The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-17
ELECTION LAWS.
Four or Five Measures Now Be-
fore General Assembly.

With the last session OF the presest
General Assembly. but Ave days old,
there are already four or Ave measures
on the calendar or in committees relat-
Ing to the election laws OF the State.
party primaries or their amendments or
repeal. Ono of these. now on the Senate
calendar is a general primary bill, drawn
by Senators Barksdale and Keezell, and
known as substitute for Senate bill 80.
The Barksdale pure elections Law, tried
for the first time during the legislative
and local campaign Just concluded, is
denounced by some and commended BY
others. Mr.. e. C. Folkes. of Richmond
city has introduced. embodying the first
view. proposing to repeal the measure
which he characterizes In strong terms.
Then Mr.. Stearnes has offered q mere
suggestion of a measure. which may be
perfected by the committee. and the
design OF which ie to throw the safe
guards of the law around all primaries.
Probably the most important of these
measures. because the one most advanced
in its legislative stage and most COM
p!ete and far-reachlng in its provisions,
Is the Barksdale-Keezell general primary
bill. The measure is the outcome of q
hill originally offered by Senator Barks-
dale, OF Halifax. a substitute bill reported
from the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections and finally substitute
for both drawn by Mr.. Keezell, making
such changes In the Rarksdale bill as
commend themselves to the Rockingham
Senator.
The bill covers about four pages OF
close print, but may be fully outlined In
very much less space. The first provi-
sion OF the bill is that whenever any po-
litical party orders primary to ascer-
tain its choice as candidate for any
office to be elected by the people Of the
State or any subdivision Of the State, or
to ascertain the wishes OF the party In
any legislative district as to the choice
OF the party for United States Senator,
such primary shall be held under the pro-
visions OF this act. The act Is appllca-
BILE to any political party which selects
the primary method OF nominating. The
advantage guaranteed by the measure Is
that it not only throws the safeguards
OF the law around tho primary. but re-
lieyes the candidates of the expense of
the election.
In the election Of United States Sena-
tors or senatorial candidates the House
and Senate districts are made the unit.
That is to say, the names of the various
candidates for the United States senator
ship are printed on the same ballot as
the candidates for the Senate or House
nomination, so that the voter may indi-
cate his choice at the same time for the
House member for State Senator and
for United States Senator. The United
states senatorial candidate receiving the
greatest number Of votes in any House
OF enate district to be the choice OF such
delegate or State Senator for the Fed
eral Senate In short. It Is nothing more
than an instruction by tho voters Of a
party OF Its representatives In the Gem
eral Assembly as to Its choice for United
States Senator.
In tho nomination of candidates for
Governor. Lieutenant-Goyernor and At
torney- General and other State officers.
directly for their favorte for each posi-
ton, the candidate receiving the greatest
number of votes In each county or city
being entitled to the number of delegates
to which such city or county Is entitled
in a delegated convention. The advant-
ages of this plan Is that 1t preserves the
convention feature, thus atfording OPP
portunity for harmonizing factions ere
ated BY fierce primary contest. yet 1t
gives the people opportunity to signify
at the polls their choice for Governor or
other State officer, Furthermore. the viva
yoce plan is eliminated. and all voting is
BY secret ballot,
In nominating candidates for Congress-
each county In the district shall vote
on the same day for delegates to a con-
gressIonal district convention, which shall
nominate the party candidate
In nomination of candidates for the
House of Delegates and State Senate no
convention Is to be held, the voters voting
directly for the candidates for the office,
the nomination going to the one recely-
ing a plurality of the vote cast.
All primaries held under provisions of
the act are safeguarded Just as general
elections In every way, and the officers
conducting the same and all voters voting
aAoN nj he nd