The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-17
A Word With Voters.

we have received from IL Richmond cor
respondent tho following inquiry Can
voter in tho primary OF August 22d
scratch all candidates for Governor and
have his ticket counted for the other
candidates for whom no may vote? Can
such voter then vote for the Republic
can nominee for Govcrnor?"
Every voter will be allowed to scratch
his ticket to suit himself. lie may vote
for one candidate for Senator and scratch
the rest of the ticket He may vote for
ono candidate for Governor and scratch
The rest OF tho ticket. He may vote for
one candidate for Senator and one can
dfdate for Governor and scratch the rest
Of the ticket, and so on to suit his
fancy. In all such eases tho ticket VIII
count for the names OF tie candidates
whose names are not scratched.
But after he has voted in tho primary
he commits himself In honor to support
the whole Democratic ticket In the gen.
& eral election to follow. or course he
will not vote in the general election for
The successful candidate of tho primary
Tor United stAtes Senator, for the suil-
dent reasoh that Senators in Congress
are not elected by the people, but by
The Legislature; but IL he votes In The
primary for Senator or any other cundi.
date. and scrat ches the rest OF the ticket.
he thereby pledges himself to vote fo-
the Democratic nominees for all State
offices in tho regular election In Novcm-
Der.
This point cannot BIO too strongly en-,
ohaslzed, for 1t Is OF vast Importance
Il has been intimated 10 us TINT some
Republicans will undertake to vote In the
Democratic primary, and II they sue
cced, will vote for ono of tho senatorial
candidates, scratching the rest OF the
ticket then claim that they arc not
pledged to vote for tho other Demo.
cratic nominees In the regular election
on tho ploa that they did not commit
themselves to any candidate except III
are not voted FOR IN the regular cleo
ton. II any Republican or any Demo
crat or anybody else has such an ldct
In his head he should get It out AZ ballo
cast In tho primary for any candidate bn
fore the primary undoubtedly commits
the voter 10 vote for all the Democratic
nominees In the regular election IN No
vember This " 30 plain that Il doe!
not admit OF argument.
This brings us to the discussion 0
another related subject, Who shall b
allowed TO vote in the fOrthcomlns
primary The Democratic primary pla.
distinctly states that "all white Demo
Gratis who are, or who will bo legal voter
at the general election next following tn
primary, at which they offer TO Not'
shall be entitled TO vote At such primary,
That means, or course. that only whit
Democrats will be allowed 10 vote,
AZ not enough for white man 10 sa
ne will support the Democratic ticket
the next general election lie must al;
satisfy the judges that he Is Dem
crat; or as the Richmond pledge Il.
IL. he must "affirm his Democracy" III
Is a matter which the judges must d
eide In each contested case, The judg
OF all PRECINCTS arc supposed 70 knt
the politics Of all men who offer
vote, and II a man who. to their know
edge. Is not a Democrat offers to W
he should be excluded In doubtful car
the voter has the right to appeal
oncs TO the local committee. and II 1
committee decides THAI he has the rl