The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-06
PASSES
PRIMARY BILL BY
VOTE OF Sc TO z
(Continned From rlrst pnrel

'S'hb'iu'h IoIl FlTSI IaEe.D
date before such n candidate shall be
declared the nominee of his party.
IL leaves all cases OF contest to he de-
cided by the courts instead OF By the
party committees.
II requires the state Board OF Can
vassers to canvass the returns of pri-
mary elections. Under the present law,
MS duty Is performed by the State
Central Committee
IT makes the Secretary of tho Com
monwealth he custodian of primary
election *. instead of the chair
man OF e Central Committee.
Grusntr aud I:cioIs nix.
The debate on the Fcatherston
amendment providing penalties for
fraudulent practices developed a spirit
Ell passage at arms between Senator
Graratt and Senator Echols. Both the
Senator from Caroline and Senator
FcatheTston, In urging the adoption Of
the amendment. dwelt at some length
upon the good that might be expected
from the provision in tho way Of pre-
venting dishonesty on the part Of cleo
ton officials.
Senator Echols. who had taken little
part In the whole discussion 81 the pri-
mary BILL took the floor with n protest
against the Wholesale limitations of
election frauds, which, he said. have
been made by the two Senators re-
ferrcd To.
- have heard a great many charges
to-day relating to election frauds that
nave been pcrpctratcd In this state but
In no Instance has IL been stated Just
where these frauds have occurred" he
said These innucndoes and inXinua-
tons should be Indicated in a more
dchnite way or be stopped When
gentlemen state to this Senate that
frauds and crimes are committed at
"a fnf.fi
TO support their statements with facts
Speaking for the district l represent, +
deny most Indignantly the charges that
have been made"
Produces "Evidcnce..
senator Gravatt arosc> to the chal-
ienge He produced from his desk a
handful OF newspaper clippings, which,
he said, contained accounts Of irrepu-
iaritics such as had been mentioned.
ana sent them TO the desk, with the re-
quest that they be read.
\ have reluctantly. as the Senate
knows. been drawn into tho discussion
upon the weakness OF our present pri-
mary law said Senator Gravatt. we
all know that II Is not always possible
10 lay our hands upon election frauds
which we are morally certain have
been committed; nevertheless we know
the fraud to exist
Il always make 1t a point never TO
TO substantiate It. These clippings
will bear testimony to what have
SAID. j! the party skeleton should burst
his cerements and stalk forth from his
tomb to bare his frauds TO this SEN
ate and 10 the world, do not blame me =
me challenge and the reply brought
I tense minute. during which the SEN
ate clerk fingered uneasily the news
paper clippings In his hands Senator
GraHatt turned To senator Echols with
an inquiry IL ne would like to have
them read and the Senator from Au-
gusta replied that 1t was matter
Of Indifference 10 him whether tbov
were read or not
Opposed to Heading
Al this point Senator ROYAL inter
posed motion that the clippings be
not read, 10 which Senators Rison and
holt nj once gave their support APP
parcntly to correct the impression that
there was desire on the part of the
committee majority To suppress the evil
dence. Senator Echols arose with a sub
stitute motion calling upon the clerk
to read all the clippings sent 10 the
desk.
The motion Of Senator Echols was ut
once supported by Senators Rison and
\ Holt The situation began rapidlv TO
assume farc!ciai character, and va
rious motions To table. TO receive and
file. and 10 order the clippings reprint
ed Were made by members who desired,
to proceed with the consideration of
/ the bill. Debate was still in progress
4 when the Senate took a recess at .
o'clock
! Two hours later. when the body con-
vcned In afternoon session. Senator
4 Holt insisted upon the reading of the
clippings. Senator Gravatt he said
had made serious reflections upon the
honesty OF the states elections and had
] :.dduced In proof OF his CHARGES the