Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-11
TO TRY THE NEW Law
THE AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM MAY BE
TESTED IN OUR PRIMARY.
City Committee 10 Meet Tomorrow Night.
A Lively Canvass--Need for Extra
Men 10 Count.

Chairman 8. q. p. Paterson, OF the City
Democratic Committee, has called the
committee 10 meet Monday night at
o'clock at 1910 east Main street Cup
stairs) to arrange for the municipal pri-
mary and organize the party for the regn-
lar municipal election on the fourth Thurs
day In May.
The primary promises 20 be the most
exciting that Richmond has ever had. ana
II is expected that the full vote OF the
party will DO polled. The elections VIII
be held under tho recent law passed by
the Legislature legalIzing primaries In
Richmond. and as the committee have
be that the Australian-ballot system VIII
be tested in connections with the contest.
Mr.. Patteson said yesterday that he
thought the primary would afford the peo-
pie a good opportunity TO become familiar
with the Australian-ballot feature OF cleo
tons. as incorporated in the Walton law
ard that many others were OF his way or
thinking. The regular election In May
cannot. however, be held under the walton
law. as that act does not go into effect
until July LIST next.
AN IMPORTANT PROBLEM.
One Of the problems that will confront
the committee will be how to facilitate
the counting and return Of the votes IN
the primary. The experience In the last
two municipal primaries demonstrates
very clearly the necessity OF reform IN
this matter.
The primary Of 1890 took place Thursday,
April Cd. and when the Dispatch went 10
press Friday morning no returns had
been received from Clay Ward, nor from
the First and Third precincts. Marsnaii
Ward Second and Fourth, JEFFERSON
Third, Madison, and First. Monroe. Inc
count was not completed until noon Fri
day. The total vote cast was $780, anu
the last precinct TO come in was frsI
Clay.
In the primary OF 1892. which took place
ON Tuesday, April 9Th, the total vote was
s4e4. and the same difficulty was ex-
perienced. The count was not competed
until noon Wednesday. On this occasion
the Dispatch published the fun returns III
its third edition. which appeared IN ad-
vance of the finishing of the count AT Tie
HEADQUARTERS Of the City Committee.
In the election OF 1899 the heaviest voting
was ut the following precincts. inlla LII.
Marshall, 5G6: Fourth, Jefferson DO, III
Clay. asa; Second, Clay, $50, ana four'h'
Clay, 5lS.
A WARM CANVASS.
Tho canvass for nomination this year
has been one OF the warmest ana iohses'
the ci,v has ever known. Indeed. some
of the aspirants began TO whoop up ,ie
voters early last fan, and have been at u
ever since. and It is safe TO say that no
voter will fail to 20 TO the polls at the
coming primary If 1t Is possible 10 ge'
him out But there Is another factor
which ensures a large vote. ana MAKES
IL evident that the counting VIII De tell.
Gus. and If conducted as formerly VIII
take q very long time. Up to date there
are contestants for nomination Tor all
the offices to be filed at the regular cleo
ton. except those of City Collector. Hign
Constable, Clerks of the Hastings ana
Chancery Courts, and Treasurer, to say
nothing Of the numerous citizens VINO
desire 10 represent the people In the Com
mon Council or Board Of Aldermen.
SOME OF THE CANDIDATES.
The list of contestants for nomination
for the Offices IL as follows:
Mayor-Joseph c. Dickerson, w. r. Tan
ner and Richard NJ. Taylor.
Commonwealths' Attorney-Tazewell Ell
lett. u. c. Richardson. and ii. NJ. smith,
Jr.
Sheriff.. T. Hughes GncumbenD. r.
Il. Frayser.
Auditor-E. ]. Warren QncumbenD, Il.
A. Barber, f. p. Burke.
Commissioner of the Revenue-R. b.
Munford GncumbenD. F. w. Chamber
layne.
city Sergeant-Charles II. Epps dncum-
benD. J. G. Smith.
Clerk of the Court of Law and Equity
p 7. Winston Incumbent by appoint
menO. and James 7. Wood.
Clerk OF Circuit Court-E. VI. Rowells
0ncumbehO, c. w. Tyler, and John +,
Meredith.
A SUGGESTION.
The Dispatch has suggested several
times that in order to facilitate the count
ing the judges at the large precincts tt
given assistance in this arduous work
The City Committee have full power under
the act legalizing Richmond primaries &c
appoint assistants. The act says: The
local Executive Committee shall appoint
so many judges and clerks for the con-
duct OF said primary as may be deemed
proper