The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-09
BYRD WILL NOT
ACCEPT PLEDGES
Will Require Voter in Primary
to Have Record as
Democrat.
HAS PRIMARY BILL READY
New Measure Is Largely Along
Lines OF His Proposition
OF 1910.
HAS PRIMARY BILL READY

After giving additional study to
the question Of legalized primaries.
in the light of experience gained since
the last meeting of the Legislature.
Speaker Richard Evelyn Byrd has
decided that he can improve but little
on the measure he proposed at the
session of 1910, as reported by the
House Committee on Privileges and
elections. This is not just the same
Diil as Originally drafted by him, but
vas AMENDED III several particulars
mainly by Mr.. Byrd himself.
however one sentence placed in
the Dill py the committee Is not at all
satisfactory to Dir. Byrd. and to its
retention IN any measure bearing his
name ne does not propose to consent
Who niuy Vote.
ms IS in relation 70 the qualih-
cations tor. franchise in party pri-
frouIem in this manner: mo person
snail be permitted TO vote for the
Gahoidates OF any party unless in the
i xn,ad preceding general election he
nominated by such party or for the
naininee tor the House or Representa-
ives OF such party or the nominee
OF such party for Governor, or the
nominee OF such party Tor the House
OF Delegates. providing further, that
u he did not vote al such general
election then upon his declaration
tnat he Will support at the ensuing
whose primary he wishes to vote he
snail be allowed to vote"
TO this provision the committee
added the following: And provided.
Judges. IL he shall pledge himself TO
support the nominees OF the party in
the ensuing election. he shall be al
lowed 10 vote"
This ;aftcr cIatea I,,,-d
MS blue pencil through before he Of
iers the new primary bill, and he
proposes 10 fight any effort made to
incorporate II in the measure which
shall be enacted into law. He regards
II as letting down the bars too much
TO the participation of Republicans in
temperate primaries. and is the point
OF dispute in primary elections now
sirable 10 have a definite statute on
the subject. The present party pri-
mary law merely says that white
Democrats" shall be entitled to vote.
Is Not Compulsory.
In other respects. as stated above,
the new Byrd primary bill will be
identical with the measure as 1t was
when The Committee on Privileges
and Elections got through with II in
1910. AS at first drawn, IL made pri-
maries compulsory, requiring the Re-
publicans TO nominate in this manner
az the same time with the Democrats.
deal of opposition to become manifest,
many Democrats taking the position
that 1t was unfair 10 force minority
party TO name its candidate in i way
with Mr.. Byrd's consent was amended
so 9 5 10 permit any party TO nominate
by primary. and making the measure
apply to such parties as elected to use
this plan.
AS result OF this change. 1T became
necessary TO modify the bill in other
respects. which was done by Mr.. Byrd
himself He had Originally proposed
lions should be the regular judges OF
election for the precinct. which would
have meant two Democrats and one
Republican.
After eliminating the compulsory
provision. change was necessary to
do away with the Republican Judge
In Democratic primary. so II was
provided that the Judges should be
cities and counties from lists furnish
ed IT by the local committees of the
parties desiring to hold the primaries.
Provisions of Bill.
In the Byrd bill, each candidate is
required TO pay n primary fee of per
cent of one years salary of the Office
for which he is candidate. Cand!-
dates for Congress and for State Offices
are TO pay TO the State Treasurer. and
all others TO the city and county
treasurers. This is, of course. a NOM
inal sum. amounting TO only so25 for
the highest salary-that OF a member
OF Congress. and is merely intended
TO keep out trilers. Expenses of cam
didates are to be limited to an amount
equal 10 10 cents for every vote cast
for the candidate OF his party receiv-
ing the largest vote at the last pre-
ceding gubernatorial election.
Not only candidates, but all persons
spending money for them. are requir-
ed to make sworn statements of the
amounts. with the purposes for which
expended. Heavy penalties for any
scrt of frauds are prescribed. includ-
ing permanent disfranchisement for
every person who sells his vote.