The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-05-04

for various State offices. but il is a
party regulation and not properly
safeguarded by law. At least one
court has held that certain omenses
could not be punished under the State
election laws, but the Supreme Court
took another view OF the matter, but
nobody has been punished. There
ought 70 be no doubt about the mat
ter. and the wonder is that the Viz
ginia Legislature has thus far reject
ed all measures legalizing. or putting
under the operation OF law, the pri-
mary elections which. as nomination
is equivalent TO election, are more
important than those that follow and
merely ratify.
There is no denying the fact that
party nominations in Virginia are I'M
der suspicion. There are constant in
timations that they are managed"
and that they reflect the wishes and
serve the purposes of political man
ayers" Whether this suspicion is a
shrewd or stupid thing does not at
feet the belief as to the general sur
rounding atmosphere. and the suspi-
cion will remain as long as the Legis-
lature refuses TO pass a proper pri-
mary election law. With such a law
on the books, the Barksdale corrupt
practices act will do the rest. because
there is behind ii a very decided pub
lie conscience bent on effective watch
fulneSs.
The people should interrogate on
this subject the present crop of can
didates for the Senate and House of
Delegates, and see that they have a
properly quickened ambition to get as
good a primary law as any other State
in the Union. And each candidate
should be impressed with the fact
that the law must look good" to
the people, even if the other fellows
don't like il. Old Virginia must not
fAr
whose eyes are on her. Certainly she
cannot allow West Virginia to call
back to her to Hurry up, and catch
the n."-Charlottesville Pro-
gress.
The automobiles in Richmond
seem to have It pretty much their
own way. About once month some
man, woman or child is killed. The
driver OF the car is arrested and then
boy OF nine years of age was run
over and made a hopeless imbecile
for life, Justice Crutchfield said:
There will be better order in this
city and less danger to pedestrians
when a few automobiles have been
electrOcuted." The justice then pro-
ceeded to discharge the accused
which is entirely customary and
usual. From which it seems that the
judges bark is much worse than his
bite. 1t is probable, however, that
if the killing or Gripping continues
long enough some person of influence
or some person who is a member Of
an influential family will get killed
or hurt, and then the offender will
stand a chance of being punished
Winchester Star.
The Nottoway Democratic Commit
tee has decided TO nominate county
officers on the same date that the
State Committee shall fix for the SEN
atorial primary, and volunteers be-
sides to assess against the local can
didateS all the expense Of conducting
the election. Here is a practical way
Of tightening the burden on the SEN
atorial aspirants, and the cost to the
local contestants will be no more than
If they had submitted their claims to
a separate primary. it is an exam
pie TO be Observation-Disclosures Pilot
Congressman Slemp is going to is
sue circular TO the Republicans in
Virginia warning them, as they will
receive no benefit from so doing, to
refrain from voting at the Democratic
primary election for United States
Senator. 1t is intimated that the
votes Of Republicans are being So
licited by Democrats in certain quar-
tiers. Well, as this is a Democratic
fight, we might as well fight il out in
our own party without eXtraneous aid.
Petersburg Progress.
This is the season when legislative
candidates begin to be active. Let the
people be equally so. Interrogate each
aspirant. Find out if he will support
the attempts that will be made to
amend the Constitution and nullify its
restraints by legislative sleight-of-
hand. If he thinks the Constitution
should be amended, let him tell the
people before they vote in what par
ticular. and give them a chance to
vote against him if they do not APP
prove his measures. Does he favor
abolishinS the fee system? If he does.
let him tie himself with n pledge.
Where does he stand on the liquor
question. on the schools, on taxation,
on the increase or decrease of useless
offices, and especially on increasing
the number of judicial circuits? Have
you heard of any of them announcing
their platforms? Beware of the still
hunt charlottesville Progress.
There are two kinds Of tarifr-one
for revenue. one for protection. In
neither of these should food or the
necCysaries Of life be taxed This is
fundamen tal. whether the tariff be
for revenue or protection" Thus says
Mr. Carnegie, in an article he has
written for a magazine. But is il
strange that he should say so? 1t is
50 plain truth, says the Philadelphia
Record, that even a Croesus may tell
it without marring its credibility.-
Gazette.
One thing has gone out of style
children waiting for the second table
when there is company around. 1t
was common thing to see a small
chap standing on one leg longingly
looking into the dining room and Won
dering If the company" would leave
a single piece of chicken. Now the
children go to the first table, or they
ought to, while company" waits
Greensboro On. c. Record.
Cy Young Has Bronchitis.
CLEVELAND, o. Special Cy