delegation in Congress. 1t is further
more interesting that some of those who
do not like the primary now are the ones
who were the strongest for it in days
gone by. That the primary was born
mainly for the purpose of ousting Sena-
tor Martin from Congress and getting
control of the party organization is
known and read of all men who are
acquainted with the situation. But at
that time Senator Martin declared that
the anti-Martin men were perfectly
welcome to choose the way of selecting
his successor. He said that he had won
out in the Legislature, and that he was
confident that he could do so before the
people themselves; and that, further
more, if he were not the choice of the
majority of the Democrats of the State
for Senator, ne did not want the posi-
tion anyway. So the opposition chose
the weapon-the primary. Since then
Senator Martin and most of his friends
have been winning in the primaries.
They do not care for a change. The
whole situation is satisfactory to them.
1t is true that there are certain difficult
ties to be overcome-due to the crude
manner in which the primary plan was
drawn-suchas the lack of opportunities
to meet in State conventions, but these
are merely matters of routine, and so
faR as the essentials of the primary
principle is concerned, Senator Martin
and his friends may be relied on not to
touch that. The enemy had chosen the
weapons and their choice was a BOOM
erang. 1t looks to be probable that the
primary has come to stay.
Petersburg Index-Appeal)
If inspired and inaugurated to defeat
Senator Martin, the primary failed of
its purpose, and up to short time
since at least it enjoyed Senator Mar
tins support, and enjoys it today for
aught we know to the contrary. Lynch
burg News.
0, We have no doubt that Senator
Martin is like the rest of the Congress-
men, and is very well pleased with the
primary. He has no reason to be other
wise, for it will probably be a long
time before any one will again be foolish
enough to put up $4,000 for the priv
ilege of thrashing at his hands. Con-
gressmen are as rule about as shrewd
as the rest of us, and they don't fail to
perceive what is plain to everybody
else, that the Congressman who can
hold his own in two or three primary
contests in which the assessment plan
obtains, becomes immune to opposition.
in sense receives paid-up policy in
the Oligarchy. But as to Senator
Martin. it should be remembered that
he was never opposed to the primary.
When the agitation was begun by the
May convention for that mode of nomi-
nation, Mr.. Martin promptly said it
was quite immaterial with him whether
there was primary or convention,
taking the ground that it was the busi-
ness of the Democratic party, not his.
Later, he gave pretty convincing rea-
son for the faith that was in him.
Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch)
We do not believe that the conven-
tion at Roanoke should abolish the DEM
ocratic primary plan, but that it should
be amended and improved there is lit
tie doubt. That the man of moderate
means is now practically barred from a
State primary is true, and no plan is
best that limits the candidates to those
who have money to spare. The State
primary in 1905 is not so far away that
no track is kept of the cost of it to
the men who participated, and the files
of this paper about the time the can
didates filed their statements of ac-
counts contains the following telegram
Richmond, Va, September 49,
| (SpeciaD stupendous expense oi
the recent primary shows that it was
a costly luxury to the leading candi
dates and taxed the men who aspireC
to State Offices to an extent that vii
make anyone of them think twice be
fore trying the same experiment again. >
Governor Swanson, Judge Mann ant
Colonel Willard were in the field fo
the Governorship. Colonel Willard
expenses were SIS, 32S.74. or within
81, 700 of what his salary for the who'll
four years would have been had he beel
elected. AS he was defeated, he los
that much.
Governor Swanson spent SO, $40 in hi
primary campaign, or just two years
salary, half of what his office as Gov
ernor will pay him; and Judge Man
| spent $5,364.25, which, however, wi
not prevent his coming in again mex
year.
In the Senatorial contest Senate
Martins expenses were $I1, SAP an
r those of Governor Montague So, Se4. 81
The total expenses to these fiv
candidates were $50, ,439, go, which
more than any party or State ought t
l demand of men who seek the Offices
and this by no means represents all tn
cost, for there were a number of othe
candidates, all of whom paid out sui
stantial sums. Lieutenant Governc
: Ellyson had no opposition, and vet h
spent $1,000. and the Attorney Gener:
|. filed his expences at $500. The othe
figures are not at hand, but they wi