Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-09-28
DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE MEETINGS


county committee in reference to the
nomination of a candidate for the legis-
lature.
In the absence of Chairman Barley,
Mr.. N. P. Vincent presided.
In addition to a majority of the city
committee there were present Messrs.
c. B. Graham, A. T. Douglass and Geo.
Salisbury, of the county committee and
Messrs. w. w. Douglass aud Chas.
Thompson, prospective candidates for
the legislature from the county.
Mr. Vincent stated that the meeting
had been called to hear the statements
from the county committee regarding
the primary election.
Chairman Graham, of the county
committee, stated that his committee
had held meeting and had come 10
the conclusion that the action of the
CITY committee in ordering a primary
and allowing the candidate receiving a
plurality of the votes in the city 10
name twenty delegates to the conven-
ton was arbitrary that such action
ruled out the county as by 1t a county
man might receive the solid vote of the
county and nine-twentieths of the vote
ofthe CITY and then be defeated by the
city man who received eleven-;wer-
teths only Of the city vote. He asked
that the ruling OF the city committee be
rescinded so that the county might have
some chance at least of nominating a
candidate. He said the action of the city
committee caused bad feeling in the
county which was not desirable he
waited the city and county democrats
10 work together in harmony and as
the latter expected to work hard this
fall they wished to be treated fairly.
Dr. Cox agreed with Mr.. Graham and
said he, too, wanted harmony. He ask
ed ifthe county committee had received
an invitation to meet the city commit
tee and said the city had adopted the
plan because no county man was pre-
sent.
MIR. B. f. Penn said that by the plan
adopted by the committee county man
had the same chance in a primary as
city man.
Mr.. Geo. Salisbury said that county
man could not make the same light u
the city as city man.
Mr.. \. 7. Douglass said that up TO
Thursday last he had been chairman of
the county committee but at that time
he had resigned. He had received au
invitation to be present ut the meeting
held by the city committee last week,
but only received it on the evening oil
the night of the meeting-;oo late for
him to attend. The county committee
have always responded promptly tc
meet the city committee when properly
notified.
Mr.. Vincent explained the sending
of the invitation for a joint meeting and
assured the county men that no dere-
fiction of duty was intended. He
wanted to keep the county democrats in
line. If they had a candidate he want
ed them TO name him and then let the
man come in and make canvass of the
city.
Mr. Graham wished to let each can
didate have the number of delegates
elected for him; he wished no plurality
rule, as under such rule the city could
always beat the county.
Mr.. Chas Thompson opposed the
rule adopted by the city committee,
under which the candidate receiving
the plurality of the vote in the city could
name all twenty of the delegates to the
convention in which the county's five
delegates could stand no chance for
their candidate. He said no city man
had yet canvassed the county. He had
been induced to become candidate,
believing that by rotation the county
would be allowed to have representa-
tive in the Legislature oftener than
once in seventeen years. He would not
come to the convention unless
with the backing Of his county, and be-
ljeved that such an Endorsement would
be sufficient guarantee that he was
worthy to represent his county. He
warned the city against snap conven-
tions;" showed how such proceedings
had worked injuriously to those con-
cerned, and urged that the county be
treated fairly by the city.
Mr.. w. W. Douglass declared chat
by the ruling Of the city committee the
county was Disseminated against and
showed that under such ruling the will
of the majority of the combined vote Of
the city and county could be thwarted
by minority. He said the county
only wanted to be treated fairly and
they would then take their chances in
the convention.
Mr.. ]. r. Cation thought the rue
adopted by the city committee was fair
and that under it all candidates had an
equal chance.
Mr.. Chas. Bendheim, on being called
on for his opinion, said that if the rule
were rescinded it would create dissen-
tions and complications; ne thought
the action of the committee was per-
Getty fair.
Mr.. Dobie favored giving the county
democrats fair representation in the
convention. He admired the democ-
racy of men who, even while always in
the minority, went to the polls and
voted their ticket. Such were the
county democrats and they should be
treated fairly.
After further debate q motion to
rescind the former action of the city
committee in allowing the candidate
receiving the plurality of votes in the
city to name the twenty delegates to
the convention to which the city is en-
titled was adopted.
Some confusion and misunderstood
ing followed the announcement of the
adoption of the motion and another
vote was called for, but such q vote
only made more certain the resembling
of the rule.