The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-06
PRIMARY BILL At
LAST VOTED upon
PASSES SENATE IN ENTIRELY DiF-
FERENT FORM FROM HOUSE
MEASURE.
SIX MEN OPPOSE IT
MIR. PAUL DECLARES COMMITTEE
OVERLOOKED A FEW GOOD
FEATURES AND LEFT
THEM INTACT.
SIX MEN OPPOSE II

The only reason / am going TO
vote for this bill is because the COM
n,lttee overlooked some of its good
features and let them remain. SAID
John Paul senator from Rocking
ham. yesterday after the Senate had
adopted all committee amendments
To the BYRD Featherston primary mea
sure. Il am an advocate OF Il legal
ICED primary and / Will vote for this
bill because | hope 1t is better than
no law at all"
Four other Republicans voted
against the bill. Two Democrats,
MIR Echols and Mr., Walker who OPP
posed committee changes cast their
votes In the negative. Many more
did not favor the bin rs 1t stands
but voted for It because they pledged
to vote for a primary law
one amendment not suggested ny
the Privileges and Elections Com
mittee was added. II came from Mr.
Brock and provides watchers for cam
didates In polling booths The amend
ment calls them representatives.
but they viii be on the job TO see That
their man get square deal.
vote Monday on an emergency
clause was reconsidered and Mr..
Faa1herston, who offered the clause
Withdrew 1t. tie declared he WIS
afraid it would mean the defeat OF
the bin because If added four
nfths vote would be necessary to
| pass the measure.
| An amendment was adopted winch
| will not allow candidate to paru-
| cinate In "A primary " he has beer
| guilty of fraud In a pereious primar!
| Title Alone Unchanged.
The bin AS 1t viii go to the House
today for concurrence bears no re-
| sembiance to the primary Dill passee
blythe House two WEEKS ago. AT
| the chief provisions were stricken
! out by the Senate committee. Fri
maries viii be held separately Instead
of together. as intended in the orig
| inal bin. Party committees VIII mann
| primary judges, instead OF regula
| election Judges serving In primaries
other changes help destroy the sens
| os the bill. which was drawn To plac
| primaries under the same laws an
| regulations governing elections.
Mr.. Brooks amendment TO hav
candidates represented at poliih
places by watchers met win stroh'
| opposition and passed by only
small majority. TWO Watchers WI
he allowed. II there are more thai
|
iority may select a watcher. ieaVln
tha selection of the other man I
the minority.
MIR. Montague thought this amend
| uent unnecessary. II Democrat
urinary judges were to be appointe
bv Democratic committees. he sal'
the Democratic party shouid Iras
them to see that the primary wa
fair. He did not think watchers ~er
needed TO watch honest Democrat
Judges. 1t was Il reflection upon IN
judges.
unfortunately there had been IN
stances " here Democratic prlfnar
Judges had not been honest.
Bones Are Ratified.
Mr. Featherston declared the
were not all as honest as in Norfol
county.
Perhaps the best thing to do" dc
clared, Mr.. Garrett. would be to ne
; limit the number of watchers to two
Mr.. Montague flared up at IN
raillery. I'VE may not have mad q
: fair primaries as some" he said. bt
this comes with bad grace from an
Senator. We have not had any elet
: lions where 1t was shown votes weI
purchased for so cents.
II know that people living In Ne
York voted In the last Democrat
primary" said Mr.. Saunders, "and
, can name the place where It wa
done"
, II admit dead people have vote
down my way" Mr.. Montague cam
: back, "but / have been chairman
; the Democratic party in my town. an
) want to say / had nothing TO q
' with 1t. / refuse to sit under tn
: fire"
II did not refer to your end OF tn
) State" replied MIR. Saunders.
. Just before vote was taken Q
the bill Mr.. Paul arose and declare
he came to the Senate an advoca'
Of "A primary law, and was still on
/ II had hoped" no said, ito see con
pulsory law enacted. but seeing thl
, was hopeless at least thought
) would pass q legaiized bill. The com
= rsgsssee. amendments wrsnfa have 'ass
a source OF amusement, had l nc
been SO anxious to see primary Law
Il am voting for the bill only he
cause the committee overlooked som