Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-09
GOVERNOR MANN's ANSWER To
Mr.. TUCKER.

Governor Mann has answered e
letter written him by Harry ST.
George Tucker urging that apeoxtra
session of the general assembly be
called for the purpose<f6f having
enacted a primary lawS The COVER
nor declined to issg< the call, and
gives Eve reasons <eor his refusal.
While at lear two of the COVER
uor,s yreasonl seem to use to be
mere lamsfexcuses, two of them are
worihysrof consideration and will, we
bcliaSe, cause majority of the peo-
pls of the State TO be glad that there
,Fs no prospect of a7special session
,fFor instance, the governor says:
Looking at the request In your let
ter from the standpoint OF the state,
beg TO remind you that If a special
session ol the legislature should now
be called. one of its most important
duties would be TO elect successor
10 Senator Daniel, and thus deprive
the Deopie of the State from deciding
by urinary who that successor would
be. and so defeat the declared policy
of the State in regard TO the choice
of United States senators.
This paper agrees entirely with the
governor in the opinion that If a spe
c;al session of the assembly would
mean the election of senator for the
fun term without a primary nomina-
tion.- no session should be be held.
Weare convinced that ii Is essential
shat something be done toward safe
guarding the primary before the peo-
pie ara called upon 10 choose sena-
tors. but we are willing and We be-
lieve majority of the Democratic|
voters would prefer. TO take chances
ION getting safeguards in some other
way rather than have the choice OF
one of the senators taken out OF
ztheir hands by the assembly.
Governor Mann probably is right
too. in his belief that the Legislature
as al present constituted would not
enact a proper primary Jaw even were
IL called together. With the men
who control the Democratic organiza-
ton opposing any effort TO improve
and perfect the primary system, this
nareT has feared from the start that
an extra session would mean the ex-
penditure Of a lot of money for moth
ing.
The fifth reason" advanced by the
governor is that an extra session
would cost from sixty to sixty-iye
thous and dollars This would be no
excuse il there were reason to be
fieve that the assembly would enact
a decent primary law If called to
gether.
TIE governors contention that the
primary law declared void by Judges
Hanckei and Lawless IN constitution
al of course is merely a contention.
and unless and until ;he Supreme
Court reverxes the Norfolk courts.
the decision OF Judges Hanckel and
LawIess holds good as TO Norfolk snd
Norfolk county. at least And the
law IS needed IN Norfolk and Norfolk
county about as badly as anywhere
els in the state. Moreover. many
wise lawyers are satisfied that this
decision never will be reversed
The FRS OF the governors conten-
toss. that Mr.. Tucker Is wrong in
snppossne fhsf a majority OF the Dem
ocrzte voters Of ne STATE desire an
extra session possibly Is eel founc.
%. But We are quite SIRE thar II a
majority ~ the voters do not want
the session u Is hecsuse they DO not
uant 10 sec = senator elected by the
legislature and are afraid that an e1-
ira scs, ion would not result IN the
caectnef.t Of ire desired primary laT.