The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-13
Doubt Removed by Official State.
mcnt from Committcc-Pledgc
Will Keep Many Democrats
from the Polls-No Re-
publican Vote
This Year.

n the eve Of the municipal pri-
mary. with chief interest
centred in the election OF
~ Mayor, there are conflicting
claims as to the relative
chances of the main candidates. Each
side predicts defeat for the other, ex-
pressing, at the same time, tho most
hopeful view Of its own ability to win.
After a whirlwind finish OF a dull and
dcsultory campaign. Mayor Carlton Nc.
Carthy and Judge David c. Richardson
are resting up for the final struggle
tonight. when they VIII address the
voters of Madison Ward at Sanger Hail.
Otherwise, the day will be devoid of
oratorical struggles.
For Council and Delegates.
Except in three wards there is no
contest for seats In the Board of AL
dermen. In Monroe, with two vacan-
cies to be filed. there are three candi-
dates--Aldermen James A. Moncure and
r.. G. Rennolds and Mr.. Wilmer D..
Turner. The retirement of Alderman
Mann In Marshall leaves the field open
for battle between Councilman z.
Douglas Richardson. son of Judge
Richardson. and Mr.. B. c. Southern. In
Madison, DR.. st. Juliean Oppenhimer is
running against Mr.. c. A. Marks.
In the other wards there is no oppo
sition and at most there can be only
three changes, If any, In the upper
branch.
Candidates for the Common Council
in some of the wards Will be knocked
down like tenpins in bowling alley,
for the reason that there are more mon
running than there are honors to be-
stow The storm centre is in Jeffer
son. The outs may trim the edges of
the lower branch by electinE new men,
bers, but there is no positive informa-
ton upon which to base reliable
prediction. In word, the race is open,
with a world of doubt around 1t.
There is no contest for delegates to
the Roanoke convention except In three
precincts-First Lee, Second Marshall
and Fourth Jefferson. Tho candidates
In these are as follows:
First Lee Ito elect two)--W. Waller
Morton, Charles l.. Darlington. NJ. $.
Valentine.
Second Marshall to elect two)-John
J.. satterfield N. w. Atkinson, f. 3.
White.
Fourth jefferson Ito elect one)-w.
w. Dunford. +. l.. Hasker.
To Scratch Delegates and Vote.
Although the action of the City
Democratic Committee in requiring all
citizens who go into the primary to
pledge themselves to support the DEM
ocratic nominee in the presidential cleo
tion will largely reduce the total vote.
the cut may not be as great as APP
peared to be certain week ago. This
is explained by the fact that hundreds
of Democrats will vote only for Mayor
and members of Council. reserving for
conscience consideration the moral obli-
cation to stand by the party nominee
in November. Candidates for the con-
vention, therefore, will be scratched by !
the wholesale, but the pledge will stand
just the same.
The opinion had been freely given upl
to ten days ago that the total primary
vote would not exceed $500. What 1t
may really be Is matter Of more or i
true, however, that a large number OF
people who have invariably entered the |
primary will stay out Tomorrow.
With the double pledge between 200
and 800 Republicans who would other
wise cast their ballots for municipal
officers, will take no part In the voting,
The amended plan of the COMMITTEES
was not urged as means OF making
1t strictly a Democratic election. but to |
force all Democrats to be Democratic
in the fall II they exercised their right
OF suffrage in the primary.
What Candidates Claim.
Even though they admit that the
double pledge will keep number OF |
his supporters from the polls, friends
OF Mayor Mccarthy declare that he
will be re-eloted by a majority of
I,hO0. On the other hand, Judge Rich
ardsons friends, trifle more conser-
vative claim that he will win by 500
majority. Followers of both candi-
dates. however, are urging a full vote,
contending that new conditions which
have arisen have left an element of
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