Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-18
CAMPAIGN EXPENSES ARE
TO Be STRICTLY LIMITED
New Law Will Have Its Effect IN
Coming Gu,rruorShip
Race
EACH MAN MAY SPEND So.o77
Many Features of Former flights
VIII he Lacking. il Strict Adhcr-
sncr To Terms of Statute Is Re-
uuirrd of Candidates.

y Sta;c-wids promjary campaign
without bis: brass bands, flag -drapcd
platforms and ccuuloid photo buttons.
would he as SaNCrlcss as - circus with
on; peanuts. as tho movies without
piano acconIpanimcnt. Isn't that is pre-
ciScly the sort OF primary CInpa tEn
that Virginia is in for under the new
law which a prosaic Lvcts,sturc has
So drawn GS 10 exclude from the party
contest nearly all the t"appiuss that
have become dear to the voters child
heart
Ii the law Is followed literally. the
coming Suhernatorjai campaign Will
hc tho most digui:icd that the State
has ever witnessed For cuhrrua-
iorial primary Of the catch -as-ca;ch-
can ;ypc with hrass-haud accompani-
mcni, on. must 10 back TO 1909. when
William Hodges Mann triu'uphrd in
4 stirring race over Harry 81. George
Tucker. In 1918 Henry carter Stuart
had no opposition, and the usual pr!-
mary traNpnES We're almost alto
gcthcr absent
Since that year TWO legislatures have
met and put on the statute books a
primary law which has cTcc;ually di-
vested the EuhccUatOrial contest ot its
picturesque trimmings. II begins by
declaring that mo candidate Tor any
o''icc at any primary shall spend for
ANY purpose whatever q larger sum
than an amount equal 10 5 cents for
y
his party receiving the largest vote
at the past preceding Gub"ruat"rial
election within the territory. The quail
fed voters OF which have the right
10 vote for the office for whose uomi-
nation such person is = candidate ut
such primary"
EACH CANDIDATE
MAY SPEND S0077
1t happens that Governor stuart,
being unopposed. polled the largest
vote in ;he las, erbernatrrial pri-
mary, G6.5ls votes. Each candidate for
state office next August viii. there
fore. have the right - cNpcnd an
amount equal to - cents for each OF
the 665lS votes, or s9.9777o.
The new primary law goes further.
however, and prcsCrih-s 20 what pur-
poses This money may bc applied. 1t
euum"rAtes the things for which cam
dlHa:es may spend money. and then
declares that mo person. in order To
promote or aid his nomination 10 any
r.hi:r o.io. a; any primary provided
Cor by this act. shall directly or in
directly. himself or through some other
person. give. pay, eNpcnd or contribute
any money or other valuable things
except Toy expenses herein expressly
a.!owd and 10 others, OF make any
promise "a any person as condition
upon which that PERSONS vote or sup
por. IS given"
The permitted expenses are:
For writing. printing and preparing
:oc transmission letters, circulars or
ADVERTISING in newspapers and other
periodicals, Whereby tn. candidate
states his views on public questions
and requests the suffrage of voters
For stationary. postage, telegraph
and telephone. tolls and for other sim
Star expenses
For The expenses incurred and paid
~ The candidate for travelling and for
purposes !u"id"2.a. 20 travelling.
For the necessary expense Of hiring
halls or Other rooms ia which TO adj
dress The voters and others upon public
questions or on matters concerning his
candtGucy
For halls TO be used as campaign
headquarters