Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-03
A New City Committee.


The Democrats Of Richmond are soon TO
20 summoned together to choose anew
City Committee TO manage our AFFAIRS. The
best men we have here should be elected
members and forced by public opinion
TO serve
Before us Is general election OF sur
passing importance Behind Us is pri-
mary that was not creditable to Us, and
which has injured our good name. We must
recover our position; restore confidence ID
the primaries. and remove tde bad I'M
preston made in the municipal contest.
To do this will be the work in part OF
tho new committee. and 10 that commit
tee we should call citizens whose character,
ability, aud experience in public affairs
and interest in the party will command
instant confidence. Many of the present
committeeman are entitled 10 reelection
If they wish IL. but an Infusion OF new
blood" as the saying is, will promote the
welfare OF the Democratic party IN Rich
mond.
Then. too, the plan of organization of
the committee might be changed for the
better. Some of its members might be
elected by the aggregated Democratic
vote OF the city. while the rest are elected
6y the wards separately.
The existing arrangement Is for each
ward to elect five members-tbirty in all.
Suppose the plan should be changed so as
10 let each ward elect four members
ltwgity. four in ali--and at the same election
I1e, the city elect six members for the city at
large. Here we would have combination
OF the ward and city system, aud we might
REASONABLY hope to get as delegates tmem-
6ers) at large men better known to the
community than We get as ward delegates.
FIVE urge that this plan be considered ana
IF generally acceptable adopted. We
slnow Of nothing to hinder Richmond
ssrom organizing her committee in her own
WAY. a thing that she has ever done. and
without complaint or criticism from the
ktate Committee or tho State convention
itf the party, so far as We can recall.
A subcommittee of the City Committee
Nas been appointed 10 draft plan for the
lelection of new committee at ward
nnee,ings 10 be held on the 2lst instant,
and we urge il TO consider the new feature
THAT we suggest, to the end that the party
hmay command the services better than
ever before of mon who have something
anore than a ward reputation.
The duties of committeeman when dill
cently performed are afduous and I'M
.1portant, but there are plenty OF good
level headed Democrats here who will I'M
.dertake them # urged 50 to do bv their
dellow-citIzeus. Some Of these men we
khould bring to the front; but let US not
sbe understood as passing sentence OF con-
Nemnation upon the present committee as
q whole. There Is excellent material in it..
Nnd after the ill-luck which befell the
,npar,y at the two Jefferson Ward precincts
81 piloted US out Of our troubles very sue
cesstully-nO easy task.
There is another reason why We should
exercise more than usual prudence in
sleotng this new committee. Ii we un-
derstand public sentiment here 1t de-
,nands that our primary elections shall be
oegalized for the future, and when 1t
comes &c preparing bill TO 60 before the
General Assembly this City Committee
will have much to say, and In putting the
new system into operation it will ncces-
6arily be entrusted with great power.
So let us give this subject the attention
Shat il deserves; LET us have the best plan
lof organization possible to be devised. and
Jet us all resolve to take part IN the cleo.
tion of the new committee soon to be
kbosen for two.years' term OF service.