The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-24
CITY POLITICS.
WIN the City CoTsanittee Eet Colored
Men Vote Mt the Primary
Contest?

Conteste
WHAT THE PLAN SAYS ABOUT 1.-THE LAST
MEETING OF TIE INDEPENDENTS
THEIR GIANT STRIDES FOR PURIFYING
THE PARTY-BY-6oNEs ARE TO BE ny
GONEs-A TENDER OF THE OLIVE
BRANCH-REGIsTRATIO TO COMMENCE
ON TUEsDAY-THE CANDIDATES FOB OF
FICE, Etc, ETC.
At the meeting of the City Conservative
Committee to be held tomorrow Tuesday,
night the committee will probably be called
upon to decide as to eolored men voting at
the primary election.
The only provision in the plan in regard
to who may vote is found in section /, arti-
Gle 8, wherein it Is provided that nThe
clerk who has charge OF the registrations
books will inform the commissioner il he
| 1.-THE person Offering himselfl be registered
voter. II he is, and honestly proposes to
act with the Conservative party, the clerk
whose duty it is will poll the voters name."
| A representative OF this paper on Satur-
day conversed with Mr.. George A. Humid
ley in reference to colored men voting. He
said he had been approached by several
intelligent colored men with inquiries as
TO their right to vote. He referred them to
the primary-eiection plan. Mr.. Hundley
said that at the meeting OF the City Com
mittee held last Tuesday night a written
query was laid before the committee asking
if all who proposed hereafter to act with the
Conservative party would be permitted to
vote at the primary election, and the COM
mittee had answered yes.
At the meeting of the committee to-mor-
row night the question will perhaps be
more definitely settled. 1t is likewise pro-
bable that the committee will be urged to
increase the number Of voting precincts in
Clay and Jackson wards, if not in all the
wards. ..-.-t.
Mr.. Hundley also stated that he had made
up his mind three or four weeks ago to abide
by the result OF the primary election, but
that he had not publicly announced himself
until Saturday, because he desired to secure
the endorsement of the Independents at
their meeting held on Friday night, at
which there were representatives from all
the wards in the city. Mr.. Humid
ley further stated that he had heard Mr.. P.
H. Starke say at that meeting that he
had also been approached by an intelligent
colored man who wished to know whether
he would be allowed to take part in the pri-
mary election. It was his desire to vote for
Virginia gentlemen, and he wanted to
know whether he would be allowed to do so
before he offered himself at the polls on the
day of the primary election.
What the Independents Did Friday
Night.
At meeting held at Schiller Hall, on
Broad street, Friday evening, in which the
various ward clubs OF the Independent
Conservative Association OF Richmond were
represented, it was unanimously decided as
the opinion Of those present, in which they
believe a large majority OF the "lndepen-
dents" concur, that the members OF the
Association may individually participate in
the approaching primary election to nomi.
nate candidates for the various offices to be
filled at the May election, with the full ap-
probation of the Independent organization,
and they are advised to do so for the follow
ing reasons, which are briefly stated for the
information Of members not present, and
for the public generally:
We claim and believe it is now uniYer-
sally conceded by all good men in the com
l munity-
l. That the Independents, candidates and
voters, were not only fully justified in the
course adopted last fall in opposing part
of the legislative ticket nominated by the
Conservative party at the last primary elec'
ton on the two-fold ground OF fraud IN
conducting said primary election and the
utter unworthiness OF part OF the ticket,
but that
3. We claim, and believe it is generally
conceded, that il fairness in the election,
count, and returns had prevailed, the most
obnoxious part of the regular ticket was
defeated by large majority of the people
who voted, and the opposition was sympa'
thized in by many more who did not vote
with the Independents, but that the spirits
invoked and the agencies originally EN-.
ployed to procure the nomination succeeded
by still more astounding frauds and cor
ruption in sitting the voice OF the majority,
and in procuring return by perjury,
and a final confirmation OF the outrage by
bribery.
3. We claim. and believe it is now univer
sallv conceded, that the development OF the
fraudulent practices and corruption thai
have for years polluted the local politics o.
Richmond, and their exposure to the ngh
OF popular indignation through the instru
mentality OF the Independents in the las
election. has aroused all the better class o
people to a sense Of the necessity for reform
and the total overthrow OF the power OF cor
rupt men, who in too many instances uset
the Conservative organization as an instru
ment of personal advancement for Whicl
they were wholly unworthy.
4. We claim, and no one denies, that tn
Reorganization OF the Conservative part.
which has taken place in Richmond is tn
direct result OF our independent movement
and that the giant strides that have beer
made towards the purifying the party, ant
rendering it the more difficult, and we HOY
in time will make itimpossible, for brazen
faced rascality to manipulate popular cleo
tions in our midst, is a concession to ou
organization which was demanded by tn
exigencies Of the Conservative party.
The primary-election plan, SO fruitful o
mischief in the past, is obnoxious to man,
OF us; but we believe, modified as it ha
been, and as we understand its provisions
it has been shorn OF its most objectionabl
features, and may at least be tested one
more as not an unreasonable mode of as
certaining in its new form, and under hon
est auspices, the popular choice in recon
mending candidates for general support.
It is true that the mode OF executing th'
plan is not as clearly and explicitly stated a
we think its importance demanded. To re
move all doubt on very material point
the ripht IN vote at the Drimary-this AsSo