Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-04-21
Much Discussed Question Finally
Settled by the City Demo.
cratic Committee.
NINE MEMBERS FAVORED STEP
Candidates for City officers and Leg
islature and the New City Commit.
tee to be Selected Some Time in
June-copy by Registration Books
and List of Paid Taxes.

Two Democratic primary elections
will be held here this year-one some
time in June, for the nomination Of
candidates for city offices and the leg
islature and the new committee. and
another on the date TO he set by the
State committee, for the selection of
the party's candidates for State Offices
and the United States senate
The much discussed question Of
whether they should be one or two
primaries was settled by the Demo
cratic city committee last night. Every
member of the committee was present
and nine of them favored the two pri-
mary plan.
The committee met at the call of
Chairman Allen D. Jones for the pur-
pose OF receiving the report on regis
tratiOn and transacting any other bus
mess which might come up.
The copies of the registration books.
lists of paid poll taxes, etc, which had
been compiled by Mr.. Thomas McCul-
l"r' were Submitted bv The chairman,
with verbal statement concerning
the work before the committee. Less
than one thousand voters have paid
the poll tax and unless some good
work Is done during the next two
weeks an exceedingly light vote will
be polled here. Only those who pay
The tax before May 6 will be entitled to
vote In the primary and general cleo
ton.
Various matters were discussed. but
finally the all important primary ques-
lion was taken up, Mr.. c. a. Ashby
offered n resolution to the effect that
II w:s the sense OF the committee
that two primaries be held.
MIR. Phillips moved as II substitute
that ii be the sense of the committee
that there be only one primary.
Speaking for his substitute, Mr.
Phillips said that his only reason for
wanting one primary was that he could
see no good reason for holding two. He
went OH to say that TO hold two pri-
lnaries would mean al additional cost
with no advantage gained.
Mr.. Ashby urged the passage of his
resolution, saying that the local con-
tests shonld not be mixed mp with the
State elections. and that the cost of
holding two primaries would not
amount to n great deal He said, how
ever, he did not object TO having the
candidate for the Legislature named
with the city officers.
s Several other members expressed
their views and then Mr. Thomas
Adams moved as substitute for the
whole that the chairman appoint
committee of three TO report upon the
question of whether or not there
should he two primaries and to submit
plan and date or dates.
Chairman Jones spoke In favor Of
MIR. Adams substitute for the whole.
stating that there were numerous
questions 10 be decided and that
there was no necessity for acting hast.
lily in the matter.
When the question was called for,
The substitute for the whole was lost
ny n vote OF to 6. Ayes, Adams,
! Malahder. upshur. Roth, Jones and
faduen, &; nays, Phillips, Ashby Ed
wards, Charles, LEM, Boyd, Perkins
and Wilkinson. s.
The substitute offered by Mr. Phil
lips was lost by vote Of Q 10 5. Ayes
Edwards. Jones, Phillips, LEM and
Wilkinson. 5; nays, Ashby, Mailander.
Adams, Charles, Upshur, Roth Fadden,
Perkins and Boyd
Chairman Jones attempted 10 offer
another substitute, providing for the
nomination of the legislative candi-
date I'm the city primary. but was ruled
OUT of order by Mr. Ashhy who was i'm
the chair as vice-clnirman.
Then an oral vote was taken upon
The original motion. and as the oues.
ton had been settled by the vote on
Inc substitute. no one voted nav.
Chairman Jones moved that the leg
isiatiye candidate be named in the
city primary and the motion was car.
red by vote of 9 to 3. Ayes, Adams.
Mailander. LEM. Upshur. Roth, Jones
Pnliiips, Faddcn and Wilkinson; navs.
Ashhy, Edwards, Charles, Perkins and
Boyd
Upon motion by Mr. Ashby the
chairman appointed committee OF
ihree to draw up a plan and fix date
Ior me city primary. The chairman
appointed Messrs. Ashby Phillips and
Wilkinson on the committee.
ne committee adjourned 10 NEE,
on the night of May to receive Inc re.
port OF the subcommittee.