The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-11
THE EEGAIIzED PRIMARY ELEc-
TIOS LAW.


which It denounces as 1.-THE Swag-Di- i
j wider" ana "1rhe Trap" II Is difficult |
how the conclusions presented by The
| Pilot should have been reached, If the |
act had received u careful and intelli- |
gent reading or consideration. The |
earnest men who prepared the act gave |
the subjects covered the most careful |
and mature thought, in order that ev-
| cry safeguard might be secured that |
would prevent party nominations from
being subject TO the dictation Of ring or
| machine influences. ana to enable the |
party elector to have u full. free and
protected expression of his voice in the
! nomination of ticket. The Virginian
has never denied that this act was OBJ
| tanned by the Democrats of Norfolk, but
St asserted, that II was not enacted by the |
Legislature for the benefit of the Demo |
cratic party alone. for its very opening |
| provision states that 1t shall be lawful
| for ANY political party In the city of
| Norfolk to avail OF its provisional
never minated or sought TO assume, or
gave reason for the ASSUMPTION by in
| ttmation or otherwise, that 1t was not q
general law. 1t never asserted nor inti-
| mated that the committee who went
from this city to Richmond, appeared
before the legislative committee with
the act In question, and. therefore, the
assertion of The Pilot, that The Virgin
ian declares that the committee, consist
ing of Messrs. Starke. Allyn, Doyle,
Myers and other associates. went to
| Richmond to obtain the passage of the
act, is made without the slightest fouu-
dation to warrant it in its statement
Now as to the act.
The Pilot Quotes Section Cd of this
, act, as the basis of its attack. This sec
ton covers the manner in which the
names OF all persons processing to be
candidates for salaried offices shall be
listed before the Local Executive Com
mittee. and the rule laid down for the
candidates thus listed TO select an
: Electoral Board. 1t reads as follows:
: THE said LOCAL EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE shall receive the names
of all persons who propose to be candi-
s dn ties for SALARIED ELECTIVE OF
il clCI1S in said city or ward primary
/, elections, and shall close the lists of the
same ten days Including Sundays) prior
to the date on which II is proposed to
hold the same, and shall call II meeting
{ of candidates for the salaricd offices of
o the city. to assemble not later than
., three days after closing said lists. To
elect by ballot seven qualified voters.
one from each ward and one at large.
If who shall act as AN ELECTORAL
/, BOARD. and who shall appoint three
Judges and two clerks for each precinct
e or ward who shall be voters in their re-
| SnpntiVn tho said ri nj
which It Is proposed TO hold said city or
IL ward primary elections. No voter shall
l. he qualified TO act as Il member OF said
+ Electoral Board who shall be II candi-
date for Office, or be holding any Office,
IL or who shall receive less than two
|DlDATES FOR THE SALANIED OF
FICES WHO SHALL HAVE BEEN
n LISTED"
II From this provision of the act The
o Pilot asserts, LIST. That the Executive
Committee has initial and supreme con-
e troll of the primaries; Cd. that the COM
mlttee in listing the candidates declares
q who shall, and who shall not go on the
! list under regulations prescribed
by the committee. In these two conclu-
sons the Pilot Is radically in error The
II act strips the Executive Committee of
y all power after the primary is decided
u upon-savo first the listing of candida les,
J. and section of the act provides how
this listing shall be pcrformed--vlz ::
8 The party proposed must by this section
whether he is proposed FOR AN ELEC-
q TIVE OFFICE. OR FOR COUNCIL
n MAN, or delegate to any convention. or
member of the Executive Committee of
the party, SHALL make affidavit that
/ he is a BONA EIDE candidate for such
i position at tho time his name Is offered
q and before he can attend a
It meeting OF candidates to select
the members of the Electoral
Board, and that he is IN NO WAY
/ IN COLLUSION WITH ANYONE FOR
e THE PURPOSE OF CONTROLLING
s THE ELECTION OF THE ELECTo-
g RAJ BOARD FOR THE ELECTION
h OF JUDGES AND CLERKS OF SAID
PRIMARY ELECTION; and that any
person who knowingly or Intentionally
violates, or attempts to violate. the pro-
visions of this section. he or they shall
upon conviction, be fined not less than
500 nor more than $500, and be impr;son-
ed in the city jail not less than thirty
DAYS ana NOT exceeding twelve mon this:
Ma