Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-10-22
The PRIMARY.


the Maryland primary statute requir-
ing voters desiring to participate I'M
party contests 10 state their party
Affiliations when they register, this
paper recently remarked that such a
requirement ought to be included in
the virginia primary law. II we ever
are so fortunate as to have one en-
acted. The Petersburg lndex-Appeai,
always an opponent of the primary
system OF making nominations, yio-
,ently opposes this proposition, de-
claring that such restriction re-
duces popular suffrage to. an absurd
~. and makes 1t "the instrument and
plaything of party bosses"
The lndex-Appeal says:
One OF the objections which the
Index-Appeal has TO the system OF
nominating by primary elections Is
that II binds the conscience and hon.
or of the voter 10 the support OF the
nominee. no matter how incapable
and unworthy he may be. unless the
incapabiiity and unworthiness should
occur subsequent TO the nomination.
No matter how superior in intellect
and mora, worth the opposing candi-
date may be TO the primary nominee,
the voter that participates In a pri-
mary election must, as matter OF
faith. support The primary nominee.
The voter has pledged his conscience
and his honor, and there Is no escape
from the redemption. save In some
subsequent turpitude OF the nominee.
Usually, primaries occur so near 10
the dav of the final election that the
character OF each candidate is as well
known in tho primary as In the hnat
election
But when II is made condition
of participating in the primary, that
a voter shall declare his party afiilia-
lions months in advance, before he
has had time to investigate the can
didates. or to study The questions AZ
isn,e then we shall array ourselves
with Cardinal Gibbons, and stand
with all parties and for none, even
al forfeiture of the right TO vote IN
tic primary.
From this we gather tina; our Pet
ersburg contemporary fayors throwing
down the bars and allowing any and
everybody 10 participate in primary,
without restriction as to previous par
~ utilization and without a pledge. i'm
piled or otherwise, 20 support the nom-
inee of the primary. Since the Index
Appeal thinks this is the proper way
TO conduct primaries there Is small
cause for wonder that II Is opposed
to the primary system.
Primaries are hello for the purpose
of naming party candidates for Office.
and the nominee Of a primary has a
moral claim upon the support OF
every voter who casts ballot In the
rarity contest. whether or not a spe-
cific pledge has been required. Other
wise an aspirsnt for once would be
foolish 10 submit his claims 20 q pri-
mary. II the Democratic nomination
means nothing and the nominee can
expect to poll In the general election
oniy his own following. il is absurd
10 hold either primaries or coaven-
tions-every Democratic candidate
shouii be allowed to run as ar inde-
pendent.
But the Democratic nomination IN
Virginia does mean something. and IL
ought &c mean a great deal more The
primary does bind the conscience
and honor Of the voter 10 support the
nominee and. while there are exce2-
tons. as a rule. Democratic voters
have consciences aud honor to bind
That Is why We want a primary.
iegalized, properly conducted pri-
mary.
The object q the provision requir-
ina declaration % party afllIafioa
prior 20 primaries Is obvious. Il h
10 Fccr poa-members out % perry
contests Nonrnembcrs have no bus
mess IN party confests--ccrtainiy
they shonld keep OFT End Be kept cuf
urlc<s hey are xilllze 70 become
members 70 the extent Of pronisinE
- support TIE nominee o. he psi.
mary m rsich shey participate. q
B. essential that The nominee o. a