The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-27
NOMINATION OF LEersLATORs.
what Sort Of Men Richmond should
Choose and Send TO the Next I.egisls-
ture.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch /:

TO the Editor Of the Dispatch:
want you to do something 10 secure for
Richmond the very best possible Gelega-
tion in the Legislature this winter. Rich
mond does herself injustice in the careless
ness and Indifference she shows about this
important matter. We must, and we NAV.
command the services Of our very lest
men.
I have found In making collections for
campaign purposes that people will give
ten dollars to help on strong ticket where
they will give one dollar i'm aid OF weak
nominees. In other words, the more
strength ticket has, the more money will
be given to elect il; the weaker ticket,
and the more help IL needs, the less money
you can get for 1t.
We have plenty Of able men here, and
tell you that knOu there is scarcely ore
OF them VIC cannot get IL we try. They
will nearly all serve US willingly, but they
do not care to attain legislative position
through the methods which the primary
election plan has developed viz, personal
solicitation, hand-shaking, treating, &C.,
&c. Ii we want men OF state reputation
in the Legislature we must either abolish
the prim2ry-election plan and return to the
tOuftHtlOu cFtttl4, VI iilONt WHO ItUlIf
want to see Richmond well represented
must go to work together, bring out their
candidates, and at the primary election give
them such an enthusiastic support rs will
nominate them with little personal effort of
their own.
A long experience in the observation Of
Legislatures conyinces me that a represent
atiye who is not lawyer is worth very lit
tie. That, l beneye, is the rule There
may be exceptions. but they are rare. This
view | cannot hope to impress upon the
public, for there is Widespread opinion
that members Of the Legislature do too
much talking, and that to put stop to IL
we should send there farmers. mechanics,
and merchants. Farmers, mechanics, and
businessmen do not know the law; they
do not understand the legal effect OF
amendments proposed, and without legal
assistance would often stand still and with
out n protest have their bills killed by
amendments seemingly harmless, but hay
ing death-dealing poison in them.
However, the popular mind cannot be
easily changed and | am not attempting it
now. When the Democratic citizens Of
Richmond have reached the determination
that they will send first-class delegation
to the Legislature, then it viii be time
enough to talk about men.
| would have this city send members
who are well known. influential, and hos
pitable.
In this last respect I doubt ii we have
often done our full duty to our country
cousins. There has been formailty where
there should have been cordiality. Our
members should take the country gentle
men to their homes, introduce them in So
ciety, and not leave them TO find compan-
ionship in themselves in the hotels, and TO
fee! that they are strangers in their capital
city. i believe that much OF the short
sighted and pernicious legislation leyelled
at Richmond BY the Legislature might have
been ayerted had our members treated
their fellows as kinsmen instead Of as
strangers. | could If | would recall the
names OF some Richmond members who
have discharged all these duties well. and
found IN the country members agreeable
companions and made them lasting friends
OF Richmond. But too often have our
members failed in this respect. Yes, sir,
we need men Of intellectual force; but not
more than men OF hospitable DISPOSE
ton. In this city, where more than
naiI tne people were c0untrV'OOTn
and bred, it ought never to appear
ecen that country gentleman coming
down here to The legislature lacks
agreeable places to spend his evenings.
The Richmond member who attends
committee meetings and then occupies his
seat from II to q does but half his duty.
The other half-and it is not essential that
he should be wealthy-is TO make friends
OF country members. introduce them to
ladies, take them in his pew at church,
invite them to the Mozart. walk about the
city with them, and give them help in the
innumerable little things wherein the pres
ence of the friend maniiests itself.
To summarize: Let us resolve to have q
ticket OF intellectual force, and in selecting
the brainiest men IN the community let lis
try to find those who will make most
friends with the country gentlemen.
/ beg, Mr.. Editor. that you will ask from
your readers an expression OF opinion on
this subject. Give rs a good ticket, and
the businessmen win give all the money
we need for the campaign in this congress
siona district.
And so beg you hearken to
A VOICE From THE RANKS.
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