Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-01-07
Friday, january z, 1910.
A WEDDING OUT NEEDED IN
DEMOCRATIC RANKS.

Under the above caption the
Newport News Press had recently
q strong editorial showing that
so-called Democrats who cannot
line up with their party should
step down, or else be put out. 1t
is very pertinent to recent action
OF own county committee, where
persons violating the primary
(their pet scheme) pledge were
asked to withdraw from party
counsels, and we reproduce it in
part:
In Newport News there are some two
hundred or more people who habitually
go into the Democratic primaries with
no intention Of abiding by the pledge to
support the nominees. And;there are
a couple of hundred others who take
part In the primary contests with the
intention of fulfilling the pledges-if
their men are elected, not otherwise.
In the primary held here last summer
for the nomination Of local officers,
nearly 1000 votes were cast. There
are only about 2, 200 qualified voters in
the city, and of this number something
like $50 are negroes. Therefore, all
except $50 white voters participated in
the primary. Of the $50 who did not
go to the polls it is safe to say that 100
were Democrats who were out of the
city, i'll or who for various reasons did
not vote. This supposition leaves just
$50 white Republicans, if everyone who
voted in the primary is to be styled
Democrat.
When the general election was held,
City Sergeant-elect Mugler, who re-
ceived the highest vote of any Demo-
cratic candidate with Republican OPP
position, polled only about LOO votes.
There was no fractional or underhanded
fight against Mr.. Mugler and he received
just about the support that would be
expected for Democratic candidate in
an election with LOO votes cast. But
nearly five hundred people who went
into the primary and pledged themselves
to support the nominees violated their
pledges either by not going to the polls
or by voting against Mr.. Mugler. 81
We are bound to conclude that about
half of the people who voted the
straight Republican ticket in the gem
eral election took part in the primary.
1t would be comparatively easy to
keep these people out of the primary if
proper care were exercised. Most of
the Republicans in Newport News are
known. and if the Democratic organiza-
ton would station intelligent and vigil
liant challengers at the polls it ought
not to be difficult to keep the number
OF Republicans voting down to a mini
mum.
The real trouble will be in dealing
with those alleged Democrats who never
think Of supporting nominee unless he
happens to suit their particular fancy.
1t will be impossible to weed these peo-
pie altogether. but unless some weed
ing is done, so that it will be possible
to say with some degree of certainty
what percentage of the primary vote |
nominee will receive in a general cleo
ton, party organization in Newport
News will become farce and people |
having the best interests of the city at |
heart, themselves unwilling to 90 into
a primary without abiding by the issue.
will begin casting their votes in local
general elections withoutregard to party
lines.
A contract that binds only one side is
q poor contract indeed. And that is
what the primary will be in Newport
News as long as people who continually
md openly violate their pledges are
Allowed to participate.