The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-29
ARGUMENT BEGUN
ON PRIMARY BILLS
Speaker Byrd Makes Vigorous
Defense OF His
Measure.
PARTY POSITION is CRITICAL
Some Action Needed-Patrons OF
Other Bills
Speak.
PARTY POSITION is CRITICAL

politicians who cannot see the dan
ger in the present situation are blind,
said Speaker Byrd yesterday. In dis
cussing his primary bill before the
House Committee on Privileges ant
Elections The Democratic party !:
not fit to live il its life is dependent
on whether its candidates are nom1-
mated in primary or in convention
Il the party is being disintegrated the
cause is deeper than in the method OF
nominations.
The Democratic party has come to
the parting of the ways" said the
ent course the time Will come When
the Republicans will become powerful
in this State
Mr.. Byrds argument for his bill was
nothing less than masterful. He re-
viewed the history of nominating
methods, and explained every detail OF
the measure which he urges. lie was
given the closest attention
Mr.. West of Nansemond, appeared
for his bill, following Speaker Byrd.
Mr.. Deal, of Norfolk, advocated the
measure introduced by him. l. p.
Whitehead, of Amherst and Senator
STROBE. of the same county, both eX-
pressed themselves as favoring the
Byrd bill with certain amendments
which do not vitality affect its struc-
ture.
No one spoke for the subcommittee
hill. acknowledgements Ellyson.
who was chairman of the subcommlt-
tee, was present during the greater
| part of the hearing, and asked that he
might be heard later, as he had to
| take up his duties in the Senate. The
hearing was continued until Monday
| morning.
sis; an evolution First a few leaders
met and chose the candidates. Then
we had the mass conventions. then the
delegated convention, and at last the
primary. Those States which have
adopted the primary plan have not
gone back to former methods.
II know continued Mr. Byrd, tina
there is much dissatisfaction with the
primary, but believe this is due no
| to weakness in the principle. but t
loosencss Of the plan. II any man II
| opposed to any sort of primary, ~
| ought to come out manfully and sa,
| SO.
TT is not pleasant to me- said Mr
Byrd, Ito criticize the bill prepared
by the subcommittee of the Demo
! cratic State COMMITTEES. But TO saw
| it from contempt it must be REGARDED
as a joke. Under it conditions would
be no better than at present.
THE result of the preponderance o.
the Democrats in this State is thai
| they fight among themselves instead
| OF attacking the common enemy As a
| consequence, the real fight is In the
! primary.
! II am willing to compromise on de-
tails" he continued, which do not af-
feet tho vital features OF the bill,
Some people have developed sudden
tenderness for the Republican party,
and do not want to force II to adopt a
plan OF nomination. which 1t docs not
wish. But in Difference to a prepon-
dcrance of opinion 1 have eliminated
the compulsory feature. This is a
local option bill,
|s"In the past few years we have
seen distressing change in Virginia,
can remember when the spending OF
money to any extent was almost un-
known. Now large amounts are eN-
|.pended In the State primary of 1905
| $500 was sent TO my county 1t re-
manned in the pockets of about five
i men.
Poor Men In Politics.
THE poor man should be allowet
: ill., j "