The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-15
uDars PRIMARY: A FAIR SELECTION.

YODAYss PRIMARY: A FAIR SELECTION.
The fght between Congressman John Lamb
ana Ex-Governor A. ]. Montague for the De-
mocratic nomination to Congress for the
third District is devoid of really vital issues.
Mr.. Montague is attacked. but vaguely, on
the score of his departure from the settled
party policy in the time when he was an
active factor in the party.
Such charges are vague because they can
rot be made specific The Ex-Governor has
answered them with all the detail possible, by
showing that he has always supported toe
sIeket and has always been ready to respond "a
she call of The party.
Against Captain Lamb. IL has been urged
that he Is not an orator: that he takes
quiet course in Congress; that he has at times
cast votes which have afterwards been dis
approved by party councils.
Captain Lamb answers these questions as to
.Ais fitness by deprecating oratory and the per-
sonai gift of magnetism. He AYERS that the
duty of Congressman Is largely the hlhns
OF business obligation; that membership
II. Congress involves not only theoretical
49,
that he la now the chairman of the third
ranking committee OF the House. and Ia there
fore In position to do his District more prac~
tieal good than any successor, however aoie'
could work 10 the point OF doing In decade.
Az TO the votes in question, he takes the rea-
.onahle ground that no man can serve any
body or anything for sixteen years without
making mistakes; and he points 10 the pauclV
of the mistakes alleged against him as the
hest warrant he possesses for again claiming
the office
On the whole. the campaign has been one
that has been free from personai9ies~-part'
eularly so. considering the rather acute per
sonai interest that has arisen in the outcome
GENERALLY speaking. its progress has lusnheo
the primary system and made it plain that IT IL
still possible for free and open appeal 10 DC
made tn the voters without the heated charges
mat 40 frequently discredit such contests Bots
ne candidates are Democrats above suspicion
the choice of the voters VIII be matsef o
inclination rather than OF necessity
We trust that the choice to be maze VIII
be supported by the fullest possible So'e IL
Richmond and Henrico and in The othef par J
c,na.inr counties The citizen N ofdinarl
nw~. the duty to the plan OF nominating can
didarss 10 make il evident that the plan e2
nre.xes In performance the will of the people
sacb eyfdence ia open TO doubt, whenever ]
T. testified to by small proportion OF th'
n4ople entitled TO vote. To AVOID 1h's sos
xse,oa ana the hsartburnings that folio" 1t
i. l. only necessary that the individual yote'
determines that his own ballot snail count ~
thx result. II this be done, the primary VIII
satisYy all those Democrats who hoid as
~ardtnai tenet faith in the rule OF the ms
u 4orlty.-s Such as have NO such ta'tn are le0ao
Gratis only by the courtesy
One thing remains 10 be SAID when W.
have had occasion 10 deal WITH heretofore
There should be no negro participation In TO
aav.s voting We think there will be notn
81 candidates or negroes. 10 bring II 10 pass
Al the @sme time. the interests OF either
Captain Lamb or Mr.. Montague are not TO D.
considered in comparison with the duty o.
tba communities involved in their con1rosers,
- keen the negro voter from participating
therein In any way whatsoever Negroes guam
ned TO vote are and should be welcome at tins
ro,s on the occasions OF elections for then
10 participate in Democratic primaries wonld
..,an ar late. prove an innovation fatal TO tht
4 nr;ncinIe OF good government that the pr
mary was invented TO conserve