Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-04
LAW MAY Be AMENDED
Steps in Virginia Affect Pri-
mary Election Measure.
MEETING OF DEMOCRATS
Liquor Interests Likely to Force
Local Option Election.
STATE CONTROL OF RAILROADS
Potato Growers in Distress-Must
Answer Murder Charge-Presi-
dent Tyler's Grave Neglected.
STATE CONTROL OF RAILROADS
Special Correspondence Of TIE STIR.

Special Correspondence of TIE STIR.
| RICHMOND. Va. April 3. 1909.
With the call that is being sounded for
a meeting of the democrats of the state
| in convention to frame platform for tie
| candidates of the party. 1t Is believed that
| the existing primary election law is to be
amended at an early date. The plan has
been in vogue for about six years. and
while it has satisfied those who were in
tended to be most affected by it. it has
not met the expectations or hopes of it's
advocates. The primary was expected to
wreak vengeance on the element of the
party which. participated in the defeat of
Gen. Fftz Lee for the Senate. and to ele-
vate to control and supremacy those who
were inimical to that faction of the party
but ii has accomplished exactly the re-
verse. Senator Martin was the leader
who appeared before the convention when
the plan was presented and advocated in
the last convention. much to the disgust
of the men who had hoped and believed
that he would oppose 1t.
What Is more. the convention which
adopted the plan was composed Of dele
gates who were favorable to Senator
Martin. and had he but said the word the
plan would have been defeated But he
| made the concession to the primary advo
Gates. and four years ago he went before
the people on plan which had originated
with his opponents. and succeeded in win
ming out. For eight years no state con-
vention has been held. save those which
met to send delegates to the national
conventions. There has been no platform
| In any state contest. and the absence of a
declaration of principles has been detri-
mental to the party. The republicans
have not followed the example of the
democrats, but have each year framed a
platform. and each time they have gone
before the people the vote of that party
has increased.
Now. the discovery that the primary
plan has abolished the convention has
been made. Those who were loudest in
lauding the primary have grown luke
warm in many instances. and a demand
is springing up for a change. whereby
there will be conventions. This will re-
suit in an amendment to the plans, and
1t is believed that it will eventuate in
voting for the candidates direct, and per-
hitting the candidates to name the dele
gates in proportion to their strength in
each precinct In the state. thus allowing
hold convention and to declare the prin-
ciples of the party. That will allow for
the retention of the primary plan and
also for the holding of conventions.
May Force the Issues.
1t is possible that the liquor interests
and the opponents of local option may
surprise the Anti-SaIoon League folks in
this city and in Norfolk by petitioning
the courts for local option election be-
fore such a step can be taken by the tenn
perance folks. That is not only posi-
bility. but 1t is said to be strong proba-
bility. This Is founded on the activity of
the voters in registering strongly in this
city especially. The poll lists for the No
vember election will not close till the last
of the present month, and the voters who
are qualified to vote in the fall election
are to be permitted to vote in a local
option contest That is the ruling Of the
supreme court of appeals in the Freder-
icksbufg case. decided few weeks ago.
BY asking for the election at a date
earlier than the Anti-SaIoon League
might desire would force a double cleo
ton at one and the same time in each of
the cities. and thereby divide the forces
of the temperance folks. The campaign
is already on in the city of Norfolk,
where the Anti-Saloon League has estab-
lished headquarters and is conducting a
campaign with view to having the cleo
ton during the fall.
Braxton and the Railroads.
Allen Caperton Braxton. the author of
the corporation commission article in the
present state constitution, has declared
that the effort of the states to control the
railroads Is futile. Mr.. Braxton is a law
yer of recognized ability. and was associ-
ate counsel for the state in it's effort to
sustain the position of the commission in
the two-cent rate hearings before that
body and in the subsequent litigation in
the federal courts. Since those cases
were closed he has been retained as coun-
sci for the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac railroad, and he has entered on
the discharge of his duties.
Mr.. Braxton, however, has not changed
his position or opinion as to governmental
n 10 hos. 4 l.,
conclusion that a series of commissions
under the direction of the interstate COM
merce commission. is the proper thing.
These subordinate bodies he would have
appointed for the various sections of the
country, all to consider the local condi-
tions and to report their findings to the
interstate commerce commission for rati-
ficatiOn and approval. He inclines to the
belief that in this way the people would
get benefits. The reason for this idea is
that there are no roads of consequence in
any state which are wholly intrastate
In this position he. Is being supported by
the foremost railroad men of this city,
and the scheme is generally popular.
Potato-Growers Hard Hit.
Truckers of Accomac and Northampton
counties are in distress this spring. That
section of the state annually ships about
100000 barrels of sweet and Irish po-
tatoes This year. following the example
in Maine and were brought down and put
in the ground during the months OF Janu-
AIRY and February. The potatoes are of
hardy growth, the cold having little ef-
feet on them
The ia rners, however struck hard luck.
They spent about $50. 900 for seed and
put them in the ground. More than one
fourth of the planted crop has proven a
failure due to blight of some kind in
the seed. One farmer has already
plowed under field of more than leo
| acres and has replanted with seed from
Michigan. Other farmers have been
equally unfortunate. There is fear that
the blight which has been brought in may
affect other seed but experts declare that
ii he stopped when once the vege-
tables are above ground.
Asking for Railroad.
g. F. Passamore of Cape Charles. one
If fl.n l,niSinaSs men of that section iS