The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-17
ALL VOTERS ARE
PLEDGED BY ACTS
Party s.ehnary Plan Specifically
Bh,ds All to Support the
Nominees. -

state Chairman j.. Taylor Ellyson was
asked BY representative Of The Times
4 Dispatch whether, In his construction OF
the party primary plan t was required
that the pledge 10 support the fioni.
necs of such primary would be printed on
the tickets In ali the counties and cities
pfsthe State.
Mr.. Ellyson, in reny. stated that many
counties and cities would probably print
q pledge on their tickets, and others
would not. The primary plan provides
that the ballots shall be prepared under
the supervision Of the committee ordering
the election, and shall, as nearly as pos7
siblc. be prepared and the election held
In accordance with the plan prescribed
by law for elections by the people"
The party plan OF organization as Off
cially promulgated by the chairman and
Y the State Central Committee June 1s,
1905, contains this resolution or provl-
sion, entitled Tickets: How and BY
Whom Printed:
= :" Resolved, 6. That the tickets to be
used In the primary election shall be
printed for: the different counties and
cities OF tho State under the supervision
OF the respective county and city chair
men. and that the names Of all candi-
7 dates to be voted for in said primary
shall DO printed on one ticket. the tickets
4 10 be furnished to the Judges Of cleo
ton at each precinct: and IT shall be
the duty Of the judges OF election TO fur
nisil each voter, when he offers to vote,
with ticket. and onlyAthc tickets SO
4 furnished shall be used In said prt-l
mary election"
Ballots Printed Locally.
As will be seen from this last provision,
lch county and city chairman and his
4 committee have charge OF the printing
4 OF ballots. He or they may afflx thereto
pledge not inconsistent with the plan.
Some counties have done so; others have
not and the same Is true OF cities.
Mr.. Ellyson stated In this connection.
that tho first clause OF the primary plan
specifies that9'all white DEMOCRATS. who.
are. or will be. legal voters at the elec-l
ton at which the General Assembly Is to-
be chosen which is to elect, 3a.. United
States senator, shall be cntlt1edsto vote
at any primary election held to noini-
nate party senatorial candidate" ETC.
This provision plainly gives the judf
the right to question the prospective.
voter as to whether or not he is Demo-.
crat. and as to whether he will support
the nominees OF the primary. 1t is. as
sumed that any white man otherwise
qualified to vote. who presents himself
to do so. is entitled TO vote. and that by
his act he agrees to support the noml-
nees.} II, however. any judge OF cleo
ton has reason TO doubt the voters
Democracy, he may question him to this
extent. s5ial II
Thus it viii be seen that every per-.
son voting in the primary pledges himself
to support tho nominees Of the primary,
but lf there is any question. the last
sentence OF the first paragraph OF the
State plan OF primary solves y COM
plctely: .And all persons par tlcipating In
any OF said elections shall ithcrebyi 11e
considered as binding themselves to vote
for the nominee. or nominees, In The en-
suing general election.
The pledge is as positive and as bind
Ing In this primary as IL a rigid pledge
were printed on the ballots.