The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-19
New PR|MARYLAW
MAY Be DRAFTED
Open Question if State Corvcu-
ton Resolution Is Still
in Force.
BYRD HOPEFUL OF SUCCESS
Expects to Get His Bill Through.
Instructions OF Party
Authority,

Varying opinions are expressed on
the proposition as to whether or not
the state Democratic Committee shoaIu
prepare another bill legalizins pri-
msries ana chea pening the cost to
candidates. for the purpose q: PRE-
sentAticn to the next Legislature Sucn
action on the part OF the com.ait,s
VAS directed ~ ;he last state con
yention, in 1903. ana d bill was ac-
cVEdlnsiy prepared and introduces In
t"e Legislature OF 1910. That body
took no notlce OF II. and IL is lu~
the question II the committee mas rot
discharged ITS duties.
should it PC osclded TO try agai /,
Chairman Ellyson will probably name
d subcommittee to meet at some time
IN december.
Flaws Arc Found.
1t Will De recalled tnat the con
vention also instructed the commit
tee to take up the party p.aa ana
report Recommendations TO the next
state convention. TO DC held in l9l2
MT EllySon from time 10 time r-Ahes
notes OF points which arse. and whtc9
are submitted for his conBIdera ;ion,
with view to suggesting amend
ments 10 tho ps-ty primary law 20
the convention.
There Is. Tor instance. the question
recently raised In Rockingham coun-
~. where IL was contenued by some
that the primary plan is mand lIory
Tor county Offices. The law pr lvi les
That the local committees shall hav.
conduct Of the primaries for these
places. and IL also says that these
committees may decide on the methods
Of nominations for members OF tbe
General Assembly. In the absenca OF
a specific provision to .he const ,ry.
IL was argued, all county and city
officers must be named in primaries.
BYRD Has Measure.
This Is left optional IN the bill
which Speaker Byrd has already an
nounced that he will introduce. This
measure IS his Byrd bill the last
session. as 1t came from the Huuse
Commute on Privileges and Elections
save that he cuts OUT the provision
which allows aay one to vote on a
promise that he Will support the nom
in.cs OF the primary.
Some sort OF primary legislation is
expected from the Legislature, and
Dir. Byrd appears hopeful OF getting
his bill! through.
L may be cf interest 10 reproduce
the exact wording OF the resolution
dIpptEu pE lH1 DcHoCEdllG SOn-
ven;ion OF 1908. with regard TO pri-
maries. II is as follows:
Resolved. That this convention in
dorses the principle OF the nomination
of all candidates for Office of the
Democratic party by primary election.
open to all white Democrats who are
legal voters
Resolved, That all resolutions re-
Garding the primary be referred to
the Democratic State Central Commit
tee, and that that body be. and hereby
Is. instructed to make such changes in
the primary election plan as shall tend
TO cheaper the cost of candidacy re-
latinG solely to tho question OF eN-
pense. to throw legal safeguards about
primaries and 10 provide that primary
elections shall be held altar full pub
lie notice not less than sixty or moro
than ninety days before the ensuing
regular election; and It Is further au-
thorized and instructed to put into ef-
feet rules necessary TO promote such
results and TO prepare and present at
the next session OF the Legislature q
bill TO legalize and protect all pri-
maries in every part OF the State
Resolved. further, That the State
Central Committee be. and 1t Is here
by, instructed to take UP the party
primary plan and report their recon-
mendations TO the mex: State Conven-
ton. TO hs held in 1912"