Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-29
SATURDAY. MAY 30. 1909.
PLEDGE ON TICKET SHOULD
MAKE NO piEEERENsE.

In Richmond and elsewhere In tue
State the local Democratic romnht-
,ass are troubling themselves consid-
erab,y over the question of what kind
of n pledge, IL any. shall be printed
a, the bottom of tickets to be useu
IN the primaries this summer Ac-
cording TO press dispatches, some oil
the friends of leading candidates pre-
fer to have no pledge at all ON the
tickets. while many others advocate
the use of an unusually stringent
pledge.
According to this papers point OF
view, ii is deplorable that there should
be any necessity for considering ana
worrying over this pledge question. IL
is fact, however. that the necessity
exists and that the local committees
are compelled to handle the situation
with the greatest care in order TO
prevent discord in the party and elm
mate as far as possible, the danger OF
wholesale boiling.
Why q pledge on a ticket should
make the slightest difference one way
or another with an honest man who
goes into the primary is the strange
part about this thing. This paper Is
not prepared to say that an honest
man will not go into q primary and
then vote against or refuse to sup
port the nominee OF that primary. but
il does hold that no man with high
ideals OF honesty and propriety will
dc such thing after mature delib-
Grafton and with a thorough under
standing of what his act means.
Party primaries are held. as every
one knows. for the purpose of select
ing candidates for Office TO be sup
ported In the general eiection by the
party. Any man who feels that he
cannot or will not vote for the nomi-
nees OF a primary has no business
casting bollot in that primary. The
Democratic party in Virginia invites
Democrats. and in some instances
others than Democrats who are willing
to support the nominees to partici-
pate in its primaries
People who will not support the NOM
inees are not wanted. and as these
elections are the affairs OF a par
TITAN organization. any one who does
not propose TO comply with the con-
ditions is an intruder when he at
tempts to enter one Of them.
The very casting Of a ballot IN =
primary Is in itself a pledge that the
nominees viii be supported. II this
were not the case IL would BE- ut
terry ridiculous for a party organiza-
ton to go to the expense OF conduct
ing q primary election. and for as
pirants for Office to submit their
claims - such an election. These
facts seem 70 be so very obvious that
a statement Of them is hardly neces-
sary. Every man capable Of casting
ballot ought 70 be able TO grasp
them Yet there are many people who
think. and some Of them honestly. that
the printing Of a pledge At the bot
ten q a ticket IS the only tniEg that
imposes a moral obligation upon he
voter 20 support the nominees.
Perhaps Il Is best 20 have the
pledges Certainly they can do nc
harm n they keep anybody out Of
the primaries. 80 much the better
Any nan Who Is going to bolt should
Be kept out n possible. His vote
might b. o. benefit 10 some Of ths
Individual candidates for nomination
but - far a. the party ~ concernec
hts absence siIl ee a blessing. Wher
Z candidate - NAMED IN a primary
DC should be able % count with Ger