The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-06
NEW LIST in
FAIRFIELD.
New Registration Called for
in the District.
1T CAUSES QUITE a STIR
May Have to Be Made to Apply to the
Entire County = The Demo-
cratic Committee Pre-.
pares for Primary

T.. =. .
of the registrars Of Fairfield District IN
calling for a new regis tration on the very
eve Of the primary SO soon to DO heiu.
The step will probably force new regis
tration covering the entire county, Smash
campaign plans of candidates, ana
otherwise upset and disturbs the stua-
ton which had gradually gotten into trim
and settled down for the approaching
election.
The political ring seems to BIO excited In
small way over the matter. The County
Committee, comfortably in session at the
courthouse yesterday heard the news
from Fairfield with establishment. Tho
body was dismayed but impotent The
registrars were entirely within their rights
and the committee had no authority either
to order them to hold q new registration
or to order them not to do SO. But 1t
was declared to be unfair that candidate
in Fairfield should be given the benefit
Of n new registration there while the cam
dldate nanother district would have no !
registration In his home place, and the
committee had rather indignant discus
sion over the matter. Since 1t was i'm
possible to order the registrars to stop,
tho only thing II seemed possible to DO
was to "recommend'' to the other districts
to hold new registrations, too, and thus
cover the whole county and treat fairly
with all. 1t was suggested that the COM
mittee do nothing ut all but put itself
on record AS condemnng that sort OF
business in Fairfield District" Tho sus-
gestlon was greeted with acclaim. but
| was finally not carried out A motion was
| made, seconded, lost, reconsidered and
ultimately adopted. requesting" tho reg
| istration boards in the other districts to
open their books for at least one day be-
| fore the primary.
Peculiar Situatlon
| The situation is decidedly peculiar one
! According to the new Constitution there
| were to be hold two temporary registra-
| lions and third permanent one. The
| first has been held. The second was un-
| derstood to be held this September afte.
| the primary and before the general eitr7
| ton. There are three registrars for each
| district. constituting a registration board,
| therefor and In this board s vested au-
| thorty to arrange the GATE for the second
| registration. The County Democratic
| COMMITTEES haa absolutely no authority
| over the boards It cannot stop regis
trntion jnconvenient 10 It; nor can It or
| der one 1t desires, The board would usual
| ~ act upon the petition of citizens or
| candidates, perhaps.
The primary In Henrico will be held on
September Sd, and all preparations have
| been made for It. Candidates have been
| hard at work, and have about goltrn
4
| ever, came the news OF the new resistra-
ton for Fairfield. admitting large num-
| Der Of new voters to that district TEa
registrars have ordered an opening Of the
! polls on the very eve of tho primary.
| The dates are as follows: Towards
| Grove precinct August 25th, September
| 18th and 9Th; Hardins shop, August 2fth,
| September 9th and 10Th: Raksr's, AuSist
| eth, September 18th; Seven Pines Au-
| gust asih. September 18th. The reslstra-
| ton will last from s o'clock until sunset
each day. 1t will he noted that full
| day will be given to each precinct hnfurt
| the primary,
The Committee Meeting.
| An adjourned session OF the County
| Committee was held yesterday AT noon IT
the courthouse for the purpose of re:eiv-
ing the report Of the Finance Committee
| and transacting other matters In conncc-
ton with the rapidly approachns pr'-
mary, The news Of the Fairfield regis
| tration caused q shock. and soon had inc
committee into an interesting and spicy
| discussion,
It was argued that the registration,
alleged to be made at the instance Of calt-
dldates. would be beneficial to such can
didates MS resided IN Fairfield and dis
tnctiyely the contrary for those IN other
districts unless these latter had new req
| istratinns also For Instance, candidate
for one Of the general offices, who lived
in Fairfield, would have considerable
advantage over ono who lived In BROOK
land. ruckahoe or Varna lot of>hls
friends, on whom the other candidates
had not counted In his canvass, would
be let In at the last minute-a proceeding
which would be unjust to these others
| The committee went on to discuss tho
matter In a rather indignant tone OF
| voice. Several members said 1t Wonld
bs very unfair to the candidates lVlhg
..t,,R1 a. Mold a r1A ~
there before the primary. and that since
the committee had no power Ia siGp u
the only thing to do was to have new
registra ton and n consequent Dig sur
up all over the county on the eve OF the
September ballotlng, But here again me
couldn't stop registration ana " COULDN'T
order one A motion was made ''reauest-
ing" the other registration boards to
opea the books again, but 1t was lost
The d ussi
Several of the candidates were pres
enl and said they would submit 20 me
Fairfield reglstratloni that IT didn't make
gested that Mr., Todd, Of Brookland,. can
ddate for treasurer, was the candidate
iuost affected. Mr.. Todd said he Wouldn't
object to new registration, but that ne
thought ono confined to Fairheld would
be unfair To candidates in other districts
Mr. Caskia ID. Smith commissioner Of
the revenie) taid time WAS. when he
knew candidates to run In as many. as
aeyenty-fve Of their frisndr ~ preeinct
on false transfers and vote them In the
eiector. They would be brought IN from
Richmond, A registration Just before the
primary would open, the way TOR Wofs
such fraudDant work, ~
Mr., James II. Russell lHouse OF Dele
gates) was not there to deny what Mt
smith said about fraudulent methods IN
tho past, But he said that since the req
istrslon year ago maa Nv s othar , ner.
sons had now resided In the county LONG
; enough TO register He thought these
0 reop!e had a right to vote, and that a
: new registration would be good thing
Other candidates spoke pro ana con ,.n,
J Der. of the. committee, arose to suggest
HAT The COMMITTEES take no action what
snevcr IA tha matter, but that 1t place