Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-11-14
A WEBBING OUT NEEDED IN DEM
ocRATlc RANKS.

III tn&hluS tHt thdii6to anu tHi
provements in our primary election
system which everybody admits
should be made, the question of who
shall be permitted to participate in
~ mary should be one of the all i'm
pcrlant matters discussed and attend
Ed 10. In Newport News there are
sone two hundred or more people who
aabitlally &c into the Democratic pri-
maties with no intention of abiding by
The pledge 20 support the nominees.
And there are couple of hundred
others who take part in the primary
contests with the intention OF fulfilling
the Iledges-if their men are elected.
not otherwise.
In the primary held here last sum-
nier for the nomination of local OFF,
oeis. nearly 1.600 votes were cast.
Th' re are emily about 1900 qualified
yo:crs in the city. and OF this number
something like $50 are negroes.
therefore. ali except 450 white voters
participated in the primary. OF the
iSG who did not go TO the polls 1t Is
safe to say that leo were Democrats
who were out OF the city. i'll or who
for various reasons did not vote. This
supposltion iesves just $50 white Re-
pubiiczas. x everyone who voted in
the primary Is 10 be styled a Demo
crat
When the general election was held.
City Scrgeant-elect Mugler. who re-
ceived the highest vote CT any Demo
cratic candidate With Republican op-
position, polled only about l.loo votes.
There was no fac;ional or underband-
ed fight against Mr. Mugler and he re-
eeiveG just about the support that
would be expected for a Democratic
candidate in al election with i.700
votes cast But nearly FIVE hundred
peoric who went into the primary and
pledged themselves 10 support the
nominees violated their pledges either
by not going to the polls or by voting
against Mr.. Mugler There is only one
way to accouH; for this. No doubt a
considerable number of Democrats
failed To go to the polls, thinking that
all Of the Democratic candidates. save
the che for constable. we're certain OF
election. and not Directing particular
" 10 the election OF Hester. but IL IS
reasonably certain that the number
was not half Of Eve hundred There
fore. We are bound TO conclude that
abou; half Ct the people who voted the
cTll election took part In the primary
II would be comparatively easy to
keep these people cut OF the primary
n proper care we're exercised. Most
Of the Republicans in Newport News
are known. aa1 II ;he Democratic or
esn.zation would station intelligent
and vsgiian; challengcrS at the polls
It ought nc; to be difficult to keep the
rrmoer of Republicans voting down
20 Z illrlflulN-
The real trouble viii be in dealing
vita tnose alleged Democrats who
sever t;fnk & supporting a nominee
unless be happens to suit their par
sicuiar fancy II ~iil he impossible C
weed these people out altogether bul
anIezs some wedding Is done. so thai
q viii be possible 10 say with sons
degree a certainty what percentage
Of The primary vote a nominee viii re
ceive IN a general election. party or
gsnizat.on IN Newport News VII be
come a farce and people having th'
best Interests of tie city AZ heart
themselves unwilling to 90 into pr
mary without abiding By fhe issue
vsn Sessn, eaefirs their votes in lOca