The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-22
NO PRIMARY
In NORF ok
Mr.. Whitehead Discusses Veto
of Governor.
is AFTER CAPT. DEY ALSO
Says His Position Cannot Be Explained
Satisfactorily to the People Of Nor
folk, and that Veto Message Will
Tend to Widen Factions.
is AFTER CAPT. DEY ALSO

Hon. John Whitehead. OF Norfolk, was
In the city yesterday and when ASKED
what he thought OF the Governors veto
primary law. replied that he was very
sorry the Governor had vetoed the bill,
which was introduced to enable the Dem
ooratic party Of Norfolk to make Its
nominations this fall In legaized prl-
mary, and that nry this would be i'm
possible. II cannot think" said Mr..
Whitehead, that His Exccllency UNDER
stood the bill-I fear that he has been i'm
posed upon. The Norfolk primary law
vas prepared by the Democrats OF that
city in 1893. in mass meeting held in
the courthouse. ex-Mayor Boston
Myers presided. all factions OF tho Demo-
cratic party We're represented and after
the bill had been drafted by committee
Of fifteen prominent citizens. OF which the
late N. Glennan. then editor Of the
Norfolk Virgin ian. was chairman, 1t was
adopted By the meeting OF citizens and
forwarded to the Hon. NJ. It. Cooke,
member of the Legislature from Norfolk.
who introduced the bill. and 1t became a
law without opposition In either house.
The primary elections In Norfolk have
been held under this law for ten years
and believe they have generally given
satisfaction.
WAS NOT CONTEMPLATED.
1T was never contemplated by the
trainers OF the Norfolk primary that 1t
would ever be thought advisable to elect
members Of the City Executive Com
mittes In primary. ward meetings being
thought sufficient for the purpose. hence
no mention was made Of the election Of
an executive committee in the bill
adopted in lSs3-94 which Senator Sale has
sought.to amend: and there would be no
necessity whatever to amend the bill, but
for two facts: first that the State Con-
vention In Norfolk In It's party plan de-
clares that members Of the City and
County Committees should DO selected
when nominations are made for the Cen
eral Assembly, and second the growth OF
the city. the addition OF the 7th ward.
necessitates the enlargement of the Elec-
toral Boards to he named by the candi-
dates to appoint judges and clerks and
make rules for the primary. and tho Gov
ernor has said that we shall have an
election this fall in Norfolk, safeguarded
by law, but ] am OF the opinion that
when the Legislature reconvcnes In No
vember the bill Will be passed over his
veto
THE papers have stated that there
was violent opposition TO the bill on the
part OF Capt. Day." Mr. Whitehead con-
tlnued. This is entirely news TO me. /
heard Of no fight before the Senate Com
mittce and when the bill came over to
the House Monday before 1t was put
upon the calendar Capt Dey called on
me and said he desired time in which to
examine the bill that he wished to con-
fer with the committee,
AGREED TO HOLD IT UP.
II at first agreed to hold UP the Bill
till Wednesday He said that would not be
sufficient time, as he would not get home
till Tuesday afternoon, Their agreed TO
= 4 tl,a rf.lntt IL, Il
which / thought would be Friday. Capt.
Dey left for Norfolk promising to let me
know II he objected to the amendments,
/ heard nothing from him, and supposng
that the bill met with his approval. late
Thursday afternoon under suspension
of the rules the bill was passed. When
I asked that the rules be suspended
there was objection on teh part OF Mr.. c.
Conway Baker of Westmoreland County
who stated to tho House that Capt Dey
requested him to resist the passage of the
bill. In my establishment at Capt. Dey's
not letting me know If he objected,
stated to the House tho facts I state
here. and the bill was passed. every DEM
ocrat- Including Mr. Baker-voting for It,
BRED FACTIONS.
IF we could have held the last primary
election In Norfolk under the legalized
primary plan there would have been no
seats contested In the Legislature. un-
up'Stdiiu tHa. S.PN' ICY "u"'' NV W'Sii -
have legalzed primary In Norfolk this
fall. hence his request that the Governor
veto the bill am very sorry the Gov
ernor pursued this course. Many things
In Governor Montague much admire.
and have never been casscd among his
bitter political opponents.
In conclusion Mr.. Whitehead said: II
have talked with Capt, Dey since the
Governor vetoed the bill. and he positive
ly refuses to give his reasons for object
Ing to the bill and do not believe he will
be able to Justify his course when called
upon to do SO by the people of Norfolk,
who are heartily tired of factional strife"