The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-03
May LEGAL|zE
ALL PRIMARIES.
State Senator a. T. Thomas Has
Prepared SuchSa
Bill. ~
STATE WILL PAY EXPENSES.
.--- ---------------- Il
A.. D,st,. Ma, Enter and Elac-
STATE WILL PAY EXPENSES
ANY Party May Enter and Elec -
ton Will Be Run BY Regu-
lar Officers.

Senator a. f. Thomas OF Lynchhurs,
an ardent advocate OF the State pr
mary system. has spen; in,ra ;iinc re-
Gently Il, the preparation Of OIL, which |
Is printed In iui t,slow, AMI which "!ll
be offered by him in the next General
Assembly, having for its ohtecls The legal
!Eins Of ali State primary elections and
The re:nedyns of the objections to the
present ,nlssalized Democratic plar
The bill .; Senator Thomas, with some
rassible notifications. will almost GER
tssnly b. adopted. for the first ttial
OF ire present plan was so satisfactory
as 10 disarm the erstwhie opponents of
tia system. hold all its original advocates.
s-.i make it countless new friends and
supporters. ~
There are several salient features III
,as Thomas bill all OF which are regard
q: rs improvements upon he presrSt
syS.sr.l. /, provides that the primaries
OF ali parties shall be held by the regn-
la- election officers. and that The cX-
ps1ases shall be et.rre In The s.r:s man
ne- as are those of general elections.
Sixty Days Notice.
i
may shall notify the Secretary of the
Commonwealth, through its recognized
head. at least sixty days prior TO the
time on which il is desired to hold
said primary, and the secretary. None
hu, those who will be qualified to vote
at the next ensuing general election shall
be allowed to vote. Within ten days
after such notice the Secretary Of the
Com inonwealth shall issue writs of cleo
ton TO the proper officers. who shall
provide for holding the primary on the
date named,
No party which cast less than 1000
votes in the last preceding election may
order a printary, but when ON. shall
have been ordered, a party casting less
votes may come in upon application.
A plurality vote only shall DC required
for a nomination.. There shall b., separ-
+ ate ballots and ballot boxes provided
If more than one party shall participate
in the same primary
The Measure in Full.
The bill Of Senator Thomas Is IN full
as follows:
/. All primary elections for the nomina-
ton of party candidates OF any party,
when ordered as hereinafter provided.
shall be held under the State laws, and
shall be conducted by the regularly con-
stituted election officers of the State,
and the expenses Of the same shall be
borne in the same manner as the en-
penses OF general elections. Such elections
shall be held eight weeks before the
day fired for the general election, and
so far as practicable. at the regular vot-
ing placesa and, except In so far as It
may be otherwise provided In this act,
they shall be conducted in conformity
with the general election laws of the
State. Nominations by primary elections
for the United States senatorship, shall
he made at tho primary election provided
for next preceding the session Of the
Legislature at which the Senator Is 20
be elected.
o A. declaration of the intention Of any
party to make nominations by meas of
primary election shall be- filed by the
Executive Committee chairman. or other
duly authorized authority of the party
having party jurisdiction over the d.
vision in which the nominations are to be
made with the Secretary OF tho Com
monwealth not less than sixty days IN
advance of the day on which the pri
mary election may be held, and the said
declaration shall set forth the name Of
tho party, the office or offices for which
Nominations are to be made, and the
qualifications for voting prescribed by the
Marty, provided, however. that no person
shall be~+ entitled to vote alta primary
clcctibf Unless he is at the time regis
tered and qualified to vote Mt tho next
ensuing regular election. The said dec
laration shall be signed by some au-
thorized representative OF the party and
his signature shall be acknowledged be.
fore and certified by, a notary public, OF
other officer authorized by law to take
and certify acknowledgements.
g. The Secretary of the Common wealth
when such dcclara ton has been filed ii
his office. shall, within ten days there
after, issue wrts to the proper officers
commanding them TO call such prinari
elections at the time hcrenbefore pre-
scribed in the same manner In which
regular elections arc called.
A. No primary election shall be order
ed, as aforesaid. except on the applica
ton of a party which, at the last pre-
ceding presidential election polled In thi
State, not less than 10000 vote, but whel
Euch election has been so ordered, an.
other party may participate for the nom
nation OF Its candidates. by filing wi u
the Secretary of the commonwealth no
less than thirty days before the tim
fixed for the primary election. n dee,ar
alton similar to that above provided for
&. IT shall be the duty Of the Secretar,
of the Commonwealth to furnish. no
later than fifteen days Gbcfore the da,
fixed for any primary election, to III,
electoral boards III the district or othe
division, in which such election Is TO b,
held. printed copies of such party declara
lions as may have been filed with him
and the Electoral Boards shall furnish
printed copies Of the same to the cleo
lion Judges al the same time that ballot
are furnished,
6. Ballots shall be provided as in IN
regular elections, except that there sha
be a separate ballot for each party par
ticipatins, and the name of the part
shall he printed on the ballot Voter
may erase the name Of any candldar
and substitute another therefor. Separat
ballot boxes shall be provided ~ cac
party participating in the election
7. The vote shall be counted and r.