The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-12
THE LABOR VOTE.

Tho T,mes-Dispatch hopes that the Ia
hor,ng men Of Richmond who are not
already registered will register at the
nnpronch ng registration, and. with all
their Democratic brethren vote at the
party primary soon to be held to noml-
nate FIVE members Of the House of Del.
egates. We are glad to hear that tho
rumored opposltion8to going into the prl-.
mary Is confined to but small part OF Of
tho laboring vote Of this city. 8
II 1t we're possible for independent can
didatcs to be put up and elected TO ne
House, they could not possibly exert the
influence there that could be eSerted ny
regularly elected Democrats. The Domo-
crats are the $workingmen's natural aires
and there is no interest of theirs t ina !.
would not be fully protected by the Dem m
ocratic nominees. lei 8GI
Certainly 1t cannot be commended that
the laborng mans vote would be Wit th1oe'''.
weight in the primary. Legislative PIT
maries here are always small In COM
parison with municipal primaries, ana th ne
workingmen, BY reason Of their nuHpe .
have It in their power to WELD eree at
| Influence when 1t comes to making su 'c1
| nominations Rarely If ever has a ticket
been formed in which the claims OF their
known favorltes have been overlooked or
dIsregarded. Aside from other consider e1
ations, the workingman has the same IN
terest and Incentive that other good peoC--
pie have to secure for Richmond DEL
cgation OF capable and trustworthy men
So we reiterate our hope that there
will be no division in the community on
labor lines. gs
While there are but seven candidates
! our Of which to choose five, and While
l there Is no fierce personal canvass to
al ouse voters, an element of interest VIII
be thrown into the contest by reason OF
|tho position of some OF the candidates, on
tho Mann liquor law.
Now as to registration Those who offer
TO register now will be able to register
! upon the same terms and conditions that
we're extended to them last year. II YOU
are a veteran orsthe son Of a veteran, nc
other qualification is-reduired of you eX-
Il CCpI uEc anu ltciS' fA'At-1
register II you pay to the State one dollar
! In taxes, or IL you can understand a; sec
I-tion of the Constitution If read to you BY
the registrars. 5
1t is easy to register this year, bu
merit year, II you do not register unit
then It will be a prerequisite that 70.
. shall have paid your poll taxes for three
years previous.
Another reason why the workingmel
should register and vote at the coming
primary is that the primary election sys
tenn Is on trial, so to speak, at this time
and he should wish to make 1t successful
: In order to insure the continuance Of II
We cannot believe that the workingma
would like to have this privilege take
away from him, but 1t is as certain a
: anything OF this sort can be that
. unusually small primary on this occasdo
: would be seized upon as an argumen
. against tho system itself. Yes. the pr
. mary Is n good thing for the working
7 man and the business man and for Il,
- general public. 1t Is not in the interes
OF class. but of the people general,
!. So We urge al Democrats to sustain tn
primary system by participating in sue
~ elections.