The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-15

ton officers. ana shall be conducted according
to regular election laws except where other
8. The Nance Of all candidates for nomina-
uon shall be printed on the same primary ball
word Democrat Republican. ProhiDiuonist.
Populist, Socialist or Independent. a. the case
may be. being printed opposite the name OF each
4. When possible two candidates shall be
nominated for each Office to be filled at the
regular election. The two who receive
the highest number of votes for the same ONCE
shall be the two nominees to be voted Tor In
the regular election: provided that when more
than political party IL represented by
candidates for nomination, no one party
shall have more than one nominee 10. for
to being the two who receive the highest
number OF votes. the combined vote Of the two
shall exceed majority OF all the votes cast
8. Candidates for the United States Senate
shall be nominated by the primary. The Leg
islature shall elect OF the two nominees OF
the primary provided. that II one Of the can
didatss for nomination shall receive majority
Of all the votes In the primary, thee Leg
islature shall elect him to the United States
Senate.
What are some of the advantages Of such
1t would give to each individual. and to each
political party. perfectly fair chance before
the people. II would encourage good men to
become candidates for nomination. 1t would
encourage all voters to take part in nominating
FOR the nomination OF their choe candidate.
without feeling under obligation to vote for
an an, Objectionable nominee at the regular cleo
primary. because OF the fact that participation
In such party primary carries with 1t a sense
of moral obligation to support the party NOM
inee. though he be very objectionable man.
sense Of moral obligation wall not hesitate
to enter party primary with the purpose to
aid In nominating certain candidates, and. II
he 1afl In his purpose. decline to support the
nominee. OF course, many good citizens do
take part in the party primary, because they
their only chance to aid In securing good Of
hcerA But these good citizens long for bet
ter laws and better customs.
The provision for nominating two candidates
Ior each once to be filled at the regular cleo
ton Is the only means by which there can be
real test as to the choice of the people The
nominee OF a party primary often represents
only aplurality OF the votes cast in the primary
to support the nominee II convention makes
the nomination. the candidate may represent a
majority OF the convention. but the whole vote
OF the convention usually represents only a
small per cent OF the party voters.
again II one party has large majority,
Ing public officers. In fact. there Is no choice
at the regular election, because the nominees
primary or convention, even though they were
nominated by small fraction of the qualified
voters
Let US have legal primary, which shall pro-
VIDE FOR nominating two candidates for each
once to be Allied at the regular election and
there Will be less trickcry In securing nomina-
.lons' less bitter personalities in the canvas,
Tor nomination.; less soreness to the defeated
candidates and more general satisfaction to
the people. "
| Let party conventions be cid for thu
adoption of party platforms. and to provide
ways and means for informing the people ON
issues concerning the public welfare but dom
lei the party leaders have too much power In
ulctat1ng the nomination Of candidates for pub
nv omee. Let every qualified voter feel sure
/ he can vote for the nomination OF his choice
eanaldate. and If defeated in the primary, still
DC Tree 70 vote, In the regular election. for his
choice OF the two nominees
Carrsville, Va. November 10 1911