Evening star., 1924-09-07
DEMOCRATS BEGIN
PLANS YEAR AHEAD
Virginia Committee to Con-
slider Program for Nomina-
ton of 1925 State Ticket.

uOn OF 1870 State llCket.
RICHMOND, Va, September 6.-The
State Democratic committee will meet
here the week of September Is, ac-
cording to the statement of Chairman
Byrd here a few days ago. That
meeting will possibly take action
looking to the nomination Of a State
ticket for next year, when there will
be seven places to be filled at the
hands of the voters. There are some
who scent danger in the multiplicity
of candidates for places, and there
are others who oppose the prevailing
system on the ground of excessive
cost of primaries. In other words, it
is plain that the prevailing scheme
for making nominations is restricted
to the close corporation of those who
can afford to spend $25,0O0 to $50 900
Tor the gubernatorial nomination. 1t
will cost each of the aspirants for
that place that amount. and it is be-
lieved there are some who have ex-
pended far in excess of that sum and
have not even Il receipt to show for
the outlay.
Primary System Brings Discord.
The primary system leaves sores
and scars, bitterness. engenders hard
creates diSCord in the party and fur
nishes aid and comfort to the enemy,
and it absolutely prevents person
of ability and small means from CIV
ing services to the State. In addi
ton TO the reasons being declared by
increasing numbers i'll opposition to
the primary system, it enables the
candidate to declare his platform, and
If he is nominated the party has to
rvYx al L. i. zl,- t,1,,e
however much the objection to the
peculiarities of candidates may be.
There are still men in the State who
believe that the party is bigger than
any one man in the State" as the eX-
preston is used.
The state committee has ample
power TO provide for another system
than the primary. but if there is TO
be a primary next time it will be
, under the laws as they stand, for
the committee is powerless to change
the law. In other words. it will be
possible to nominate candidate re-
ceiing far less than a majority for
any Office. The party men in many
directions believe that this should
be changed. and when man is de-
clared the nominee TO have such cam
didate the choice of the majority in
stead Of having the speakers on the
stump appearing and advocating the
election of man who is not the
choice OF the majority of the domi-
nSnt PARTY.
Road Bond Issue Again Up.
The primary election of next year
provided that shall be the method
OF -,eol ination-will be hinged on the
bono issue for roads. The State has
gone on record by a majority of
nearly $4,000 gainSt the issuance of
g *
tion. Then, too. there are gentlemen
who are saying that they voted
against bonds. but who did not take
the stump and make such proclaua-
tion TO the people. who want to be
governor. Then there are two avow-
ed bond men who are expected to
make the race-Senator Mapp and
Senator Gooirick. One or the other
OF these Will give way in interest
of harmony. With five others in the
race, and al OF them against bonds.
1t will he seen that the bond man
could have d Very good chance of
walking away with the minority
nomination. the vote of the anti bond
men being split five ways.
However. there are some who in
cline to the belief that the possibility
is for injection of the liquor issue in
the fight and to consolidate that with
the anti-bOnd forces. a combination
that to gauge by the popular vote
on that subject would give to such a
Candidate a vast majority of the
Democrats of the State. On the
other hand, the dry vote and the
bond vote would be a powerful fac
tor. but the rural dry vote is also the
bulk of the anti-bond vote.
List of Aspirants Growing.
With just two men actually de-
Ill Go ~ ir hn lis.t
Is growing by the addition of others
until right now there are nine possi-
bilities-Mapp of Accomac and Moore
of Richmond, declared entries, and
then come Senator Byrd of Winches-
ter. former Gov. Davis of Loudoun,
Senator Goolrick of Fredericksburg,
H. B. Sproul of Augusta, Representa-
tive r. Walton Moore of Fairfax,
Lieut.. Gov. J. +. West of Suffolk and
former Representative James F.
Woods of Roanoke. 1t is no secret
that the candidates, real and pros
pective. are in touch with the people
generally, some of them are writing
letters and holding conferences and
others are circulating through the
State and looking after their fences.
and the campaign is still six months
away.
On Old Lines for Fall Election.
The vote in Virginia this Fall will
be along the old party lines, and
there will be no radical departure
from the strength of either. That will
be shown when the returns come in,
and the Democrats will have major
ity of not less than $4,000. The La
Toilette invasion of Virginia will be
a waste of time and money, for the
people of Virginia do not take kind
ly to the radicalism that comes from
the West The La Fallette party had a
political meeting here Sunday, and
that one thing does not set well with
the people of conservative Virginia.