The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-13

either hand. tho law rvites fraud by
requiring the election Judges to destroy
the unused ballots: thereby tho dis
homes, election official IL actually re-
qulrt,i 10 destroy the evidences OF his
own rr6uG.
Agents OF Partisan Committee.
4. The Judges aud clerks In primary
elections ain agents and appointces OF
partisan .or;r'ittces, when. as mat
ter OF fact. thcy should DO appointed
II the snn,a ninun,f rs provided by the
ln~s governing .scnerol elections.
& There IL no taw prohibiting clerks
ard Judges .hua selected FROM using
fheir haucrce 1T tho polls for or
against candidates. II is tho common
practice H. some parts uf thc state for
the Judges and clerks or election. While
81. tie performance OF their duties. 10
LSr Their influence actively 10 affect
the result OF the election. Such prac-
tlrcs no~ permitted by law give these
e.i.iton officials an undue ond uuFalr
influence aud II, r-"nt u free ana ua-
trammclcd expression OF tho peoples
wil, II, the polls.
q. While tho ln-r gives tho courts
i,ower 10 grant relief TO Republican
car1idA;n. y,ho i dctrnudei ~ ;hc
general election, IL withholds from
the courts tho authority to grant rc-
dresS 20 q pcmocra; who Is detrauded
Of mis- nomination at primary cleo
ton. The iuiquity OF this discrimi-
nation TX made moro apparent when
we caii 10 mind that in Virginia a large
majority or the hubble officials are
practically anally chosen NJ the pri-
naries rather than 1T THE eeuerai ofoc-
tion. The authority 10 decide contests
fur nominations. instead OF being vest
ed tn the courts, - granted l.; iaw to
party committee Otter; uctuated by
fectloral motives, Gat at best power
less 10 gran. complete relief. because
tFets, ~ An.
auction OF witnesses. booios and papers
,--thcy havo no authority 30 pa, wit
nesses Under oatl! nor can ;hoy punish
witnesses Tor false swearing.
We believ. With ~ esidcut Wilson and
Mir. Htynh :hn; Delegates 10 the ma
tional conventions should bo chosen
hy Presidential primaries, and we re-
gret that our last state convention
held 1T Norfolk should have refused
TO sanction this important and demo
cratic measure,
Other Progressive Measures.
There are many other progressive
measures which deserve serious con-
sideratlon, but we consider tho fore
going as fundamental Democratic prin-
ciplos, because they are designed TO
bring about purity in elections and a
more ready response TO the will OF the
people
Recognizing that this movement in
Virginia Is only Il part OF a nation-wid
movement, we have invited two Of the
foremost eNponents OF popular govern
mcnt In America to address our con
veution. Senator Robert l.. owen. of
Oklahoma, will address us on the night
Of the 9th. and Hon. William j. Bryan
VIII speak on the night of Febru-
AIRY 2Sth.
we believe that the interests OF the
people Of the state can best he served
by and through the Democratic party,
and our object Is not 10 usurp the func-
tions Of our party, but to render our
aid in increasing its usefulness to tho
State. our object Is not to divide the
party, but 10 unite it on definite pro-
gram of progress and Improvement.
This call is. therefore. not limited 10
amy faction of tile party. but all who
subscribe 10 the principles as above
outlined ARE asked TO cooperate with
us. We recognize that nothing great
can b. accomplished except through
organization. ana we call on all Demo
Gratis who arc IN sympathy with our
principles To attend the convention, and
In the meanwhile to send their names
for enrolment 10 our secretary land