The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-02
WILL RENEW TO-DAY
CANVAS Of VOTES
CAST IN PRIMARY
Meeting of State Committee
to be Called in
Few Days
BRENAMAN EXPLAINS
DELAY IN COUNTING
Due to Easily Remedied De-
fects in Law and to Tn
familiarity With New
. Regulations


representatives of the various candi-
dates in the Democratic primary or
August 5th.s will meet today at 10
O'Clock to tabulate the additional re-
turns which have been received by
Mr.. Brenaman in answer to his let
ters and kilograms to the judges at
the missing precincts. forwarded fol-
lowing the completion Friday OF the
count of the returns at hands
There were forty-s,x of these mis-
sing precincts according to the figures
given in the acts of assembly but
letters TO Secretary Brenaman disclose
the fact that some of the precincts re-
corded there no longer exist. For in
stance, 1t was thought that one pre-
cinct from Fredericksburg was MIS-
sing, but information received yes
terday was to the effect that the re-
turns in the hands of the secretary
are complete for the city. Fredericks-
burg now having but one precinct In
stead of two as listed.
Know Result Today.
Similar discrepancies are reported
from other points, at two or three
precincts no election was held ana
about a score Of the missing precincts
have been heard from. More are ex-
pected this morning and accordingly
when the tabulation Of the returns
in hand Is completed today the re-
suit of the primary will be known
definitely.
Secretary Brenaffian said last night
that ne will telegraph Acting State
Chairman Echois tonight suggesting
the time and place for the meeting
of the State cos-rnittee. The place
Will be Richmond. but Mr., BrenarT1an
has not decided exactly what date
he will suggest. The meeting Will be
called as soon ais possible after to-
day, he said.
Secretary Brenamfan said last night
that on account of the long delay ex-
perienced IN receiving and counting
the returns of the primary he thought
the public was entitled to more de-
tailed explanation of the cause than
has yet been given and, accordingly,
wrote out the following statement
for The ylrginian:
Mr.. Rrenaman's Statement.
On August S. 1919. the first election
under the primary election law was
held. Nearly ALL II not all, new laws
are amended by the legislature fol
| lowing their enactment. the amend
ments being made necessary by de-
fects discovered when put into ac-
tual practice. The primary election
| law approved March IA. 1912, has
proved to be no exception to this
rule. Naturally any defects in the
! law would develop In Its first trial.
| So long as our legislative bodie:
are composed of a majority of new
members-men without legislative ex.
perience--and limited to sixty-da
sessions. much legislation will be en-
acted without careful consideration
/ / am Informed that from indication!
the house of delegates OF 1914 vii
be composed of forty-nine members
who have at some time In the pas
| had legislative experience and fifty
| one members who have never hae
| such experience. II takes new
member at least half of the session
TO become familiar with the rules
regulations and routine OF the body
The consequence Is a rush in the latte
half of the session. resulting in muct
defective and imperfect legislation
Defects in the election law which
cause any delay, and often CONSTRUED
by the unthinking to indicate fraud
make more impression on the publ,
mind than the defects in most othe
laws. Every man has an interest IL
safeguarding his own vote as well a
that of others and therefore an,
abridgement of his rights as a vote
will be promptly resented
New Rules Confuse
There has never been an election
in Virginia, general or primary. Il
which the judges of election wer
required to certify the vote direct I
the State authorities. In genera
elections abstracts OF the votes ar
made, but by the judges OF electio
and delivered by one OF their mum
Der to the clerk OF the county or I
the clerk Of the corporation, as tn
case may be. In turn they are cert
fed by the respective court clerk I
the secretary Of the Commonwealth
and canvassed by the board of Stat
canvassers.
1t will be seen t.iat the secretary c
the Commonwealth wiR receive in a
election 100 returns, there being 10
jcounties and 20 cities In the State. l.
the recent primary election the Judge
of nearly 1900 precincts were reauir
ed to report direct to the State chair
man. II the judges OF any precinc
under the general election laws
should fail to deliver the returns I
the clerk Of the court, the said cler
is empowered and directed to dispatc
Especial messenger for them. In cas-
; OF irregularities or informalities tn