The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-13
THE HISTORY OF THE I.EGALlZED
PRIMARY ELECTION BILL.

Ward Meetings IN the City Of Norfolk,
Va. was drafted in the main by q SUBJ
ccr:mittce OF the Democratic Associat ton
Of Norfolk consisting OF Messrs. Barton
Myers and NJ. Glennan. and was after
wards approved after earnest and care.l
full consideration OF every section, by a
resen,ing large portion OF the Demo-
Gratis of Norfolk who desired to have
the method of primary elections and
ward-nleetings honestly conducted II
was forwarded TO The representatives OF
the cityin the General Assembly on Mon
day, February 26th. with the request
tina; they use their best endeavors to Sc
cure its enactment. On Tuesday, Febru-
airy 18th. at mass-meeting OF Demo-
Gratis Of Norfolk the bill which had
been published IN the press Of the CITY.
was discussed Among the speakers
were Mr.. y. J. Dalton and MIR. Barton
Myers. In his remarks. Mr.. Dalton crit
ic:@ed the action OF what he termed
the self appointed committee, who had
prepared the bill published in the paDers.
AID wanted 10 know who was present at
u.
there were clauses in the bill which he
regarded as defective. and moved that
a committee be appointed to take the
Eatte: under considera ton. MIR. Bar
ton Myers replied TO Mr. Dalton. He
SAID:
we, for one, were present in the meet
me and helped In the preparation of
the b1li-t,rhat ii was not material wheth-
CT 'hcrc were five or nifty, or five hun
dred present ut that meeting. The ques-
ton was whether ii was the sense OF tho
present meeting that legalized pri-
mar! ana ward meeting should be had,
and, 1t SO. whether the bill in question
mel the requirements of the case. If it
uio not. he, Tor one was willing to act on
a committee to assist in amending It I'm
any manner that would make It's inten-
llon more clear and make it more opera
tive along the lines indicated therein
DuS he wished 1t understood for himself
ana those who were cooperating with
nm. mat in acting on such a committee
ne ana they did so with the understand
ing that the scope and effect OF the
NIL should not be abridged-that 1t
should DC perfected In detail. but not
emasculated-that tile people of the com
munity demanded and were entitled to
a 5000 primary law: that this meeting,
or any body of citizens, had q right ia
prepare primary law but unless Il
commended itself to him, and his asso-
ciatcs as meeting the necessities of the
case, they should decline 10 share the re-
sponsibility for It, and leave It to the
people Of the city to render their YER
diet: that he and his associates had no
end to serve. but to provide good govern
ment for the city"
The meeting agreed to the appoint
ment of committee, OF which Mr.. Myers
was member. On Wednesday, the aSth
OF February, the committee met.
strengthened every feature of the bill
and emasculatcd not section that
guarded the rights of the voter in cy-
preston of choice as to who should be
the nominees of his party. AIR Myers
signed his approval of the bill--n great
deal Of which was his creation-and the
same was forwarded 10 the General AS
scmbly with the request to pass the
same.
One great feature the passage of the
| bill secured, was an entire new rc.;s,ra-
zion of the voters OF The ci:vand since lis
passage theirs has 10: been Il charge of
single fraud in the registration of vo-
| tiers in this city. Commenting on the
bill In its issue of February IS. 1894. The
Virginian asserted that it was a bill
| that should have the approval of ALI,
| parties, who desired honesty In the ey
| preston OF the voice of the people as
vino shall be their candidates for office
| 1t divests all elections of this character
| from all fractional bias and therefore
affords every citizen the opportunity Of
presenting himself 10 the voters of his
| party fer any Office he aspircs to under
| such legalized management as he. with
| all others seeking nomination, have
voice in selecting"
There never WAS Il fairer method of
deciding the choice OF Il party's candi-
date. The plan, as shown i'm The Viz
sinan in previous article, provides
for an Electoral Board. who shall he
selected by two-third vote of the can
didates. This Board, selected by this
two-third vote of men WHO Lave taken
oath that they are bona fide candidates
and the Clerks and Judges they appoint
shall be disqualified 10 serve in these ca
pacities II they hold sal3ried Office. cleo
tive or appointive. or if the: are candi-
dates. This places the ara cement of
the election in the hands OF parties who
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