The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-04-27
Denounces Primary Methods in
lJnmeaSured Terms.
WRITES A SCATHINe LETTER, ETC.

ing by its spacious plausibility the
average voter into thinking that
every man of the same politl-
cal faith has the same equal right
TO vote and have his vote counted
as east for the man Of his choice.
This is only so in appearance, how
ever. for In the working OF the pri-
mary machinery IL is a snare and a
delusion And in order to make II
fair the forces of evil that now
surround. control and handle the
election machinery, and render the
final count, must be eliminated
These forces Of evil. banded togeth-
er for the spoils OF office. aud are
known everywhere as the machine,
is self-constituted organization
that has arbitrarily seized the pow
or to dictate the composition oil
some central committee. which ~
turn selects subcommittee OF its
own Tx for every city. town and
county in the state. Placing at IT'S
head some notorious political trick
ster who understands the game OF
politics.the machine is complete ana
ready TO do business The central
committee. dominated by this boss
orders on through its sub-commi'-
tees every move made up OH
the political chess board. The prl-
mary "A creature OF It's own origi-
nation is but the instrument through
which the machine makes and deliV
ers tho goods. as ordered on by the
boss The election machinery 0.
these primaries. nicely adjusted anu
oiled bv the machine. under no re
straint of law. never sips "
COO nv failing to proVluc
for an all-important somenouS
skilled in political legerdemaih'
10 mark the ballots for those I'M
able or unwilling to mark TOT mem IN
selves. Aye. there's the ruo' 10,
in This marking Of ballots, VIVA.
marke 10 come:when we reflect thae
anywhere from one-third TO ohe-h"''
NJ the entire vote is cast TINS way
g. ,ho interest Of the boss may maps
,h-ongb this we'll paid under"hs
wonld II not be wonderful II 'he mo
cbine made an uncertain count ! nus
sntomoticallv arranged. so 10 SPEAK
oDr,rol committee, subcommittee
election machinery. all respond pei
forming their stunts without W.
hj,cb like so many jumping J"'N''
at the pull OF a string lin tho
Such IS the Virginia machino, -.
most perfect model ever deVlseu ~, ~
Tho cbicanery OF man Ohue' ~,
b ~ manipulation. Andrew JAZZ ,',fa
tto,taque Folded his tent I'm"
spn ATah and quietly stole away
,n ,ho shades of political oblivion on
~ Gordon. of Louisa, fled N Gls,
NAV at it's scrowl to the lno" hang
80 uespidam. where the
Idle mourneth his first ioN''
Needless alike to all past eXperi,
orco and the admonition Of holy writ
Ionos and Glass, submitting the,I
candidates. to this machihe-n No. ,s
urinary. are vainly seeking 10 s"' ~
o. cranes of thorns and hgs "a "a
thtstIes. ave. seeking the soou
s",;, Of success under the wlthe'lne
ID ~ this corrupt and poisonous t
,, ,r., tree the primary. Like lne
~ IN tho fable. that saw a'se'
neat in the shadow In the roai
tbev are ready to let go thy nee
neat they now hold, under toIe, "" Of
- tbe machine, for the shauo"
ol "a" vunattainable senatorial 'os"'
s a. a treacherous primary,
Need remind these gentlemen l,,
that we have had in the recent pas" 90
mon representing us In the nam A -
LEGISLATION. as the work Oh ma
n,enbine through its primaries 'ha'
,.,ta have been serving time III
sno ohain-gang at Richmond TOT
we and bribery. Does nov
, ,SS imnart at least serve nouc t,
that no honest man neeo appiS ,orv
the ME counter OF the P pm" 80
WV NOT raise the slogan n'. - 80
WY oonla" denouncing these
ene otobed primaries for their , us
~Ieeo4~ and 20 before the Lesis,S-
hones's ,ndependent Democrats e,se
LUZ like Montague's, Is only , ."e
voice of one crying IN inc
ness. ,o-oo,ton the
Ie,ancb Of fraud and corruption ~
, the 2nd district primary only las'
GUNNER that they are now reaus
oaain IN hug this monstrous deiu,
sion NJ fairness? The falling ou'
among the thieves, and the eonse
onent scandal at Norfolk, Dut ~,
YeaIs n condition that perVaoes 'n ny
o0aro,ion of these primaries a'
orer the state and everywhere
, "Mahool and another four years
If GOOD government, said press ant
= people of Baltimore. and 1t lookes
e that way until the dawn OF the 4ll
, instant when boss Mahon spoke ant
Tho thing stood for Preston, th'
= machine candidate by over 9.oV'
majority This but goes to snow
that the primary everywhere Is Du
a tran unerringly sprung in th'
interests of the bosses. The ma
chine fits its promises 10 ever!
condition and every interest. Prom
r is,ng the people an honest, econom
; 10 administration of public affairs'
4 strenqthens its hold on power o.
: oorrvinq on the public payroil
Thousands of spoilsmen holding Nee
: less Jobs. Denouncing In uhme .r
! nred terms the corporations IN
trusts and combination, these III
= terests for the Doodle furnished al.
occurred immunity from disturbance
The anti-saloon fakir has the prom
Ice d" we are standing for any iorn
90 Drohibition your organization ma
a demand" The same lips 10 u
rrmseller around the corner you
A interest will be protected.
: things TO all men, that all may D
wbeedled and deceived is the gam
a of notifies as played by the machin'
o But back to the Virginia primary "
o run by the machine.
Il Is il a square deal to rich an
poor alike. when the poor man ma
not the price assessed against
candidacy in the primary? "Equi
rights to all. special privileges t
none" is the enunciation of DEMO-
racy. How does this principle az
ie cord with price on candidacy
X Does not this price on candidacy Da
out per force the man without NEAR