The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-15
NEW PLAN !, /!
OF ? RlMAR |.Y'I
SFu1ly Text Of Instrument Put
Into Effect by State
Convention.
PROVIDES SECRET BALLOT
Viva Voce System Abolished for
State Elective Officers.
Other Changes.

The State primary plan which was
adopted by the convention In Its closing
hours on Friday Is largely that recon-
mended by the state Committee, which
has been In use for the past three years.
except that the secret ballot system Of
voting Is substituted for the viva voce
system, and tho matter Of the method
of nominating members Of the General
Assembly and clecting county and city
committeeman Is left to the local au-H
tthorities. s 10 " id
There arc great many other changes,
but most or them nre explanatory Of
ambiguous language, and consequently
on account OF the main ones mentioned
The plan is In effect from the hour Of
adoption, and all the various non.na-
tIons In 1905 from United States senator
down will be made under It's provisions
The full text Of the plan as amended
and adopted IS as follows: B q Il
The Primary Plan.
It's All voting shall be under what Is known
as the secret ballot system, the candi-
dates to be voted for directly. and those
receiving the highest Number of votessat
any OF the primary elections, held under
the following regulations, shall be de-
cIarcd to be the party nominees All
white Democrats who are or VIII be,
legal voters at the election at which me
General Assembly is to be chosen Whlch
IS to elect United States senator shall
be entitled to vote at any primary cleo
ton held to nominate party senatorial
candidate: and at all olner primary cleo
tions hereinafter provided for all white
Democratic who are. or who VII be, legal
voters at the general election next tol-
lowing the primary at which they offer
to vote shall be entitled to vote at such
primary. And all persons participating
IN any Of said elections shall thereby
be considered as binding themselves 20
vote for the nominee, or nominees III III 4t ''
ensuing general election.
United States Senatorial Fri
maries.
For the nomination of United states
senator the Democratic State Central
Committee shall cause to be held gu
eral primary election throughout VIZ
state on the fat Thursday IN September
in the year in which the General ASSN ASSEM-,
bly, Is chosen, which VIII elec, !. i,
states senator. and the candidates snaii
give notice, in writing, to the State chait-
man OF their candidacy on or before tHe
first Thursday in June OF said year PRO,
vided that where the nomination % q
United States senator and that o.. Staec
officers fall within the same year, Ing y.
primary election for the nomination u
ITnited States senator shall be held az
the same time, and notices of canuloacy
shall be given in the same manner thae
they are held and given in cases OF
primaries to nominate said State Objects
/ The respective county and city commit com,
tees shall select and appoin three JUDGES,
one of Whom shall serve as clerk TO tioiu
and conduct the election at each Young
Mace ut which general elections are by
law held, who shall canvass the returns
tabulate, certify and seal them, and
within two days after the election de-
liver the returns to the county or city
chairman. who In turn, with the county
or city committees, shall, within five
days after the receipt of such returns,
canvass the same and certify the re-
suits to the chairman OF the State Cen
trial Committee, who, after the complete
returns from the State have been re-
ceived by him, shall call the State Cen-
trail Committee together, whose duty !
it shall be to open, canvass and tabulate
the same, and to declare the result.
The poll books used at the various
precincts throughout the State shall,
after the vote has been properly cam
vassed and counted, and the certificate
of returns made out and signed. be |
securely sealed and returned, along with |
the said certificate. to the respective |
county and city committees. which COM
mittees are required to preserve and |
safely keep said poll books, subject to
the Inspection, control and disposition |
OF the State Central Committee. for a /
period of at least twelve months. If only |
ono person shall announce his candidacy
in accordance with the foregoing pro-
I .,I,.,
trail Committee shall make known that
fact, and declare the said person the
nominee and give notice that no cleo
ton will be held.
State Elective Offices.
Tor the nomination Of all State cleo
tive officers the State Central Committee
shall cause to be held a general primary
election throughout the State, the date
for holding said primary election to be
fixed by tho said committee, and not to |
he more than ninety nor less than sixty |
days prior to the election, The persons
who shall conduct the said primary cleo
ton shall be selected and appointed in
the same manner, and shall conduct the
same, certify the returns, who. with the
county or city committee shall canvass
returns, tabLlatc, certify and seal them
and certify the results, as Is provided for
In the paragraph relating TO the holding
Of United States senatorial primaries.
The State Central Committee shall re-
auirc all persons who wish to become
| candidates at said primary TO give to tho
chairman Of said committee notice there
1 of, in writing, which shall not be less
than thirty days before the primary cleo
f,ion is held, and only such persons as
shall comply with said condition shall be
| voted for at said primary election. If,
az 10 any state office, only one person