The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-10
Voice Of the People
Question of Primaries.
OF Tile Times. Dispatch:

Editor OF Tile Times. Dispatch:
Sir.---There Is little cause for sur
prise in the attitude OF the people upon
the question OF primaries. The only
tenable objection is that candidates
must personally defray the expense
involved in conducting them. The re-
suits to be obtained from their uni
Il the feature Of personal contr!bu-
tion OF the candidates can be elm
mated they would be stripped of the
only objection reasonably urged
Hitherto the Commonwealth has
borne the expense of all elections; no
sound reason can be given why 1t
mary eie lee '' can be be ine s
held, and under proper legal restric
tons will reflect the sentiment Of the
curing all nominations to be made by
primaries. with the same restrictions
thrown around them that now obtain
IN the conduct OF regular elections?
sembly lei, the respective counties pay
the cost Of the primary; for the lower
house of Congress IL, the COMPRESSION
al district appo,rtlon the Expense
some equitable basis; for State Of
fees and United states Senator'S let
the State Treasurer issue his warrant
adoption Of this plan would involve
some expense It would be worth all
1t cost to the State.
adopted som me men would i ioze their
occrpation--the boss" and tile "ria2
ster'' and the "heeler" would go into
"innocuous desuetude." but the will of
many years,1 have watched the meth
DDS of the so-called popular conven-
ton in the Ninth District. and give
it as my deliberate opinion that no
~ Epr la ly- mt " h.
uted to the changing of the district
from Democratic to Republican
stronghold as the nefarious practices
and diabolical METHODS resorted to by
1.-THE men who have dominated and
lprostituted these popular gatherings of
the many to the personal ends of the
designing few; these methods have
quiet. conservative. self-respecting men
have simply refused to attend them.
| Washington county is an agrtcultu-
lambs. wool, wheat and coin--no min
| ing and but little Misunderstanding
hence no question of tariff disturbed It's
voters. Formerly giving Democratic
majority approximating 1000. it is now
safely in the Republican column. The
depression. and it is all directly trace
abe to the unscrupulous manipulation
I of nominating conventions" by men
who seem to believe that ,sa politics polite,
! SHOULD never COME III .tie leillOtcsl
contact with candor. decency or mo-
rality. In the estimation of some
old fogies party loyalty is badge OF
honor" only when the fight is in the
T. open and there are no thrusts below
the belt. Doubtful and dishonorablc
methods escorted to to defeat politi-
cal antagonist become of easy appli-
1 cation when it is found desirable to
defeat a person or a principle in your
own utilization.
If the Democratic party. in Virginia
really desires pure elections in the
State. let it enact such legislation
as will minimize the nefarious in
nuence of the unscrupulous boss. and
i give the voters untrammeled oppor-
tunity to express their sentiments in
4 the selection of the men to whom
they desire to commit the execution
OF the popular will. Yours truly,
NJ. NJ. MORRISS.
Glade Spring. Va. April I. 1905.