The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-20

world. the last word In molluscs. Our
| private statistics show conclusivcly
| that real connoisseurs who have once
| tried this peerless oyster lave thence
forward rejected all others with cor
ltumely and contempt.
4 ---=---s-===--------.----=--l
REPuBLICAN rnEspAssERslN DEM
OClaATIC PRIMARIES.
| No newspaper In the state has in
!, sisted more earnestly than the Peters
| burg Indcx-Appeal On the right of each
party to manage its own affairs for
itself, without interference of any sort
from outside. 1t Is, therefore, with
considerable surprise that we find this
contemporary speaking tolerantly If
not approvingly OF the voting of Re-
publicans in Democratic primaries In
more decisively with the affairs OF
another than BY entering into, influ-
encing and possibly controlling its
nominations?
a nomination by the Democratic
party in this State is equivalent to an
election Republicans have nothing to
lose by temporarily Democratiaing
themselves for an object and proms-
ling to support the nominees of a DEM
ocratic primary. since their own can
didate. il they put forward any at all,
lis known to have no chance. To admit
them to participation is simply 10 open
| the door to them TO name the success
| full candidate. This is the party argu-
inent why nothing of the sort should
/ be considered. But there is u deeper
argument, the argument Of common
/ honesty. To get into Democratic
/ primary, Republican must pretend
! would not be admitted; and such pre-
Itense is not considered honest here
abouts. This talk ofNRepublican abuse
of Democratic primaries has arisen in
the congressional campaign in the
! Fourth District. In this struggle the
Index Appeal favors, we believe, Hon.
Charles T. Lassitcr. What would our
contemporary think if Mr.. Lassiter
isshould go down In defeat and it could
be shown that he was beaten solely
by the votes of lifelong Republicans,
now and hereafter, who only changed
feet rnomentarily for the express pur-
pose of defeating Mr.. Lassiter? Would
it really think that his successful OPP
ponent had fairly and properly won y
| Democratic nomination? We venture
to believe not.
The T!mes-Dispatch has Expressed
the opinion that Republican intruders
in Democratic primaries are morally
committing fraud. 1t must stand by
this opinion, even though our Peters
burg contemporary says that senti-
ment in its section is not in accord
with such view. But. besides the
morals OF it, there is also a formal or
technical side. The Indcx-Appcal sur
prises us by saying:
Undoubtedly many white Republi-
cans will participate in tlis primary,
as they have a right to do under the
,primary plan,
4 Have they such right? Where did
they get it? The only primary plan
in existence in Virginia is that adopted
!; at the Democratic state Convention Of
! 1904. This plan LAYS down the quali-
fcatons of participants as follows:
All white Democrats who are. OF
Will be- legal voters at the election
shall be entitled TO vote at the
/ primary election held to nominate a
! party senatorial candidate; and at all
other primary elections hereinatte,
/ provided for (which includes congress
sional electlons] all white Democrat.
who are, or who Will be. legal voters
at the election next following. the pri.
mary shall be entitled to vote at sucl
primary.
How have Republicans. white or 9th,
erwise, the right to vote in a pri
+ mary clearly confined by party law t
, white Democrats?
, -------------..==--==--------=-------=