The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-12

mittcd BY the parties. and that In case
only ono party holds primary inc
officials shall all be drawn from that
party The original Byrd bill provid-
cd that the officials In primary cloc-
lions should be the same rs those IN
:. regular election, which seems 10 us
a better arrangement But this is of
minor Importance, compared to the
other amendment which we consider
very bad indeed
The Byrd bill laid down the law as
to who is eligible to vote In pri-
mary, which is what every primary
law should do. 1t provided that no
person could vote in q party primary
unless he had voted for certain speci-
fed candidates OF that party i'll the
last general elections; provided that,
il the applicant had not voted In the
last general elections at all his pledge
to support the nominees Of the pri-
mary in the ensuing elections should
be held sufficient to cntitle him to vote
in the primary. The committee amend
ment virtually cancels this last
clause by making the special pro-
vision for men who did not vote in
the last election applicable to all men
with whichever party they voted, and
! thus entirely nuliiles and vitiates the
| other restrictive provisions.
1t provides that when questioned
| by the Judges. IL he shall pledge him
| self to support the nominees of Tho
party In the ensuing election lie shall
be allowed to vote This could hardl.
be worse. 1t not only permits bu
directly lcsalizes the voting of Re
publicans in Democratic primaries
Under this provision any qualified
Voter could present himself at the
election booth and upon giving TIL,
pledge mentioned above demand the
right to vote. If the judges questionc6
him about his previous and probable
future affiliations, he could decline to
answer His blanket privilege covers
and protects him; 1T is none of their
business: and though he may be
known as lifelong Republican and
openly announce that he intends to
| continue so after that particular cleo
| ton is over--in which his party has
| no candidate, and therefore lie has
nothing to lose by helping out some
| Democratic friend-the judges will be
compelled by law to vote him. Now
this is simply absurd. Republicans
have no right at all to take part II
/ Democratic primaries, and for Dem
ocrats to enact laws compelling theil
admittance is preposterous. Demo
cratic primaries are for Democrat:
only. and no transient willingness II
vote with Democrats, for once, to Sail
a special end, can be accepted a.
changing a Republicans spots. w
have just seen how the present laNlt!
| is abused, in the Fourth District con
gressiona race, where Republican
VIGOROUSLY altered and swelled TIL
Democratic vote, though in all prob
ability they did not change the re
suit We don't want TO legalize thi
e kind of political hybridism, whic
y would be the sure forerunner of IL
y defeat of Democratic candidates in
. Democratic primary by Republics
votes. The Legislature should by a
y means kill the committee amendmei
and move in just the other way.
!, should keep the other parts of IL
:, Byrd section intact and provide fc
. the applicant. who did not take pal
II in the last election that he must max
"a statement that he intends hence
ia forward to vote with the party int
n whose primary lie seeks admittance
g The Times-Dispatch hopes that IL
Il Legislature may think these impor
: ant considerations worth their after
t ton. Meantime this paper conGratt
!, lates that body upon having before
t a bill calculated TO give Virginia
= primary law worthy of the name.
, -=---------=---=--------=--:
! CAPTAIN WILLARD's RESIGNATIO!
The Corporation Commission wi
miss Captain Willard. He brought
:. his work in mat Important tribunal
| .11l Dy