The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-24
EARLY PRIMARY
SEEMS PROBABLE
City Committee May Tonight
Order Election to Be Held
in May or juno.
JuNkET IS NOT PROBABLE
Believed Majority Cannot Be
Obtained for Jaunt to
Washington.

Advocates OF an early primary, tc
he held by the Democrats of Richmond
In May or juno for the nomination o,
party candidates for members OF the
General Assembly and for city Offices
claim they have majority of the city
Democratic committee. and that the
Myers resolution calling such pri.
mary election viii DO passed by that
committee when it meets at Murphy
Hotel tonight.
Candidates for the Legislature seem
TO desire an early election, so as 10
have the matter settled as soon az pos
Sih'e There appears little or no op-
position on the part or aSpirauts for
the city offices to be tillrd
Would Jtcip Cor.
primarily. the move lis designed TO
further the candidacy of Edwin L. Cox
for tho Office or Speaker Of tho House
OF Delegates. IT is felt that If his re
nomination, and consequently his re-
election. is assured at an carly date,
he will be in better position to prose :
cute his campaign for the speaker
ship. This is especially true. since
some of his opponents. II is understood.
VIII be nominated early in tho cam
paien
In a general way. most candidates
desire short campaign, AZ icssening
the work, worry and expense
Tho objection TO an early primary liz
the lack of poll tax lists, Qualified
voters IN Il primary must havc their
taxes paid SIX months In advance of
the ensuing election, so that tho list
OF electors Will not be complete until
May 4. Then the list must go to the
clerk Of the court and must lie print
ed. which Is n big job In tho city Of
Eichmord. II is claimed the printed
lists Will not be- available before July
Vote on Tn1 Receipts.
TO obviatc this, the champions Of an
carlE primary say that the citizens
should be permitted 10 vote on their
lax receipts, and that it is within the
province of the committee to decree
that this shall be the prerequisites II
a receipt is lost, duplicate may be
maintained from the Office of the city
Treasurer Or. II is said the com
inittec might have n copy of the treas
urer's qualified list made at its own
expense. and, If the primary is held
later than June 4, there can be added
the names OF those who have been
omitted accidentally.
y larger vote In juno than in Au-
gust Is also put forth as nm added
argument. The state primary will bc
held August s. when many people are
on vacation.
Washington Trip Unlikely.
" OIL appearances, the proposition
that the committee go to Washington
10 see the inauguration of Wilson and
Marshall, at the expense Of the Demo
Gratis OF Richmond, is dead \ com
mfttec, appointed last Monday night TO
consider tho matter and ascertain the
cost, has not met
T"enty-onc affirmative votes are
necessary 10 carry the appropriation.
ana these, the opponents assert, can
never be obtained since tho I.S,
meeting, committeeman have been
nearing from the public as to the
ethics OF using the party funds for
inns purpose. some warm speeches
were made on the question last Mon
day night, members of the committee
taxing tho position that il is trust
money ana not the personal property
OF the committee. One member sur-
Rcsted the committeeman might with
equal propriety purchase for them
selves spring suits-to help the Dem
ocratic party.