Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-09
VIEWS ON THE PLAN.
Nearly all of the Candidates Favor
a Straight Primary.
CAPTAIN HALLS POSITION.
He Submitted HIS Proposition with the
Iden OF Producing Harmony-How
the Conference Was Called.

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looked forward TO with decided interest.
There is every prospect that the dis
cussion of the manner Of making nominal
tions for the General Assembly VIII be
| again opened and If such is the case the
proceedings will certainly be animated
The plan agreed upon in general way
last Tuesday night-a primary for the
election OF delegates and a convention TO
make nominstlons-has been severely crit
| icized in many quarters and 1t seems
pretty generally understood that another
effort will be made to get the committee
! to reconsider its action and adopt
straight primary for making House NOM
| nations.
The committee on plans-composed
| of Major Drewry, Captain Gasser ana
| Mr.. Rosene-will probably be ready TO
report Tuesday night and the fight VIII
| begin when the consideration of this
paper comes up. This committee, OF
| course. has simply TO prepare the de-
tails Of a plan under which TO conduct
such primary as has been decided upon.
! THE CANDIDATES CONFERENCE.
The conference of the candidates held
! on Thursday and reported in yesterdays 8
Dispatch, has not added fuel to the
fire of political excitement which the
| free and enthusiastic discussion of the
| subject has kindled. The resolution pre-
pared by Mr. Crump, adopted by the con-
ference with Captain Fraysev, the only
| candidate Vo ing against 1t, and published
| yesterday, asserted that the conference
was suggested by Mr. S. S. l.. Patterson,
| chairman of the City Democratic Com
mlttee, but this gentleman very emphat-
ically denies that such was the case.
The meeting was held In the office OF
Mr.. Julian Bryant and not in that of
! Mr.. Patterson as inadvertently stated
| yesterday. Explaining the origin of the
| exchange Of views among the aspirants
for legislative hOnOrs. Mr.. Patterson said
| that on Wednesday morning MIR. John S.
| IarwOod, one Of those who want to go
! the House, came TO his office and said
the action of the City Committee had
caused great dissatisfaction, and asked
| him If he thought there was any OBJ
lection TO the candidates holding a con-
| ference. Mr. Patterson replied that he
| could not see that there was, and MIR.
| Harwood then asked him to accompany
him to the office Of MIR. Julian Bryant
| which he did. Mr.. Bryant and Mr. Har-
| wood talked the matter over, and in re-
Fly to the question whether he would
have any objection to the candidates
meeting in his Office the next morning at
10 o'clock, Mr.. Bryant said that it would
be entirely agreeable. Mr.. HarwOod
thereupon wrote notes to all OF the can
diddtes asking their presence. The re-
suit Of this meeting has been told. IT
was the adoption OF a resolution say
ing that there was much dissatisfaction
! expressed among the people at the plan
adopted" declaring that It was deemed
ineXpedient to make any suggestions to
the committee and saying that II a pri-
mary should be agreed upon they pre-
ferred an early one.
| WANTED y STRAIGHT PRIMARY.
Captain Frayser who was mtde chair
man OF this meeting. is a pronounced
primary man. lie has always been a
| staunch advocate of this mode OF making
nominations. lie both spoke on this line
and offered series of resolutions op-
posing the plan of the City Committee,
asking for direct primary and declar-
! ing that the candidates would not pledge
| themselves 10 any candidate for the var
| ious Offices 10 be filed by the General
Assembly. The resolutions were not
| seconded, and ii was after they had
been offered that Mr.. CruInp submitted
| those which were adopted All of the can
didates for the House, except Messrs.
Stratton and Byrne were present; but
neither Mr. LOVensten nor Mr.. Sands
both OF whom seek reelection to the
Senate attended. as they regarded the
primary as a matter which only inter-
ested the House aspirants, as the Senator's
are nominated jointly BY the city and
county, and convention had been de-
| termined upon.
y false impression seems to have gone
out about the appearance Of Captain
Cunningham Hall, the patron OF the
primary-convention plan, at the candi-
dates meeting. He called to see Mr.
Bryant without knowing that such q
conference was in progress, and though
invited In, declined to enter Later on
after the candidates had all expressed
their views, it was moved that Chairman
Patterson be invited in. and it was then
suggested that Mr. Hall be again rendered
an invitation. This was agreed TO- and
the two gentlemen were sent for Mr.
Patterson was not found, but Mr. Hall
was, and In response 10 the courtesy OF
the assembly explained. as he did in
the City Committee meeting, why In the
interest Of harmony and good feeling, he
offered the motion 10 elecc delegatN to
tn convention by II primary the motion
to reconsider the vote OF April last, adopt
ing a convention having been defeated
CHATS WITH CANDIDATES.
The Dispatch yesterday sought inter-
views with the several candidates for
nomination for the purpose of ascertain
ing their preferences as between
straight primary and Mr.. Halls plan
Mr.. j. Aston Cabell. candidate for
the House. said:
THE CITY Central Committee are chosen
by the people and are responsible to the
people for their action. and / have no
doubt they will endeavor to carry out
the peoples wishes As a citizen, | have
a right to express my approval or dis
approval of what they do. but / do not
think il is proper for me. as a candidate,
to dictate to them. or to make sugges-
tions to them until they request me so
TO do. While / should prefer either a
straight primary or "A convention to the
present plan. l am willing to abide by
what / said nearly two months ago-that
was willing TO entrust the mode of Sc
lecting candidates to represent the DEM
ocratic Darty 10 our committees. l be-
lieve the committee has the welfare OF
the party at heart and when they find
that the plan adopted does not meet
with the approval of the people, they will
agree upon such a plan as Will"
PREFERS A DIRECT VOTE.
, Mr.. Thomas Byrne. the working mans
representative" is heart and soul in
favor OF a primary. He thinks 1t Is the
best means for hearing the voice of the
people and the fairest way Of testing the
popularity Of the candidates Moreover,
rs Chairman Patteson recently said that
he would guarantee the expenses Of the
primary, 1t would cost the would be
/ Solons little or nothing. When Mr.. Byrne
= was elected TO the Legislature four years
ago he was nominated by convention.
while in the last contest he was de-
feated In the primary. Therefore. he has
: tried both plans. but now that there Is a
possibility that the candidates viii be
, freed from the heavy assessment which
, heretofore taxed them. he is red hot for
! the latter. He thinks that conventions are
, always run by a few. and that even at
precinct meetings the candidates have but
poor showing. as only a few people
attend such gatherings.
Mr. Byrne most heartily disapproves
of the plan recently decided upon by the
City Committee and earnestly hopes that
the BODY will reconsider their action con-
cerning II.
) Before making the leap into the politi-
cal cauldron which has already begun TO
} sizz and boil. Mr.. Byrne will. take a little
rest and holiday. Next Saturday he and
/ his wife will leave for Milwaukee, where
! they 20 TO attend the Car Painters Con-
, vention From the Great Beer City they
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