The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-16
THE SALEM CONVENTION.

The editorial in yesterdays World,
under the above title, on account of it's
conservative character, deserves a no
tice that it wouldenot otherwise be en-
titled to. The friends of Mr.. Watts do
not coincide with the views OF tho
World for several reasons. few of
them it may BIO proper to mention en-
the eve of the convention.
First, according to the practice, prin.
ciples and theory OF tho Democratic
party, the call for the mass meeting to
nominate delegates was wholly wrong.
Whether there was large attendance
or not does not affect the question. If
chairmen-candidates can call conven-
lions on prac tically twelve hours notice,
it is needless to say that the theory of
Democracy, that the people should
govern, will be defeated. Tho large
crowd in attendance certainly does not
indicate anything in this instance, be-
cause it is obvious that tho notice to Il
part of this crowd, may have been of
greater length than to the balance. An
indignation at this un-Denocratic pro-
ceeding is sufficient to account for the
unexpected strength that the minority
made upon such short notice and upon
such a stormy night.
Second, The mode of conducting this
mass NEE ting does not commend itself
to those who have been brought up to
believe that tho majority should rule.
There are numbers of good citizens of
this place willing to make affidavit that
there were not over seventy persons
present from the Second ward, yet III
votes were cast. Withou. attacking
anyone, or casting reflections on any
one, it can be said without successful
contradiction, that if mass meeting
had been called in each ward, with
sufficient time for all persons to select
their delegates and arrange to Indicate
their choice, stigma and shame would
not now rest upon the Democrats party
We are fallen in evil times when, in a
Democratic mass meeting. trickery and
fraud are restored to-
Third, it is known that persons. not
residents in the second ward, appeared
in the ward meeting and voted, and it is
believed that at least three non.resi-
dents were elected delegates to the
Salem convention. Under this course
and for other all sufficient reasons, the
Democracy, or certainly large part Of
it, in Roanoke, believe that the interests
of the people demand that they should
appear in Salem and cndeavor fairly,
honestly and without concealment, to
have the candidate nominated who they
believe.is the choice of majority of the
Democracy of this city.
This article is not written with any
intention of purpose to cast reflections
on Mr.. Thomas. Whether he was right
or wrong in calling the mass meeting
as he did, without consulting with or
calling meeting of the executive COM
mittee, we do not here propose to dis
cuss in Il personal manner; nor do we
propose to charge that he is responsible
for what has been done in this mass
meeting, but whether he was mistaken.
and whether his friends, through over
zeal did this OF not the fact remains
that largo body of Democrats in the
city are not satisfied with tho result
and believe that it is proper and right
that the convention of the party assem-
bled in Salem should pass upon this
question
Mr.. Thomas and his brother have
been recipients OF many honors from
the Democratic party, and they have,
as far as we know, fulfilled tho duties
imposed upon them as officials withol
reproach, and we think that thcy should
be the first to demand full and thor.