The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-07

change the plan as aforesaid. and require
voters to pledge themselves to vote for the
Democratic nominees of tho November cleo
ton. is nm open and distinct violation OF
said public duty. which violation VIII operate
most dlsnsttously against your petitioner,
In that will deprive many voters who
would otherwise have voted for your Pc
tioper from The right and privilege of so
voting.
Change IL Unreasonable.
III. Your petitioner further AYERS that
if any change could be made in said plan
after It's adoption and the payment of said
assessments, which your petitioner denies.
said change must be one that Is reasonable.
and your petitioner AYERS that the pro-
posed change is not only totally unreason-
able and radical, but there is no connection
whatever between the primary election for
MAYOR. Aldermen and Counclmen Of the city
of Richmond and the general election in
November Tor members of the electoral coll
lego, who choose the President OF the
United states. that said change is not only
unreasonable In the respects alleged. but 1t
VIII restrict participation in the primary
election to narrow class, a considerably
smaller number OF persons. and Will exclude
great number of qualified white Democratic
voters whose votes your petitioner had a
right to receive and which would have been
cast for your petitioner under the primary
plan hereinbefore set out. upon the faith
Of whcn plan your petitioner paid his as
sesament.
'12. Your petitioner AYERS further, that
irrespective OF his payment of the assess
ment on the basis of said plan. the said
Cit% Democratic, Committee owes to your
petitioner and other qualified Democratic
voters under the statutes of Virginia, the
duty OF prescribing reasonable rules and
regulations for the conduct of said primary
election, which said reasonable rules and
regulations should given the voting by the
electorate prescribed by the statut 5 of vir-
gnia for said primary election to-Wit,
those registered and qualified at the next
succeeding general election. That no poll
teal party other than the Democratic party
ncminates candidates in the city of Rich
mond, or In Lee Ward of said city, fog the
office of Mayor, Councilmen or Aldermen, and
the nomination by the Democratic primary
to an election to the office and the unrea-
sonable requirements attempted to be Inn
posed by the said committee of the cleo
torate, prescribed by the Virginia statutes, In
effect. disfranchise large number of vot-
ers. who would take the reasonable pledge
Of supporting the primary nominees in the
ensuing general election, but are unwillin z
to pledge themselves as 10 their attitude in
the distant future on candidates and poll
cies at present unknown.
Against Entire Committee
Your petitioner. therefore, prays that a
writ of mandamus may be issued commands
ms and recurring the said James b. poher-
ty tchalrmatl). Walter G. Duke (secretaryl.
Charles b. Brooks. a. r. Griffith. A. w.
Browning Clyde w. Saunders. H. w. stone,
Augustus Berner. +. B. Luck, c. V. Car
rlhston. clyde III. Radcliffe, Writ e. Taylor
p B. Thomson. Samuel S. Rosendorf. Stan
lef B. Tyler, W. Arthur Evans Walter G.
Duke, James B. Doherty. Clifton NJ. Miller,
Frank Ferra,ndini. Jeffrey Montague, A. V.
shea. Barney Bowman w. II. w. Mason.
w. P. Leaman, 7. Kemper Rector, Samuel
g Shields, j. NJ. n. Allen. 2. j. Pagan. f.
n. Campodonica, L. C. Hicks. Samuel Stein
err e. Warren Evans, w. A. Sharp, James
members of said City Democratic Commit :
tee. to meet and rescind their said resolu-
tior adopted Friday, April g. 1905, provid-
ing that the ballots to be voted in the pri-
mary election to be held April IA. 1905
contain pledge requiring the voters of
Lee Ward to pledge themselves to vote for
the nominee of the Democratic party in the
election to be held in November 1905; and
commanding and requiring the said COM
mittee. its officers and members. to have
printed on said ballots the pledge only as