The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-28
The CHOICE
OF SENATOR'S
Legislators Elected In Novem
Der Will Have a Voice.
MAJOR DANIEL TO WIN
Not Likely to Have Any Opposition, But
There Will Be Contest for the
Seat Of Senator Thomas
S. Martin.

Contrary to general expectation, the
State Senators to be elected on the Tues
day after the frat Monday In Novem-
Der. 1903. including the new Senator given
to Richmond city by the 1902 reapporuon-
ment will serve four years from January
/. 1904, or until January /. 1905. Their sue
cessors are to be chosen at tho November
election, 1907. These Senators to be cho-
sen next November will. therefore. have
a voice In tho selection of two United
States Senators. In the fall OF 1904 q sue
cessor to Senator Daniel will be chosen,
and in the spring Of 1905 successor to
Senator Thomas s. Martin 10 to be chosen
Senator Daniel. It Is said. will be re-elect-
ed without opposition In hts own party.
For tho succession to Senator Martin
there will be contest in the party. At
least ono gentleman will contest the honor
with him. Just who that one Will be Is
yet almost as uncertain as the Senator
ship itself.
CHOOSE TWO SENATORS.
The members OF the State Senate cho-
sen this fall will have the choice of two
Senators, but unless thu party plan OF
primary be repealed they will merely
vote az they are instructed. In the event
ator Daniel, there will be no Senatorial
primary this summer. Tho State Central
Committee of the Democratic party will
merely declare him the Democratic NOM
inee. and every Democratic member OF the
General Assembly will be pledged to vote
for his reelection.
The situation In 1905 IS tho more inter
esting. In the event that there are moro
than two candidates in the party primary
and that no one has majority. 1t may
then fall to the lot OF the General Assem-
bly, to elect from those voted for. Nat
81. H. yNtn
will be the strongest candidate. IT. indeed,
the party plan does not provide for plu-
rality nomination. This ature OF the pri-
mary plan may be changed, however, be-
fore 1906 There is considerable opposi-
tlon to nomination of Governor and sena-
tor by minority vote.
LOCALIZED PRIMARIES
There Is now pending In the General
Assembly plan for legalized primaries.
wherein delegates are selected to dele
gated convention, the man occurring q
majority OF the delegates being entitled
to the nomination by the convention In
the event no candidate receives major
ity. the fight for the nomination would
then be settled in tho convention. and In
that event the man receiving tbs largest
vote In the primaries may not be the sue
cessful man. Under this plan tho county
pense Of the primary would be borne by
the State. instead OF by the candidates,
as under the party plan now in vogue.
Furthermore. such LOCALIZED primary
would be held under regulations prescrib-
ing heavy penalties for the use Of money
or other inducements to voters or work
ers.
The fact that twenty Senators to be
chosen this fall, who will have vote in
the selection of Senator Martins sue
cessor. will make the United States SEN
atorship direct Issue in the nominations
for the Senate this summer. OF these
twenty the new Senator to be chosen in
Richmond city, will be one his district
being the fortieth. OF course, realizing
the possibility of the abolition or amend
ment of the party plan of primary. or
its suppression altogether by the pro-
posed legalized primary choosing dele
gates to a nominating convention no as
pirant to succeed Senator Martin Is go
Ing to take any chances, but each one
will seek to secure the nomination Of men,
favorable to his candidacy for the Federal
Senate, These conditions may serve to
make the campaign this fall g very lively
one indeed. No one knows what changes
may occur before the LIST Of January.
1900