The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-04-27
Opposition
To Primary n | j J
COMES FROM SECTION KNOWN
AS THE BLACK BELT OF
WEST VIRGINIA.
Bill Being Drafted
1t Is Asserted. Which Will Make. 1t
Optional With the Counties to
Adopt Provisions Of tho Law, Thus
Escaping "NegrO Domination"

TO appeasa those who have oppos-
ed direct primary law insofar as
1t applies to their local politics, it IL
asserted that some Of the ReDubli-
cans in the West Virginia State Sen
ate are drafting q bill, which, while
carrying out the policy of Governor
Glasscock with reference to State Of
ttcers and the Office Of United States
senator, will make 1T optional with
the counties to adopt the provisions
OF the law for the nomination Of
county candidates.
Probably the strongest opposition
to the enactment Of a primary cleo
Ion law has come from the southern
section of the State, those counties
along the Norfolk and Western rail
road known as the Black Belt. In
these counties the Republican lead
ers are afraid that the Negro voters,
largely outnumberinS the whites,
Will dominate at the polls and make
the nominations. In opposition to
this argument those who favor a
blanket primary law for the nomi-
nation OF candidates from United
States senator TO magisterial dis
trict constable, say the leaders in
the Black Belt could control the
nominations the same under a prim~
AIRY low as they do under the conven-
ton system.
Parties Divided.
Both parties are divided on the
question of direct primaries, but the
Republican leaders assert that their
forces can be united in the State
Senate If an agreement can be reach
cd through which the counties can
govern their local elections and pre-,
scribe the method Of nominating
their lccal candidates.
In the meanwhile, Governor Glass
-Cock-is- receiving encouragement
from leaders in both parties. Judge
G. w. Campbell, OF Huntington,
chairman Of the Judiciary commit
tee Of the House Of Delegates, and
patron Of the Campbell-Cooper bill
which passed the lower House at the
recent regular session, has written
the Governor a letter stating he is in
full sympathy with the plan Of the
State Executive and yill support MIN
at the special session.
The enlistment Of Judge Campbell
with the forces OF the Governor
-yHe cans much tethe- advocates of the
primary law. He championed the
cause Of direct primaries at the reg.
ular session and passed the Campbell
hill through the House Of Delegates
with only Ave dissenting votes. Gov
ernor GlasscoEk has expressed him
self that the Campbell bill is salts
factory to him.
FavOrs a Primary.
Former Congressman Joseph Holt
Gaines, who was the West Virginia
Committee in the National House Of
Representatives. gave out a public
statement endorsing a primary law
lie said:
bgtteve~ that the extra session
of the legislature which is TO meet
in May ought to pass primary law
There are three principal reasons
which bring me to this conclusion,
continued the tall Congressman.
Il. AS far as the Republican
members Of the Legislature are con,
cerned, the Republican party prom.
ised it in it's platform, and believe
in keeping party promises. The
Democratic party made the same
promise, but 1 express no opinion as
to either their duty or their disposi
ton.
g. The people Of the State are
undoubtedly determined to have
srch law. Whether it is better tt
make our nominations under prim
AIRY law or by some other system is ;
question Of policy and expediency.
Says 1t Is Popular Bill,
'In such a case it seems to M
that it. Is the duty Of the Legislature
to give at the earliest possible mo
uent intelligent expression to tn
popular will by the enactment of tn
most efficient primary election lay
they are able to draft.
"3. In most OF the principal Coun
ties the primary system has bee1
adopted without waiting for law
] am searching for mild languHg
when / say that it is hardly Drobabl
that a primary election law woul
work any considerable harm by sup
planting the primary system alread
in vogue. AS an original proEositio
have always preferred the conver
ton system, the precinct (Dot tn
county or the district) as the uni
of selection In the first instance.