Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-13
Conventlon-Week at Richmond.


This is convention-week" at the CAPT
tal Of the Old Dominion.
The actual work of the convention does
not begin until noon OF Thursday. but
there are many preliminary arrangement
20 be made which will require the pre-
senco here Of the leaders and lieutenan,s
OF the conteuiing forces, and we shall see
great numbers of new-but not strange
faces about our hotels aud on our streets
by tuesday morning.
At one time II was the custom Of the
Candidates for Governor not TO be pres
ent or at least not 10 DO known to he
present-in the city whore and when their
aspirations for Office were 10 be passed
upon. but they generally managed 10 keep
within calling distance" One that We
remember stayed al "A convenient railway
station, where locomotive was kept Win
steam up ready TO bring him 10 the con-
vention city 10 make a speech Of accept
auce. Another was in the city, ,ncO9nto,
as il were. but his presence was known TO
only few and he was accessible to fewer
still. But at recent gubernatOriai con-
ventions the candidates have come to the
city openly and above board ana have had
their headquarters IN the hotels and been
accessible to all men. This, VIC think, Is
much the best way. II brings the dele
gates IN direct contact with the candl-
dates and enables the former 10 make per-
sonal estimates of the caudidatos-an op-
portuuity which oil Of them have not
theret )fOre bad.
Ii il expected that this Will he the largest
convention ever assembled in Virginia.
Its membership will be about 1850. and
every members seat Will be filed either
by the member himself or by his alter
nate. There will also be present many
other distinguished VTginians drawn here
to render service 10 friends who are candi-
dates or TO be otherwise useful i'll the
work Of the convention.
We may expect moro or less interest and
excitement 10 attach 10 the contests tor
places on the State ticket. and We may
also expect q hearty and generous acqui-
escence Of all in the general results. The
delegates must 90 homo carrying with
them pr, sage OF victory. The party must
be a unit Ia the support of its ticket.
1t can command the service of lis best
men, and these IT should now nominate
md they Should be supported against all
comets At the November election.
We daresay that resolutions Of some sort,
more or less of tho nature of platform
will be adopted, and it goes without say
ing that great care should be taken to as
sign TO the Committee on Resolutions
calm and capable men. We shall be for
tunate in having here 20 counsel with our
people most OF our Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress. They can tell Us
what IA going on OF the national capital A;
the people can tell them what is going on
end what is thought at home-at home,
where the masses are suffering great in
convenience and loss by reason OF the
currency corner" aud where many indus
tries have suddenly become paralyzed.
Viewed in this one aspect, if in no other,
our convention is to be gathering OF i'm
mense Importance. 1t is well that il Is to
be large convention. Our congressman
will find that while the people are re-
solved to bear their distress patiently,
they will insist upon the promptest con-
Cressional action possible consistent with
q Just and permanent adjustment of the
currency question.
Inasmuch as the Virginia convention is
81 meet at time when the construction In
the money market is the sorest, any utter
spce by il on financial questions will at
tract more than ordinary attention; but
the fact that Congress Is at this very mo-
nent legislating, or proceeding to legis-
late, on this very subject, and the know
ledge that the situation and to some ex-
tent the issues may change at any.moment,
will make 1t more than ordinarily difficult
for the convention to construct plat
form.
At any rate. when the delegations come
20 meet by districts, each district should
try to excel all others by selecting as ITS
momber Of the Committee on Resolutions
that man whose qualifications point him
out as the fittest person to serve on that
particular committee.
Before us lies o canvass of vast impor-
tance 10 this Commonwealth. And we
must know that il will have 10 be fought In
the face of an extraordinary business de-
preston. II behooves Us. therefore. wisely
TO choose our leaders and to set them in
the field under helpful conditions, So,
let Us do all Of our convention work calm
ly, thoroughly. and periodically.
The convention is to meet in q hall
(wafehouse) of ample proportions, and
the Committee of Arrangements mean to
make il as comfortable as il is possible for
any crowded hall to be in August weather.
Richmond will be glad to see this great
body Of yirginians, and her citizens will
give to each member hearty hsnd-grasp
and the sign Of fellowship in our Demo
cratic order.