Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-08
1EcAL1zEp PRIMARIES.

cna,ker RYAN writes to the eoitoT W
the Leesburg Mirror. on the suo'ee. -
Democratic primaries. as follows
yo, we're in error in stating IN your las s
,,s,,. that "a. man who failed to register
~ .he present registration couio nol w.
q, the primary to be held next sunlil1ei
for county officers -, nar-
.syho Constitution provides that no per-
scr. shall vote at any lesanzeu ~ INC.
election unless he Is at the ti1no resisls.
ed and qualified to vote at .iie ieA 49,
ceeding election" Loudoun mas no 80. ass.A.
iva urinary. SO any Democrat VINO desires
~ ,,a+o IN the primary next year can
~ en- whether he has registered or not
90 s'' ]. F. RYAN.
c,.,+inr on the foregoing. the Mir
Tor says:
We see the point that our friend, 'ne
distinguished Speaker OF the s"siha
House of Delegates. would make-"e see
It so clearly that there is no ques1on Az
our mind Of the advisability, nay. the
nncessitp. of having our primaries Legal
wed at the approa ching session OF the
General Assembly.
Plight. However, let it be understood
that Mr.. Ryan does not undertake TO ols-
cuss that question: he but states 1acts'
and he states them correctly. we beiieFe.
None but registered voters can vote at
legalized primaries.
We should like to see law passed ie
CALLING" every primary election held IN
Virginia. If a satisfactory general Ia"
he not put into force. then we hope one
win be passed affecting and controlling
every primary held in Richmond. why
should any good Democrat object? why
should any honest man object7 Who
would kick against the punishment OF
fraud in primaries? Who could say aught
against having regular time Tor holo-
ing municipal and legislative and Congress
sional primaries?
1t would seem that the new Constitution
contemplates general primary election
law. for it requires the General Assembly
tn enact such laws as are necessary anu
nroner '.for the purpose Of securing the
regularity and purity Of general local.
and primary elections. and preventing ana
furnishing any corrupt practice in con-
nectton herewith" etc. Power 1s given
II IN addition to the penalties and pun
ishnents now or hereafter prescribed by
law for such offences, to provide that per-
sons convicted of them shall thereafter
be disqualified from voting or holding
Office
I. therefore appears to be the duty OF
the General Assembly so to legtslate as
TO secure "the regularity and purity Of
general, local, and primary elections
that is. we presume, Presidential, Guber-
Material, Congressional, legislative, coun-
ty and city elections and primary cleo
tons. In short, all elections whatsoever.
OF the subjects destined to receive the
attention of the General Assembly at it's
session, which is to begin on November
18th, this will be one of the most import
ant The people want their primary
elections protected and it is desirable that
comprehensive and effective general law
should be passed. We suppose one will
be passed. Possibly Richmond may need
some special legislation. If so. we pre-
sumo there will be no difficulty in obtain
ing it.
One Of the questions that will arise In
this connection, we guess, is whether the
general primary election law should go
into force as soon as passed, or not until
the registration for 1908 is completed.