The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-25
THE ASTOUNDING ACT OF THE CITY
COMMITTEE.

There IL no cxaggeration in saying that
no action OF public nature has occurred
IN Richmond in a long time which gives
the people more unbounded astonishment
than the action OF the city Democratic
committee on Tuesday night in providing
that The Democratic candidates for mem
bers OF tho Legislature from this city In
the Legislature TO be elected In November
next shall be chosen by convention In
stead OF by a primary election. escape
from holding that convention In July hav-
ing been made by Craze only, II 1t has
been escaped at all. IL there is any one
thing that the people OF Richmond are
unanimous about It is that candidates
here shall be chosen In primary elections
and not by conventions. our experience
OF twenty-five years has taught us that
when we have primary elections that
persons are chosen whom the people de-
sire. When we have nominations made
by conventions those persons are chosen
whom ring that packs the convention
desires.
In the committee meeting Tuesday night
Mr.. Bowry. who made a most sensible
speech. said that when a convention was
last held here. in one precinct Of his
ward Marshall, thirty voters met in
hall and chose the members Of the con-
vention for that precinct, although there
are nine hundred Democratic voters in
the precinct. Thirty men exercised the
elective franchise then for 800 and $40 had
no voice whatever in their own affairs
And this Is the way the convention
scheme works all over the city
The city committee, therefore, in de-
termining that our candidates for the
Legislature shall be chosen by "A conven-
ton instead Of by primary election have
reversed the will Of nine Democratic
voters out Of every ten in the city, and
have placed a most important matter in
a shape that will allow intriguers and
trlcksters to control il with their foul
machinery, in disregard of the will Of the
people. The committee has made a most
serious blunder, and it cannot retrace its
steps too soon.
1t was further, a totally indefensible
act that a matter Of this importance
should have been taken up and decided
in the way that this action was brought
about It is safe to say that there were
not go voters in the city Of Richmond
who had the slightest idea that action Of
this sort was contemplated by the COM
mittee on Tuesday night. 1t had not been
published amongst the people, and there
had been no canvassing Of it amongst
them No popular opinion upon it had
been either formed or expressed. Now
we say most emphaticaly that when il
is proposed to make change Of policy in
respect 10 Il public matter Of this inn
portance it should be done only after
there has been full announcement Of the
purpose TO do so, and full discussion Of
it amongst the people that it may be de-
termined whether the people want the
change or whether they do not. Action
like that Of the committee on Tuesday
night has all the effect of SNAP juds-
ment" If 1t is not intended for it. The
party has given the committee power TO
regulate its general affairs, # is true.
but IL is with the understanding that that
regulation shall be I'm harmony with the
wishes Of the voters. This understanding
must be respected or the committee must
resign and let others take its place who
will respect it. or the voters Of this city
Will take the matter into their own hands
There are great rewards dependent upon
the voice of the next Legislature. 1t
elects two United States senator's, five
judges Of the court Of appeals. the cir
cult judges and the judges Of the hastings
and chancery courts Of the city of Rich.
mond. There has been talk in the air
for some time of a combination between
candidates for some Of these positions TO
control the selection of nominees for the
Legislature and the talk has taken I'm
more parts of the State than Richmond
Is It possible that this extraordinary ac-
ton of our city committee is part Of a
general move for packing the Legislature
in the interest of some of the candidates
for these places? 1t is impossible to be
lieve that our committee could willingly
be made a party to such scheme. Has
it been duped by designing men? The
case has all the appearance Of it. As We
have said, it was only by Craze that the
time for holding the convention was not
fixed as July 18th, on the earnest appeal
of the chairman who has always opposed
such proceedings, and the committee even
yet reserves the right to fix on that date
with strong tendency for it. Who but
some person or persons wishing TO get
an improper advantage out of such action
could have influenced the members TO
such an astonishing course? This mat
ter must be explained or the people will
be heard from respecting it, and with no
uncertain voice.