The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-29
NEGROES MAY Be BARRED
FROM PARTY PRIMARIES
Attorney General Pollard Construes
Provisions OF New Pure
Election Act.
GIVES OPINION TO DIcKERsoN
Law Recognizes Right OF Party TO
Prescribe Qualifications OF Voters.
Plan May Specify That Only White
Democrats Can Participate.

In an opinion made public yesterday.
Attorney General Pollard holds that
the action of the Democratic party in
adopting plan under which the cleo
t"ratc in primaries is limited To white
Democrats only. is valid under tho
provisions Of the new primary act.
lie holds further that the General
Assembly in the act Cf starch -. 1919.
expressly recognized the right of par
ties I" prescribe qualifications 10 vote
in primaries othcy than the quail
hc1tions set out in the general law.
Tho ruling is regarded as OF tho
first Importance from it's bearing uuon
Tho recent Administrative Board cleo
ton. in which "a considerable number
OF colorcd voters were permitted to
participate. Local politicians closely
in touch with the situation make :hc
assertion that not less than seventy
i've negroes voted In the primary on
July IL, for members Of the board
CRITICISM or RECENT
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD PRIMARY
Criticism of the colorcd participa-
ton III the board primary was voiced
III many quarters upon election day
nnd on the days.inmcdiatciy following.
The charge was made that friends OF
certain 'ot the candidates made n con
Sist"tt effort To convince negro voters
IN al parts of the city that they had a
right To participate in the primary.
The i!ct that the margin between the
winners and losers ia the election was
80 large that the colorcd vote could
not have been Il deciding factor pre-
vented protest which would have as
sumco tie proportions OF a scandal
Mr.. Poliard's ruling is further sig
niic"ni from the fact that IL Is the
hrst Official statement of the law as
aprll.d Ia lie right OF parties to re-
! strict the electorate to white voters
Inc point only glit.bt NJ,
ton III the General Assembly when the
primary bill was being carefully an
alyZ.d. It asserts in positive language
THAT paroles have the fun right under
The new law 10 bar negroes from par
ticipaiioT in their primaries. and sets
At rest Il VcNcd question.
TN" question WAS put to the Attor-
n"y-tcn"ral by James T.. Dickcrson,
who applied To MIN for a ruling on
July 1.-THE day after the Administra-
tive Board primary.
TENT or NILINt; OF
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Mr.. Pollard replied under date of
July -. as follows:
MIR. James + Dickerson. a9i5 East
Marshall street, Richmond. Va:
Dcai Sir.--iours OF July II. asking
my opinion as 10 whether negroes can
legally vote in Democratic primaries
received. Under the law. 7 am made
the legal adviser OF the Governor and
officials and boards at the scat of gov
crnment. and the rendering OF opin-
ions 20 individuals is not within my
/ duty AZ prescribed by law But AS a
personal courtesy to you, and because
as a Democrat and citizen. | am
greatly interested in the question YOU
PROFOUND. I herein give YOU my view
as TO the status of the law under the
primary act. approved March 20. 1914
II provides as follows:
ma 1af to I.
election tor which the primary is held
and not disqualified by reason OF other
requirements liz the law Of the party 10
which he belongs. may vote At the p;-
mary" etc
From the above language i, would
seem That the General Assembly has
expressly recognized the right OF par
Ties 10 prescribe qualifications TO vote
in primaries other than the oualiiica-
lions set out in the general law. The
. Democratic party plan. adopted Fcbru-
AIRY IL. 1919. expressly provides that
only white-Democrats may participate
in the pritnary
! While | am OF the opinion that the
General Assembly has the power to
/ take away from party authorities the
/ right TO prescribe different qualinca-
tons for participating in primaries
! than those prescribed for general cleo
tons. yet IL also has the right TO per-
init party authorities to prescribe quail
ltcations for participation in party pri-
mares. and this permission is given
/ by ;hc terms of the statute quoted
am. therefore. Of the opinion that
the rule Of the Democratic party limit
, ing the electorate in primaries to white
! Democrats in valid
Allow inc to add that VlrSinia's sad
| experience with fraud and corruption,
induced and encouraged by negro suf-
fraEe, is sufficient Justification for my
say'nE That those who seek TO again
Introduce the negro problem into our
primary or general elections should be
considered rs enemies; both to the
stat" ana the party
Yours truly,
tSigncd)