The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-25
DOLLAR PRIMARY

After twelve years North Carolina is again
to enter upon Senatorial primary, with four
candidates in the ring. Senator Simmons.
Governor kitchin Ex-Governor Aycock and
Chief Justice Walter Clark The last ex-
perience Of the State in this matter was
when the candidates were the present Sena-
tor. simmons, and General Julian s Carr. of
Durham. The lessons then learned have
lasted twelve years; they no longer avail
against the impulse of the people to scramble
their politics
The great fault with the North Carolina
primary and that OF other States which I'M
dcr,ake to get a popular vote under the aus
pices of party machinery alone. is that there
is lack of those safeguards which should
everywhere be thrown about the casting of
the ballot Unless the primary be legaized,
corruption is certain as barnaeles on piles.
And corruption, long continued can do moth
ing except reduce public Office TO the plane
OF barter and sale. 1t is one of the curious
and disappointing facts OF life that nothing
SO quickly debauehes the character of public
Office unrestraned public elections.
Much money was spent in North Cardinals
one experience with Senatorial primary.
Much Will be spent this year. In the race
Il a Senator who must have all but beggared
himself to compass his first election. There
is a Governor who. to gain the strategic posi-
tion from which to aspire TO the Senatorship.
Is said to have spent modest fortune
presenting the savings OF number of the
best years of his life. There is ex-Gov-
ernor who came out OF Office embarrassed
with debts contracted in maintaining the
dignity OF the honor. There is the Chief JUS
,ice who, after years on the highest bench In
the State. cannot resist the smell of politi
cal powder. whatever the contest may cost
him. All these are going into another general
primary. in which the effort will inevitably
be to use the longest pole. the latest stick.
That there will not result scandal worse even
than the scandalous stories which are bound
to result from the campaign is due only to the
fact that neither of the candidates is rich, nor
80 far appears. has considerable financial
backing. II must nevertheless remain the
ruth that an election which is thus directly
related to the expenditure of money is not
like Caesars wife. whatever the real facts as
10 its virtuous conduct may be.
The entire primary problem Is two-horned
one. Better no primary than one permitted
TO run loose only as 1t is driven by partisan
passion. THE people,. rs phrase, has fat
and unctuous sound. but it is the truth that
where matter OF personal ambition il left
G. popular decision only the strictest safe
guard can avail TO keep criminal methods in
even reasonable check. II there were nothing
else TO urge against such unrestricted pri
nary. the fact that human nature always
wishes te- get back value receired for expen-
dture would serve to cast douh. upon II. The
only recourse is to give 10 the people that
which they are clearly demanding, the right
u name. their public onears for thenssetves-
hut 10 hedge It about with every possible
preventive against the turning OF the popular
voice into the agency OF the popular betrayal
And the Chief weapon to such an end is exactly
hat the late Legislature refused TO give to
Virginia. the power to limit the measure of
expenditure and 10 expose the purpose. of
:. sash an is made.
Any other sort Of primary is merely sort
of political hppodrome. the cart-wheels OF
whose charots are the round and cleaning
dollar OF the realm.