The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-29

to run for office; therefore have lin.
tied expenditures in campaigns This
may not prevent lavish expenses, but
1t will be law on the books, ana
some day we hope to catch man VIC
lating 1t and to hold him up to public
infamy
Il care not for civilization con -
cluded the Speaker, based on COM
merciaiism. 1 had infinitely rather be
a Nirginian, poor as the State is, than
to be citizen of PENNSYLVANIA. 4 re-
joice that we have not given away to
the spirit of commercialism which has
enveloped other States.
Replying to a question, the Speaker
said that his bill was drawn origi-
nally to provide for a compulsory pri-
mary in which the regular judges OF
| election should serve since apparent
| ly only the Democrats would parttci-
| pate, he was willing to accept an
amendment so that the electoral
! boards should select a Democratic
| judge to take the place of the Re-
publican at the primary.
Don't Want Regular Judges.
| Mr.. West was the next speaker. lie
| thought it was a blunder to have cleo
| ton officers selected by the ELECTORAL
| boards The officers should be choseH'
he thought, according to the provis-
ions in his BILL by the party authori
ties from lists OF names luFnishco Wy
the candidates.
He opposed putting the expense OF
primaries on the counties and cities.
When SO many people are opposed to
primaries, they should not be com.
PEELED to contribute their part OF
holding them from the public tunas
Mr.. Byrd replied that the fundaniehtai
principle OF his bill was that the prl-
mary was for the good of all the peo
pie. and was his reason Tor r'ahius
the charge public one.
Acting on that principle, SAID Mt.
West you should not have Withdrawn
the compulsory feature of your nh.
II know it," replied Mr.. Byrd. II with
drew it because 1t had to and not pc
cause I wanted to-
MI. West did not think the people
who are opposed to primaries can
be convinced that they have been
BENEFITED by them. EIe then argued for
the provision in his bill, II parties de-
sire to nominate in convention to which:
delegates have been elected in primary.
governing the conduct and machinery
OF such contests.
An Easy Task.
II. too, wish we could stop this hight
ing within the party ranks" SAID MT.
West in conclusion. The problem OF
how to save the party by means of q
bill in the Legislature is beyond me-
"Ihats easy" commented the Speak
er, Just introduce bill to change
human nature,
Mr. peal. Of Norfolk. spoke briefly
for his bill. He wanted the electoral
boards to select the officers from u
list furnished by the party authorizes.
He would not impose such strict limits
unon the expenditure of money in cam
paiens. Mr. Deal gave the committee
an insight into some specimens of Nor
| folk politics
Fayors Byrd BiiI.
The point made BY T. P. Whitehead.
or Amherst member of the state
Committee, was that the names OF
| Judges of election should be publishea
| FOR several days preceding the election e
! This would prevent sudden change IN
/ the personnel of the Judges With y
| few exceptions, he said, the BYRD biu
meets the requirements, IN his opinion.
Mr. Icllyson here said that ne musp
70 to the Senate and asked that iss
/ be heard at another time Chairman
| Williams said the committee would ho
glad to do so.
Senator STROBE was the last speaker.
l
Int is already in the law that the sta
tutes against corruption IN regular
elections shall apply to primaries But
he contended that the law Is not eN-
plicit enough, Juggling with these
matters should be stopped. For N
stance, he argued, the Byrd bin ic
clear and explicit in fixing the dats
for the primary. There ought, he said.
to be positive rules governing all sueh
matters. so that there would he no
chance for objection and soreness
1--WE have gotten far enough away s
from the negro in politics" said the
Senator, ITO decide that every election
In the state shall be absolutely aboss
suspicion, He asserted that he had !,
rather take his chances Wilt the: rs-
gular Judges OF election thau'Wlth q
set chosen by q partisan COMMITTEES.
The cost Of primaries To the counties,
he added, would be slight.
The hearing was here continued ts
Monday morning, i