The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-22
PRIMARY \
ANALY.z'!ED.
Something About the Much
Discussed Plan.
FEW FAMILIAR WITH 1T
The Great Mass Of the Vo!ers % Not
Thoroughly Know Its Provs-
ons-Applicablc to AL
Elections
FEW FAMILIAR WITH 1T

Tho discussion as to the, state Demo-
cratic party plan of primary goes mer-
rly on, but without eliclting much lniof-
nation OF Importance. 1t appears to be
generally conceded that the friends OF
tho primary plan are responsible for the
yivn vocc feature of that plan. The
supposed opponents Of primary plan
voted for the viva voco feature When
tho general plan was proposed IN tho
subcommittee Of the State Central COM
n,lttce which drafted It, and voted
against any change In the pnn until 1t
had boon given a fair trial. State Chair
man 1llyson Is known to nave pecn an
advocate of tho viva Vocc feature, ana Is
one of those who advocate giving tho
plan. as now constituted, full and fair
test. Just what may DO regarded as
such a test Is matter for individual
Judgment and opinion.
While this phase Of the plan Is being
widely discussed 1t Is q conceded 1act
that few Of the advocates or opponents
Of the plan are sufficiently familiar with
tho details Of tho plan to give them from
memory. Tho plan has been printed IN
the papers ana distributed in pamphlet
form to n limited extent, but the great
mass Of the party knows ITS provisions
only by henrsay. Inasmuch as the plan
in al its details promises to DO fore-
most issue during the next twelve
months, a brief synopsis or abstract OF
the plan may provo not only Of interest
but of value asia
THE PLAN IN BRIEF.
The plan, as drawn, consists ~ Of the
general provisions applicable to all pri-
marles held under It; (2) the specific
provisions Of the plan for conducting
United States senatorial primaries; 60 It's
application to the selection Of State
elective officers; Q) as to the representa-
tives in Congress; (5) rs to State sena-
torlal primaries; co. as to primaries FOR
the House Of Delegates and for county
and city offices.
Tho general provisions of the plan ap-
nlicable to ali elections held under It
are: All voting In primaries shall be
under tho viva voce plan without option
OF local party authorities. The candl-
dates shall be voted for directly, those
receiving the highest number Of votes t
any election held under this plan to be
declared the party nominees. All white
Democrats who are or Will be legal
voters at the general election imme-
diately subsequent to the primary, ana
all persons participating IN such primary
shall thereby pledge himself to vote for
the nominee or nominees Of such pri-
mary. These are the general provisions.
In the case Of senatorial primaries.
those participating therein shall be legal
voters In the gonoral election for the
General Assembly noxt following the
election. Tho United States senatorial
primary shall be held throughout the
entire State on tho first Thursday IN
September In tho year In which the
General Assembly is chosen, which VIII
elect a United States senator-that Is 70
say, In 1908, in 1905 In 1000, IN 1911, IN
1915 and in 1017, and so on The candl-
dates for the senatorship shall give no
tice in writing of their candidacy, such
notice to be sent to the State chairman OF
the party on or before the first Thurs
day In June Of the year In which such
urinary Is held. County and city com
1nittees shall appoint three Judges. one
of whom shall serve Us clerk also, to hold
the election Mt each precinct These
Judges shall, within two days after the
primary, certify the returns to the
county or city chairman. who In TURF
shall, within five days after receiving
such returns, certify them to tho STATE
| chairman Of the party, who. when al
/ the returns shall have been received
| mittee and they shall canvass and tabu
| late tho returns. The rest of the plar
| relates to the scaling and return of thu
| roll books and certificates Of result, and
| their preservation for twelve months at
| ter the election. In the event that bu
| one person gives notice Of his candt
dacy, the state Central Committee shall
declare such person tho party nomine'
| for the United States Senate rs wa!
| done this year in the case of Senator
Daniel, nrni inst whom M ono aspired.
AN ANALYSIS MADE.
To analyze the plan: The cnndldnt
receiving the highest number OF vote
shall be proclaimed the nominee, no mat
ter how many votes he snnll have re
ceived or whether such number be a ma
jority of the whole vote cast or n NOR
minority. To illustrates: Suppose tina
Mr.. A. Mr., B, Mr.. G ana Mr. D are a
candidates for tho United States Senate
and 100, 900 votes arc cast In tho State
Mr.. A gets $4,000, Mr., B $4,000. Mr.
10000 and Mr.. n 10000, In that even
Mr.. A, although receiving slightly NOR
than one-third OF the vote recorded.