The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-19
CANDIDATES I'm
BOLT CONVENTION
REPoRTED Thus METHOD OF sE-
LECrING NEW BoARD NOMINEES
isssr ACCEPTABLE TO ALI.
MANY IN THE CONTEST
COMMITTEE To CONSIDER CUES
TIoN At MEETING NEXT WEEK.
PRIMARY SCHEME DECLARED
TOO CUMBERSOME.
MANY IN THE CONTEST

When the city Democratic commit
tee meets next week to complete ar
rangcmcnts for the municipal pri-
mary to be held April 80, 1t is said
that tho question OF selecting candi-
dates for the Administrative Board
In city convention will be given Sc
rious consideration. The night for
the next meeting Of the committee
will probably be fixed by Chairman
Miles NJ. Martin within the next day
or two.
This method of picking candidates
for the new board has been suggested
as more practicable one than the
primary plan, because OF the large
number OF candidates in the field. Up
to this time II has been generally
understood that the Administrative
Board candidates would run in the
congressional primary, scheduled to
be held July 16.
IL the convention plan is adopted
1t Is reported that some OF the can
didates may bolt and offer for the
board In the general election in No
vember as independents.
Members OF the city committee and
other citizens, 1t was learned yester-
day. have been assembling quite fire.
quently OF late at the Jefferson Hotel
in secret conclave in an effort to wofl<
tsrfnining the most suitable men for
the Administrative Board.
Lets Cat Out Of Bag.
Yesterday Chairman Martin let the
cat out OF the bag and made a state
ment summing up the situation. He
said: The personnel OF the Admin
istrative Board and the method of
selecting the commissioners In, In nay
Judgment, one Of the most serious
questions that has arisen before the
people Of Richmond for many years.
II these gentlemen are nominated by
a direct primary under the recent act
known as the Byrd primary law, we
shall be confronted by the fact that
all five OF them may. and in all prob
ability will. be nominated by vote
Of the minority OF the Democratic
voters Of Richmond. II they are
nominated by what la known as a
two day primary. the legality of this
method being doubtful. the same re-
suit Will follow. unless by several pri-
maries the elimination Of the lowest
candidate be continued until each OF
the nominees shall receive a majority
OF the votes cast. II only three per
sons were candidates for one ONCE,
this system would be easy, but with
five to be selected from list of fif-
teen or twenty candidates it is too
cumbrous to be considered. The yot-
ers would be wearied by frequent re-
eurrence OF primaries and would
cease to take part in them
Outlines Plan.
Major Martin outlined the plan for
convention as follows:
Each nra.jns.t tv nm oil -a,u
mary vote to cleo, delegates - II con-
vention upon the basis Of either one
candidate to eacn one hundred voters
and fraction above f1fty, or one to
EACH fifty voters and fraction above
twenty-five. the convention SO cunsti-
tuted to nominate five Democrats 10
be voted for as members of tile adj
ministration board. BY this :rethod
the people will. by primary. select
their representatives to the conven-
ton. The convention consisting OF
these representatives will be enabled
to look the field over and select five
candidates. to be voted for NJ the
general election. who can best serve
the general interests OF the city. II
due consideration is 9iven by the vot-
ers to the selection Of the members OF
this convention. 1t seems to me what
we can safely rely on the wisdom of
their action"
How Law Reads.
Section seven OF the new law reads
as follows:
Each party shall have the power to
make its own rules ana regulations.
call conventions to proclaim plat
form or ratify a nomination. or for
any other purpose. and perform all
functions interest in such orsaniza-
tions. Each party shalt have the
mower to provide in any way 1t sees
fit for the nomination and election Of
it's candidates for Office in any case Of
vacancy. and the nomination and cleo
ito OF its State. county ana city COM
i. mitteas: provided. that no convention
shall have the power to nominate any
candidate to be voted for a, any pri-
mary"