The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-11
City Committee Has Warm
Discussion Over Entrance
OF Seventeenth Man and
Eternal Race Question

Two questions bobbed up in the
I meeting OF the city committee last
night that threatened for a while to
| mar the harmonious workings of the
we'll laid plans for the administrative
board primary. and possibly cause
f, trouble to the candidates who have en-
tered II.
One was the race question, which
| was smoothly disposed OF after some
heated debate. and another the mat
| ter OF extending the time limit for
| the registration of candidates for the
primary. which was amicably adjusted
! to the satisfaction OF all concerned
Chairman Miles Martins masterful
handling of the ship when It approach
| ed dangerous shoals was a lesson for
the aspiring parliamentarian.
Paul Files Nothos Late.
In calling the meeting to order
Chairman Martin explained that the
committee had been called together for
the reason that July 10th was the
time limit for the registration of can
didates who expect TO enter the pri-
mary for the Administrative board. and
thus the eve OF the campaign. which
would end with the battle Of ballots on
September 10th. He announced that
sixteen candidates had qualified be-
fore noon yesterday. and that the
ward, had filed his notice and check
tho afternoon OF yesterday. The only
question about Mr.. Paul's notice was
whether it came within the rule adopt
ed by the committee. The secretary,
w. d. Duke was absent. and there was
no copy OF the resolution on this point
available
No one member OF the committee
could remember whether the resolu
tion stipulated July 10th at noon for
the closing Of the lists. or whether It
was indefinite on this point
Motion followed upon motion. One
member wanted to Disregard the
ruling. whatever 1t was, aud take Mr..
Paul in: another wanted 10 extend
tho limit for qualification OF candi-
dates to July i2th, and the debate
waxed warm, several members offer
ing solutions of the problem. 1t was
finally settled by the adoption OF a.
resolution to the effect that It was
the sense OF the committee that July
10th extended until midnight of that
day.
Race Question Bobs Up.
The race question came up on conn
plant of Committeeman Allen, of
jefferson ward, that negroes would
be enabled to vote in the primary.
and he wanted plan to eliminate
the negro.
Committeeman Purcell, of Clay
ward. agreed with him, and moved
that with the fling of the primary
act in accordance with law. a copy
of the plank Of the Norfolk platform.
which employs the term white
/ Democrats'' be fled with 1t.
Bold Remedies Offered.
A number protested against the
| Byrd law in that 1t did not specify
| in this particular. and some bold
| remedies were offered by which the
committee might take the bull by the
| horns and rule the colored men out
| Of the primary on it's own hook Some
of them received seconds, but before
any motion was put, Chairman Mar
| TIN cautioned the committee to &c
slow, advising any action that might
jeopardixe the legality Of the primar,
| and endanger tho interests OF the
| candidates, who had qualified in good
faith for the race. With the candi.
| dates gtrded for the race and the
rules laid down by the Byrd law and
the committee itself, he argued II
was too late to go out OF the way
, to hunt trouble. His counsel wat
! needed and the resolution finally &C
| copied was to the effect that copies
| Of that section of the law relating to
fine challenging Of voter on the
precedent clause be filed with the
Judges of election of the primary
| was adopted.
The committee was in session an
hour, r. r. Fborance serving as
temporary secretary, and after ad-
| journment partook OF a. lunch in Muir
phys hotel dining room