The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-10
VOTERS TO PASS
ON ANNEXATION
IN JUNE PRIMARY
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E
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hereafter be reported by the special
committee OF the City Council
Wanted Definite Plan.
Walker C. Cottrell agreed that If
submitted in the present chaotic state
OF the annexation discussion. tho voter
would not know just what he was
favoring or opposing. He thought 1t
matter in which every property owner
had an interest. whether Democrat
or not. and moved that the matter be
laid on the table until definite plan
has been reported, with n view OF hav-
ing that plan submitted to the entire
electorate OF the city at n special cleo
ton. Mr.. Hodges protested that the
whole annexation issue was after all
only real estate deal, and that by the
date OF the primary on June II the
average voter would know what the
Council committee recommends. and
would be fully Informed just what he
is voting for or against The city had
at present. he said. as much unim
proved land as II needed to bother
with when its bonds were selling below
par. The people were getting tired of
having a few tell them what to do.
and wanted 10 have some say.
Not n Party Issue.
Walter c. Duke objected to Mr.
Hodges's statement that others than
Democrats were permitted to vote in
Democratic primaries. The City Coun-
ell he contended. was the body chosen
by the voters OF Richmond to act on
annexation. and if the Council desires
to submit such an Issue TO vote of
all the people, so we'll and good. IL
was not in any sense a party issue.
Members OF the committee he thought.
made a mistake when they claimed
with much emphasis 10 be represent
atives of tho people. AS a matter of
fact they were only tho representa-
;ives of the Democratic voters, and he
objected 10 putting on party ballot,
in a primary called to select Demo
cratic candidates for Office any qucs
ton of economics or civil government
In reply Mr.. Saunders contendcd that
the Democratic party was in entire
control Of the government, and the
Democratic party was. therefore. re-
government, and must stand or fall by
its actions.
No Legal Effect.
Such a primary vote, he explained.
would have no legal effect. but would
be in the nature OF instructions to
representatives in the City Council,
with a moral and binding effect. In vot-
ing against annexation in such an
election. he did not believe that II
bound the Council against any neces-
sary enlargcmcntS OF the city's lines.
1t merely expressed the view OF the
Dmeocratic voters for or against the
general policy. the details Of which
were 10 be left to the Council To
work out. Mr.. Cottrcll wanted TO
know whether Republican who own
cd property in the city would be al
lowed TO vote in such a primary.
Chairman Martin replied that the
courts had definitely settled that no
Republican had a right TO vote In a
Democratic primary, Major Martin
ION would be merely persuasive, and
have no binding or legal effect on
members OF the City Council though
1T would no doubt be strictly adhered
to.
Il believe some annexation is abso-
lutely necessary" said Mr.. Ferrandini
but don't think we ought TO take
vote until we know just what we
are voting on. The plan could be pre-
pared and the issue submitted to all
qualified voters and taxpayers at
the general election in November
May Give Three Options.
Mr.. Saunders suggested that the
plans committee, of which he is the
chairman might very properly report
n plan placing on the ballot the three
Items: Liberal annexation: restricted
annexation. and no annexation The
chairman ruled that this was not III
accordance with the request OF the
Central Trades and abor Council who
wanted the direct issue made for and
against annexation. The formal mo-
tion was thereupon amended as fol-
lows:
Resolved, that the question OF an.
neSation be submitted to the Demo.
cratic voters of the city In the pri
mary Of June 1e and that the matter
OF preparing the proper wording I,
20 on the offc1nl ballots be referred
TO the plans committee for formula
ton. that committee to report bach
10 the city Democratic Committee"
The Cottrell motion to Law on tn,
table was rejected. and the rcsolutio,
as given above was adopted withou
audible dissent.
Mr.. Saunders said that he could no
speak FOR his colleagues on the plans
committee. rs 10 the wording OF In,
ballots The committee consists O
Clyde W. Saunders chairman; WIZ
r, Taylor. Charles V carringt ON
Frank Ferrandini and G. r. Fowlkes
Membership on Committee.
Attention was called TO freuucn
or members OF the City Democrat,
Committee in the coming primary. Tn,
committee has heretofore consisted o
five members from each ward. an,
under the old cight-ward plan mum
bered forty members Under the nov
plan the basis Of representation on IN,
committee is fixed by the number @
votes cast in the last preceding gen
eral election. Under this plan in IN