The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-24
STATE PRIMARY
WILL Be CALLED
Democratic Committee Wlli
Start Virginia Campaign on
February 10.
PRIMARY PLAN IS REVISED
Negroes Barred From Voting.
Allow Appeals to Congress
sional Committees.

Chairman J. Taylor Ellyson VIII
to-day perform the FIRST act IN startlhg
the Virginia political campaign OF 1910,
when he issues a call for meeting "i
the Democratic State committee "
be held at Murphy's Hotel on hursuaS
evening. February Is, at o CLOCK -,
committee will then fix time Tor hoIu-
ing a primary election for the nomihs-
tion of party candidates for Governor
Lieutenant Governor Attorney Gene
raj Superintendent of Public lnstruc-
ton. Secretary of the Commonwealth
State Treasurer. and Commissioner OF
Agriculture and Immigration.
The date then agreed upon. whlch
must be not more than ninety nor less
than sixty days before the November
election. will also be chosen by most
of the counties and cities OF the STATE
as the time for holding primaries Tor
the nomination of members or the
House of Delegates. Some locaiitles
will hold primaries at other times, whlle
Others will nominate by convention.
Primary Plan Revised.
Another purpose for which the com
mlttee Is called is 10 pass upon the WORK
done yesterday by subcommittee IN
revising the party primary plan 10 CON
form with the new Byrd Feath erston
law as passed by the Legislature at It's
session last winter The subcommittee
of Chairman Ellyson, 10 East Franklin
Street. and soon completed its work.
The following were present besides
Chairman EIlyson: Judge A. J. Achiss,
of Princess Anne; Clyde W. Saunders.
of Richmond; Robert Gillian, OF
Petersburg: c. c. Barksdale, of Halifax :
George NJ Muse, of Roanoke County !.
Judge r. T. W. Duke. of Albemarle f;
Major r. A. McIntire, of Fauquier :
Colonel Joseph Button. of Appomat-
tox. and Secretary j. \. Brenaman
Draws Color Line.
II was decided that participants in
primary elections held under the plan
shall be limited to white Democrats.
The color line was not drawn in the
law. and probably could not be. 1t
was found in the contest waged over
the primary in the Fourth District
last Septemb Der that eight negroes had
voted for Congress Turnbul and
one for Judge Walter A. Watson. The
subcommittee. believing that it is the
desire of the members of the party
that no negro should be allowed to
vote in a Democratic primary. made the
specific declaration to that effect q.
adding this provision to the statute
law.
Another provision added to the old
PARTY plan refers TO the time of holding
primaries. which must hereafter be not
DAYS before the ensuing general cleo
ton. as stipulated in the law.
Local Committees Powers.
Further adjusting the plan to the
statute. il was ordered that county
and city committees of the party shall
select three judges for each precinct,
Que of whom shall act as clerk to con-
duct the primary elections. These To-
cal committees are TO direct the prl-
rnaries for members of the House of
Delegated and for county and city
Offices and are TO decide the method
of nominations primary, conven-
ton or otherwidse.
change is made in the old plan
by providing that local committees
are to settle contests for local offices.
subject to appeal to the congressional
committee. Heretofore. appeals have
been to the State committee only and
this is also provided in the Byrd law.
No doubt the subcommittee regarded
the change 1t made as delegating its
power to the congressional commit
tees.
The work done by the subcommittee
Will be reported to the full commit tee
when Il meets February -