Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-27
WRITES TO GOVERNOR
H. St. George Tucker Urges
Call for Extra Session.
PRIMARY LAW IS NEEDED
Recent Decision by Norfolk Court
Leaves Democratic Voters at the
Mercy OF Crooks, Who Cannot be
Punished for Offences.


Harry ST. George Tucker has adj
dressed the following letter TO Gov
ernor Mann:
Norfolk. Va. Nov. 18th, 1910.
Governor William Hodges Mann.
Richmond. Va.
Dear GOVERNOR
The Ledger Dispatch of this city,
IN rs issue of yesterday, announced
the fact that III had declined 10
consider the question of calling an
extra session of tho legislature for
the purpose OF passing "a bill lega.iz-
ing the primary system OF the state.
! feel quite sure that large ma
jority Of the Democrats OF the state
viii greatly regret your decision. IL
the newspaper report be true. and
they will doubtless feel that the facts
which have led the press OF the state,
voicing the sentiment OF the people,
20 urge such q step, have not been
brought 10 your attention.
The primary system for the nomi-
nation of state, county and municipal
officers in Virginia. | feel warranted
in saying, has not received the upi-
versal approval OF the party through
out the state, but il has been adopted
by the party as its method OF nomi-
pating candidates, and 1t is practical
~ the only method For nearly ten
years il has bnen so used as a
method of making nominations in the
form and maner OF real election.
The absence OF legal provisions TO
protect the elections from abuses and
frauds has been an obvious defect In
the aystem. The regular elections
being protected fully by penal provi-
sions of the statutes. II has been
thought by many that such provis ions
extended TO the primary system. ana
many have believed that there was
no necessity, therefore, for lesaliz-
cd primary. as II was amply protected
by existing laws. This view has been
exploded within the last few days by
the decision OF two able and upright
Judges here in Norfolk city and Nor
folk county, wherein they have held
that there is no law on the statute
books 10 punish frauds committed by
election officers in n primary cleo
ton.
Is such law needed? II must be
regretfully admitted that il is, and
though the elections may be conduct
ed fairly and honestly i'm most parts
of the state. IL there be found one
or more spots where such has not been
the ease. and the registered will OF
the people has been diverted or
changed. law TO punish those guilty
of such acts. is OF prime necessity:
for fraud in one spot. IL the spot "
large enough. may be sufficient 10
change the result of an election in
the whole state.
Since the Constitutional Conyen-
tton. now nearly ten years ago, there
has been demand for such law.
See. Sc OF the Constitution declAeS
The general assembly shall enact
such laws as are necessary and prop
or Cor the purpose of securing the
regularity and purity of general. local
and primary elections. and preventing
and Furnishing any corrupt practices
in connection herewith; and shall
have lower In addition 20 their pen
allies and punishment now or here
after prescribed by law. for such Off
GERS. % provide that persons convict
ed of them. shall thereafter be dis
auaIidsd fron voting or holding Of
See"
In pursuance of this declaration Of
The Constitutional Convention. com
posed OF ninety Democrats. out OF
one hundred members. there ha been
an urgent demand from the e,ple
that that provision should be enacted
into law. The State Democratic com
miftee has had the question before
IN for years. The State Convention
held at the city of Roanoke. two years
ago. approved a declaration favoring
such a law. and requested the. State
committee TO formulate and press 10
it's pas age. law in consonauce with
the constitutional provision. The com
msttee formulated and presented such
= bin TO the last legislature. Speaker
Byrd likewise presented a bill. which
BY many. was regarded as adequate
and complete Neither the commit