Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-09

guilty Of misdeneanor and his pun
ishmem fixed at confinement in the
iail of the city OF Richmond for nine
~ DAYS. Wise. by his counsel. pre-
scented his petition 10 the Supreme
Court of Appeals of Virginia for a
writ of error. which was denied by
that court on April l0l906, thns .es-
tabiisning the c0nstitutionality OF the
act 10 secure the regularity and puri-
~ OF primary elections
Contrary to Supreme Court.
As YOU base your letter largely
upon the decisions OF the Norfolk
Judges. which is directly opposed TO
the decision of the Supreme Court. |
might stop here and Ia justified In
my position. But J think il but fair
to the people OF the Second District
and the officers charged with the man
agement OF the party holding The pri-
marry, to state that upon complaint
of fraud the changes were at once
investigated. new primary ordered
and held. and a result REACHED which
is free from all faint or charge of
iraud so far as ] am informed.
Third: Looking AT the request in'
your letter from the standpoint OF the
State. beg 10 remind you that IL a
special session OF the legislature
should now ne called. one oil It's most
important duties would be to elect
successor 90 Senator Daniel and thus
deprive the people OF the State from
deciding by primary who that sue
cessor would DE. and 50 defeat the
declared policy of the State In respec;
10 the choice OF United States sena-
tors.
Not Justified.
Fourth: do not think with a Law
declared to be constitutional by our
Supreme Court. making me provisions
regulating and controlling general
elections applicable 10 primary eiec-
lions. and under which We have lived
since 1907. and which three lesisla-
lures have declined TO change. al
though two bills were offered To The
legislature OF 1906. one to the legis-
lature OF 1908. and four to the legis-
lature OF 1910. none OF which passed
beyond its first reading. that | would
be justified in calling a special ses-
sion of the legislature.
Fifth: An extra session of the leg
islature would cost inevitably from
sixty 10 sixty-ive thousand dollars,
and perhaps much more. While no
expenditure would be TOO great We're
the purity of our elections at stake.
such an expenditure, in the circum-
stances, would be unreasonabiy bur
densome to the taxpayers OF the
State.
Not Correctly informed.
IN conclusion. ! presume the let
ters of Messrs. Echols and Mcintyre
have convinced you that you were
not correctly informed in respect TO
the Recommendation for legalized
primary in the report of the special
committee charged with the inves,i-
cation OF the frauds I'm the Second
district primary And now that your
attention has been called to- tho ce-
cision of the Supreme Cours-in the
case of Jackson Wise. and to the
duty OF the special session. if called,
TO elect a United States senator 10
fill the vacancy occasioEed by the
death of the beloved and lamented
Daniel without the opportunity Tor
primary. and TO the enormous ex-
ranse of an extra session. trust you
will agree wi j me that my decision
not to call the legislature together.
is wise and for the best Interests oi
the people of this Commonwealth.
Certainly. this is my conclusion. and
is one to which ! must adhere.
Very respectfully.
VA. HODGES MANN.
Governor oil Nirs inia.