The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-23
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY q, 1904.
About the Primary Law.

what is looked upon as q general legal
lied primary election law appears IN the the
ct.s a Assembly Of 1o03-'04 It has been
IA crnolated in the revision Of chapter
10 OF tho Code Of Virginia. and is now
Il ,ichaptcr EST, and was approved by the
4 Governor january II. 1904.
The full title of the act, which covers
nearly twenty pages. is as follows: An
5a,ct 10 amend and re.enact chapter 10 OK
1.-THE Code OF Virginia, II, reference to gen
cral and special elections; when & ana
where to be held; regulation for their
/, conduct and government, compensation
/ for services in elections. {.
sSs"In section 122 Of this act It Is pro-
!. yided. In eject, that the qualifications
,oe voters and provisions against fraud IN
urinary elections shall be substantially
The Same aa they arc In regular cleo
inns. whether tho same be held under
,any statute Law Of this State or under
Il a Man provided by some political party
iii IN section 12e, under the heading Cost
2of Elections, Il 1t IS provided that the
cost of conducting elections under TINS
CHAPTER shall DO paid by the counties and
4 cities respectively"
' objection Is made to this statute BY
several members of the Genera Assembly
who arc learned In the law and whose
opinion is entitled to respect. Some OF
them are we'll known friends OF the
#tprima ~ system. Tfeir honesty and good
intentions are beyond question. Among
other things 1t is said that the title to
this act Is not sufficiently broad to make
The enactment regarding primary cleo
tons constitutional. They do not think
that a primary election IS an election
within the meaning OF the title of that
chapter.
& IL wiil4ncver do for this uncertainty to
continue. Important elections are to be
held in the cities OF this State in the
month of June and according to- prac-
dice. primaries will take place at least
thirty days in advance Of those cleo
tons 1t ought to be known to tho public
beyond a shadow of doubt whether this
act OF Assembly is law or not. II the
two houses Of the General Assembly have
any doubt as to the sufficiency or the
constitttionaity of It, then they should
proceed to correct 1t in every respect
where doubt Is entertained.
" II does not seem that the perfecting OF
THIS act would conflict with any law
which the Legislature might hereafter
make Certain it.ls that sthe people of the
cities and towns 'ofr Virginia ought no,
to be compelled to 60 into primary cleo
tions this year without knowing whether
they are safe guarded by law or not. And
then, too, 1t is Of the highest Importance
"a that candidates and committees SHOULD
III know whether the expenses Of primary
elections arc to BIO paid by the countie.
and cities respectively or by contubu
lions levied upon candidates al hereto
"A fore.
What we ask is that members of TIL,
w Legislature will give this subject earl,
and earnest attention. We are opposed Il
e the Legislatures interfering too muol
81, with the details OF party primaries. bu
&I we cannot but urge that 1t will safe
guard them against fraud. That simpl,
thing, certainly, 1t ought to do. and i
s ought to do 1t so well and SO clearly tina
the protection OF the law will FOLLOW
q and shield each primary just as It woul'
regular election.