Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-01-07
ANOTHER BYRD BILL.

patron of the notorious and with some,
odious liquor law, Familiarity called
the Byrd Law, has branched forth in
another role. He has now presented
the public with bill regulating pri-
mary elections, which he proposes to
have passed this winter. This is dan
gerous ground upon which to tread.
He should advocate law abolishing
primaries altogether, or law which
leaves it optional with the political
parties as to whether they will hold
such elections or not. 1t has at last
dawned on most people in Virginia
that primaries are unpopular. We
have held two very important ones,
and both have left bad odor in their
trail. One more of the same kind and
the Democratic party may bid good
bye to home and friends, order its
coffin, don the cerements of the tom b
and listen to the familiar phrase, 'sdust
thou art and unto dust shalt thou re-
turn" There has never been such a
party disorganizer as the primary. 1t
has a sound of fairness, and so far as
referring the matter to the people, in
theory, is faultless. But there never
was such opportunity for unfairness if
not for actual fraud. In every party
there is an organization. This organi-
cation has power over many things.
1t collects all campaign funds, it ap-
points it's own agents to do certain
work, they appoint their own agents
to do other work, and so on, thus hav-
ing absolute control in every branch,
indeed in every fiber and lineament OF
the party. This organization has its
chosen candidates. The agents are
tipped off as to what they are to do.
They bend every effort to obey their
masters, and the thing becomes PACK
ED for one man or one ticket. If a
candidate opposed to the organization
is strong at precint there is no cleo
ton held there. If he becomes active,
all the agents and tools of the organi-
zation are on his track, to watch, to
report to headquarters, to nullify, if
possible, his chances. What show
with the officers to hold the primaries
packed against him, has any candi-
date but the organization candidate
If money is given for election purposes
it can be placed where it will do the
most good. The placing of it is entire
ly with the high muck-a-mucks, the
organization. Any candidate opposed
to them can be swamped under tidal
wave of corruption funds, sent by the
head of the organization to down him
This has been done already in Virgin
Ia many believe, indeed it has beer
openly charged that returns were pad
ded and majorities changed in the las
primary.
Now MI. Byrd has provided very lit
tie to disinfect the malordorous prima
ry ballot boxes now in use.
In substance, the bill provides:
Primary for all parties to be held or
same day and obligatory on all parties
voting as much as One-fourth of tota
vote.
| Unless inconsistent with the act it
self, the regular election law is to gov
ern and the primary put under tn
protection of the courts.
Expenses to be paid by cities ant
counties.
The winning candidate need only re
ceive plurality vote.
Parties may choose their own meth
dds for nominating Presidential cleo
| tors.
Voters in must have voted
II preceding general election for the
nominee of party in whose primary ne
offers to vote.
Candidates must pay fee OF 3 pei
cent. of one years salary of office to
which they aspire to prevent ballot be-
ing encountered by irresponsible can
didates.
Candidates are not permitted te
spend more than 10 cents for each vote
cast at last preceding Gubernatoria
election for candidate of his party.
| Newspapers must mark paid politi
cal matter as advertisement and pub
lish name of person paying for it.
Very few voters intend to be OBLIGED
to do anything. So the first thing tt
do is to strike that brilliant paragraph
out. 1t would be reflection on The
voter, on the party, and on the Legis
lature that enacted 1t.
The "protection of the courts il
good so far as sound is concerned. Blu
it don't 60 down with those who know
that self preservation is the first law o
nature, and that all other protection il
usually farce or catchy phrase.
The expense question, the vote nee
essary to elect, and the method 0
choosing presidential electors, we will
pass, but how the candidate must hav'
voted, and the 3 per cent of salary t.
be paid in to prevent too numerous
list Of candidates, are such poor pro
visions that they possibly need only %
referred to as funny. But when Mr.
Mr. Byrd reduces the price of votes tt
10 cents per head, that is does not al
low a candidate to spend in his cleo
ton more than 10 cents per head, h
has opened an avenue for circumvent
ing the law which the ordinary poll
tician will get round, with such eas'
and grace as will make the candidate
who is not a politician, in the rea
sense, wonder what has happened.
AS to the newspapers publishing pc
litical matter and marking it paid ano
the name of the person publishing it
we have only to say that the newspa
pers have never been a medium OF Sc
cret aid to any gang of politicians by
publishing matter that ought to have
been advertised as political. The pub
lie will hardly suffer seriously by