The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-22
The City Committee.


The City Committee.
The City Committee seems TO have tiiseov-
cred that the District Committee has the
right to prescribe the mode OF appointing
delegates TO the congressional conventions.
This discovery has not been made in the
neighboring districts. The papers Of Nor
folk and Petersburg are calling for prima-
ry election for delegates, to be modelled ai-
ter the primary elections OF Richmond. Not
only SO, but the City Committee Of Rich
mond has always prescribed the mode OF
appointing delegates in this city. In 1874
the candidates were voted for, and the sue
cessful one appointed, through his friends,
all the delegates from this city. In 1875
also the City Committee prescribed the
mode Of selecting the delegates. Indeed,
whilst the language quoted in the commit
tee last Friday night from the plan OF or
ganization Of the Conservative party seems
TO confer the power OF deciding this ques-
ton upon the District Committee, there is
other language used in the same plan which
recognizes the City Committee as the proper
body TO fix the mode Of selecting delegates.
The people oil this city will be satisfied with
nothing else than primary election, and 1t
would be useless for the City Committee or
the District Committee to prescribe any
other method OF choosing the delegates.
In several OF the wards there is no hall,
or other suitable place Of meeting, and SO
there is no possible chance to secure fair
expression Of the popular wishes except by
means OF primary election. The first
twenty or thirty people who might get to
the place OF holding the ward meeting might
in each OF these wards take possessions OF
the little room and appoint all the delegates.
Nobody would be content to let the action
Of such meetings stand as the expression OF
the will Of the thousands Of Conservative
voters OF Richmond. But let either COM
mittee decide upon primary election, and
the people will rest satisfied. For our part,
however, we mold this thing Of fixing the
mode Of choosing the delegates ia this city
to be a matter entirely outside OF the duties
and powers of the district committee.
Let us see. In Alexandria recently an
election was held in each ward Tor delegates
to the convention for that congressional
district. In the First Ward, HUTTON re-
ceiyed 1903 votes and NEALL 102, according
to the returns. NEALE's friends appealed
to JOHN T. LOWELL, Esq, chairman OF the
State Committee, who sent to Alexandria
letter referriugto the following rules OF or
ganization OF the Conservative party as de-
filming the powers OF the City Committee
viz:
each city and county, by popular meet
ing, after due notice. or through the ME.
dium Of existing organizations, may ap-
point city or county committee, to con-
sist OF two members from each district or
ward in each city or county, who shall be
charged with the affairs and conduct OF the
party in such city or county regulating and
directing the same, either by wards and
districts or otherwise, as such committee
may prescribe.
sSuch committee shall elect chairman,
whose duty it shalt be to appoint all meet
ings and regulate all affairs rs to the party
which may embrace the city or county. In
the election Of delegates to any elective dis
trict convention it shall be the duty OF such
committee of the city or county to prescribe
by public notice whether SUCH appoint
ments shall be made by ward, district, city,
or county meeting, and the number OF dele
gates to which such ward, district, city, or
county shall be entitled"
The chairman Of the State Committee evil
IDENTIFY understands that the City Committee
regulates the mode OF choosing the dele
gates. He makes no reference to the power
claimed for the District Committee.
In any event it is desirable to have this
one question definitely settled by the Dis
trict ommittee-namely, whether minori-
ties are to be represented or not. This at
least is question which the City and County
Committees cannot decide for the whole dis
tr1ct. If Mr.. YOUNG is to have all the dele
gates in the counties in which Il majority OF
the voters are his friends, then Mr. WINSTON
ought to have all in those counties in which
his friends constitute the majority Of the
Conservative voters. And so as TO GREG
oRY, CLoPToN, JOHNSTON, QUESENBERRY,
BURwELL, and all the rest Of the cam
didates. II Chesterfield and Louisa are
to cast each a solid vote, Henrico and
Caroline will claim the same privilege.
We have always heretofore contendcd
for the right of the minorities to be repre-
sentcd; and we have seen no reason for
doubling that that is the fairest mode OF
constituting conventions. But we would
not give a minority right at the expense
OF right belonging to the majority. That's,
we would not willingly allow solid delega.
ton from Louisa, Henrico, orelsewhere, to
be united with delegates sent by the minori-
ties from counties or cities in which the mi
noritieS were allowed this privilege, and
TINS a minority candidate nominated.
Either the minority OF every county and
city must be represented, or else no minor
tiles must be represented. There can be
no excuse for not having a perfectly fair
convention, and there is every reason why
there should be no other kind.
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How Much PAPER MONEY I've are not
afraid OF any quantity Of good money that
can be obtained from the mines or else
where. Let us have it in abundance. But
these currency-tinSers all demand a large
increase OF paper money, and say that we
have Of it only fourteen dollars per capita.
True enough. But that Is more than twice
LoJ -, dove rfa