Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-11
Richmond and Ker Primary.

fRichmond correspondence Index-Appaall
RICHMOND. VA, March 9.-The action of
the CITY Democratic Committee last night
with regard TO the matter of choosing a
delegate to the Chicago convention has
been the chief topic of discussion to-day
in political circles.
As the Iader-Appeal readers were inform
ed by telegraph, the matter was laid on
the table until after the meeting of the
State committee. The plan submitted
and understood 10 have come from the
leaders of the Cleveland forces in the city
was very peculiar one, and the more 1t IS
considered the more it is condemned. 1t
defeated temporarily at least the very OBJ
iect those who favored 1t were trying to
accomplish.
The plan, in brief. provided that on
April 5th. tho day of the municipal pri-
mary. the voters should have an opportu-
nifty TO say,whom they desire to represent
them in the Chicago convention, it being
AN unwritten law that Richmond shall
have one delegate and the counties In the
district the other The person receiving
the highest number of votes should name
all the delegates FROM this city tothe state
convention.
Quick to grasp the situation and they saw
| at once what the adoption OF thep plan SUD
mitted might lead to.
For instance, it made il possible for the
minority to secure every delegate from
| Richmond. Two gentlemen are already IL
| the held to represent Richmond at the
Chicago convention, and both OF them ar,
! said 10 favor Hill as between Hill and
| Cleveland. Only one person might run IL
! the interest OF Cleveland. suppose he
should get 1900 votes and one OF HilI:
! friends 2.O0O and the other l.5O0. Mt
/ Clevelands man having received the
| highest vote (not majority would be en-
| titled TO name every delegate Tor Rich
mond, thus defeating the Will OF the peo-
pie.
Or tho circumstances might be changed
| and Cleveland be the choice or the people
and yet Hill get the delegates. The one
man receiving the highest vote would
name the delegates, who would not ony
| vote for him for delegate to Chicago, but
tney would take part III the election OF
delegates at large and electors. They
would and IN making platform and, 40
the reorganization o. the party, 1t wouid
be in the power of that one man TO defeat
our present State chairman for reelection
| OuI lldu MVulQ AhfC NOHNANAASt N4iN
twentieth of the delegates IN the State
convention. So, had the scheme attempt
ed been adopted, it would have Affected
not only Richmond. bat the whole state
When the committee net MAJORITY
were in favor of submitting this question
to primary, 10 pe held NJ a later date
than the election TO nominate city ofncers,
but at least five gentlemen are said TO have
become rather disgustea with the plan OF
fered. and they decided to vote 10 lay the
matter on the table until after the meeting
| of tho State committee.
Some OF the gentlemen who went beforc
the committee said good deal about
"snapn convention. the machine
"one.man power" aud many other things
of the sort, yet one Of them advocated The
plan that would have gwen one man very
much power in the State convention.
The apti-Cleyelandites to-day realize
that thor opponents have made bis
blupder and have played directly int
their hands. The Cleyelanditcs also n'
doubt see their mistake. In fact, one o
the leaders told me so. II Is evident the
the City Committee is favorable TO hli
The friends OF the Senator DO Rot oppose
primary, hut, as one OF them SAID las
night to the Clevelandites: Your man !
losing ground every day, while mine. I
gaining. You want snap primary and
don't. You prefer Gu early election o
delegates, ard am ia favor ~ putting tn
matter Oh as long as possible"