The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-25
WHO SHALL VOTE IN THE PRIMARY
AND wIIIINf

| lions arc to BIO held and the qualinca.
lions of those who seek to PARTED.
| pate-questions vital to any primary
| bin and doubly important in State
where the political affiliations OF the
| people are In largo measure determined
by their race.
With Governor Stuarts suggestion
that all primaries be held at the same
timo. the committee bin Is not at wide
variance. Tho Governor would make
definite date compulsory: tho pond
ing bin would permit the party au.
thoriues TO nx tho time. provided. If
on the sume day"
Very simple logic. to our mind, will
explain why the Governors proposal
Is preferable to that of the commit
tee. Why should not a date he fixed by
statute? Primarily because. generally
speaking. II Is to tho advantage OF one
or another candidate to hold the cleo
ton Rt time that suits him and IL
not acceptable to his rival In cases
where one candidate begins & campaign
with an effective organization. while
his opponent is without such an or
ganization. II is mauifcstly to the inter-
est OF tho former 10 have the primary as
early as Ia permissible. Whore he has
Influence with the party committee, he
may he able 70 carry his point and
thus gain an unfair advantage oyor his
adversary.
The Assembly, we feel sure. wishing
TO give every man an equal chance.
will accept this amendment But as
It IS desirable neither TO have too many
primnries nor to crowd too many names
on the namo ticket, It might be we'll to
provide for the municipal and c. nty
primaries In "or" ycars.
The wisdom of party registration.
the sixth of Governor Stuart's recon-
mendations, has been demonstrated in
every State where there has been an
effort TO put the primary on a scientific,
nonpartisnn basis. At nrst thought II,
would seem that In Virginia, where the
Democratic majority is always great,
and the position OF the party unoues.
toned. II would not be necessary TO re-
Quiro every man who participates In
the primary 20 affirm his allegiance to
tho party holding It. But experience
has shown that IN one or two sections
of the Commonwealth the balance of
power IS In the hands OF Republicans
who can switch from sldc TO side for
reasons that may or may not be
creditable, For such sections rather
than because the whole state needs 1t.
party registration IS desirable; and az
such registration cannot be made OPP
tional-since those who would have
the option Will be those leas; inclined
to exercise lit must be made compui-
sorry. This will no, require any great
change in the committee bill, for In II
tho Fundamentals nre already 10 be
found tsection So.
We must confess to some rn,sgivings
regarding the seventh OF Ny Stuarts
overwhelmingly, that no persons
belonging TO a class that has been OK
cludcd by the proper party authorities
should DO permitted to vote In the
primaries OF that party" Tho danger
hero sought 10 be ohviated Is not an
Immediate one. The negro. though re-
jectcd by one clement OF the Republican
party In Virginia, has not vet become
SO hostile 20 his old friends that he Is
ready TO Join the ranks OF those ne
formerly opposed, and consequently
cannot speedily become n factor in poll
ties II permitted TO participate In a
Democratic primary. Any legislation
or this subject Is. therefore, in the ma
ture OF precautions against future
changes o: heart on the part OF negro
voters.
While we cannot tor a moment relax
our vigilance. we must not be precipi-
tate We must weigh ALT the consid-
crntions carefully. and must remember
That IL the negroes DO excluded from
both the Republican and Democratic
parties there is possibility that they
may organize a black mans party and
acquire more or less influences as they
would recommend, In tho light Of pres
ent Information. that this proposal be
left open for future consideration.
To review those parts of the Gov
crnor's message thus far discussed by
US. we are Of opinion that nominating
petitions should be requircdi that the
primaries should be consolidated and
held al time to be fixed ny law. and
that party registration should be made
compulsory. II the present bin be
amended in these respects. It's weak
points VIII in large measure be
Strengthened and It's good fenturca be
emphasized all the more.
The only time Charles WEBB ever got
= good word was when ne sold out. and
yet everybody ~ jumping on Charles
I 10