The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-22
Outlines Views in Spe-
cial Message to Gen
eral Assembly.
MAIN IDEA is TO
KEEP OUT FRAUD
Recommends That Regularly
Sworn Election Officials Con-
duct All Primaries, and That
All Contests Should Be
Heard in Court-Small
Entrance Fec.

In special messase yesterday 20
mo General Assembly Governor Henry
c. Stuart outlined his views on the
subject Of primary legislation. and
urged tho enactment OF adequate
mensurcs controlling tho conduct OF
such elections. Features Of tho Gov
ernors recommendations are: conduct
of primaries by tho regularly sworn
election oflcials. creation of State
primary board Of canvaasers TO can
vass the vote for all officers not strict
iy local. provision ior preferential vot-
ing. by which voters can namo their
first and eecond choice. party registra-
ton trial OF election contests before
tho courts instead Of by party COM
mittees. and a nominal fec for candi-
dates.
Received with Applause.
Tho message was read In both houses
and was received with applause II
was ordered printed and referred TO
tho Committee on Privileges and Elec-
lions. i: was stated that tho commit
tee bill recently reported by the Com
mittees on Privileges and Elections OF
both houses. as n substitute for all OF
the bills referred. in many OF It's sec
lions agrees with tho recommendations
Of Governor Stuart, except as to party
registration. The bill was prepared
by a Joint subcommittee headed BY
Delegate Land and Senator R!son. The
Senate bill provides 2 per cent
sessmont on candidates. the House bill
none at nil: Governor Stuart recon-
mends that Il be merely nominal. The
Governor recommends that the primary
be made Optional except possibly in
regard TO State officers and United
States Senators. where he suggests
that II might we'll be made compulsory
on all parties Joint primary TO be
held by all parties on the same day.
The Governor suggests n provision by
which no person belonging 10 q class
that has been excluded by the proper
party authorities should be permitted
TO vote I'm the primary OF that party"
That is TO say, The Democratic party
might declare itself a party for white
voters only. and thus bar negroes from
participating In n legal!zed Democratic
primary. just rs they are now barred
from participation under party rules.
notwithstanding that they may declare
their Intention to vote the Democratic
ticket
Bars Freak Candidates.
The Governor also suggests that no
tice OF candidacy should be accom-
panied by n nomination paper signed
by n reasonable number OF electors be-
longing to the party of which the can
didate is member. thus barring freak
candidates who post their names with
out any assurance or expectation OF
support.
Several members commented favor
ably on the Governors message yester-
day. saying that It contained valuable
recommendations. With the com
mittee primary bill rs basis, IL is
believed that amendments can be offer
ed on the floor which will meet the
Views of the Governor md give n
workable law safeguarding that part
OF tho election machinery which in an
overwhelming Democratic State. such
as Virginia, Is the real election, and OF
more Importance to the State In tho
final result that the general election
itself.
The Governors Message.
Tho message OF Governor Stuart fol-
lows In full:
February 81. 1914
To the General Assembly of Virginia:
The manifest need Of legislation to
safeguard tho purity and perfect tho
machinery OF primary elections. as
demonstrated by experience and evil
denced by the widespread public inter
est in. and general demand for, changes
in our laws. impels me to urge tho
enactment OF an adequate measure. or
suitable amendments to the present
statute, governing and controlling tho
conduct Of such elections. Even II It
were demonstrable that no serious ir-
Irregularities have been permitted under
the existing statutes and that nothing
approaching fraud has been perpetrat-
cd II IL nevertheless imperative that
the people be convinced that their
choice In party contests Is duly regis
tered, fairly counted and promptly re-
turred That this conviction Is now
lacking in many quarters Is evident.
In my inaugural address i dealt with
this subject in general terms. and
M n nfnH
that the following features should DO
embodied I'm any primary bill that may
be adopted:
/. The regular election officials should
conduct the primaries and canvass and
certify the returns.
2. a State Primary Board of Can
vassers should be established to can
vass the vote for candidates for Of
fees not strictly local.
3. There should be preferential
vote: that is. electors should be- per-
mitted to name their first and second
choice.
4. Notice of candidacy ought to be
accompanied by nomination paper
signed by n reasonable number Of eiec-
tors belonging to the party OF which
the candidate is member.
s. There should be a fixed md de-
finite time for holding all primaries
s. Party affiliations OF electors should
be registered upon their declaration.
4. No persons belonging to a class
that has been excluded by the proper
party authorities should be permitted
to vote In the primary Of that party.
8. No names OF candidates should be
placed on official ballots at regular
elections unless they have been duly
certified by the proper authorlties as
nominees, or if they belong to no re-
cognized party, unless they have boon
nominated by petition containing a