The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-31
CITY REFERENDUM
INTERESTS PUBLIC
Its Advocates Claim Big Majority
for Popular Vote on
Annexation.
WANT TO QUIZ CANDIDATES
Contests for Offices Now Sub
mergcd-Peoplc, 1t Is Claimed,
Favor Extension.

annexation hes now become tho DO
litical topic of tho hour in Richmond
at the primary to be held June 10
next Thursday week-the Democrats
of the city Will vote on whether or no
they want the City Council to refer the
annexation ordinance when ready 70,
| hnal adoption, to the whole people 70,
ratification or rejection The result |.
! that other political fights are being
forgotten. while there is a new align
mcnt on the subject of extension OF
| the city's limits.
| Iherc was little surprise yesterday
when 1t became known that the CITY
democratic Committee had decrecd
That referendum must be had In
met mere mas been no doubt for the
past three weeks of the position of n
majority Of the committee AS an
nounced In The Times Dispatch at the
time. the members were pledged within
| seventy-two hours after the request of
tho Central Trade and Labor Council
was received. Since that time the re-
suit has been n foregone conclusion
Committee is Determined.
"hile Assistant Attorney General
Davis Is OF opinion that nothing but
me names of the candidates can go on
the primary tickets. this will make not
the slightest difference There are
Two reasons. First, the committee he
heves that this Is purely city affair.
rot amenable to the State law in an
exclusive way, and it will proceed to
| put tho words on the ballot ANYWAY
| hclleVing there will be no one TO raise
the question. In the second plece n
inc question is raised and the commit
tee defeated on tho legal point. il will
PROVIDE separate ballots and separate
ballot boxes for the annexation refer
endum. ~
Advocates OF the popular vote on
the subject claim that large ma
Jori'! OF the Democrats who vote on
TINS question will declare for refer
enuum TO be called by the City Council
after that body has determined on tho
new city lines. They believe that there
are plenty of people favorlng annexo
tlon who would prefer to see just what
| Is proposed and TO have voice in
It's final adoption or rejection. This
leeiins was apparent in the meeting
OF the City Democratic Committse
where men who want liberal annexa'
ton preferred that the public vote on
IT, and. indeed, wanted to vote on n
themselves. -
People Favor Annexation.
oh the other hand. many of the same
people who predict large majority
in the June primary for the referan
dum are Just as confident in their CON
Viction that IL the City Council pro-
ceeds along the conservative lines all
ready indicated. the voters of the CITY
Mii Hihrfn us action at the polls in
the November election
I Clyde w Saunders. who yielded some
OF his convictions In the plans com
nittee. and was finally victor in tho
ruiz CITY Committee, has declared he
VIII not oppose conservative annexa
ton.
The referendum business. it appears.
VIII hurt candidates for city ofIices
worse than anybody else. Public at
tention VIII be largely diverted FROM
their merits and dement's. and centred
on the annexation fight. Ardent pro-
gresslves announce they Will catechize
me candidates at the meeting Of the
Gay Ward Actives tonight and else
where during the remainder OF the
campaign on whether or not they favor
letting the people vote on matters in
VoiVihG pond issues and tax rates. Be
sides 1t is supposed the concentration
OF pubic attention On other matters
VIII inure to the benefit of the men
who are in.