Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-02
VIRGINIA POLITICS.
COMMENT ON Mr.. ScoTT's coNvEN-
TON RECOMMENDATION.
How Senators should BE Nominated
The supreme-Court
Judges, sc.
one Eiilor of De Disnnlch:

from the time-honored and satisfactory
manner Of selecting United States Sena-
tors, Judges OF the Supreme Court. and
Superintendent of Public Instruction and
try the uncertain and revolutionary tao
tics of naming those Democrats to be
voted tor by the Democratic members OF
the coming General Assembly Of Virginia
for those places. Now. think your edito-
rial comment on his letter so fully exposed
the fellacy Of ms reasoning that | only de-
sire TO supplement II with only few rea-
sons why think that his plan would IN.
tensify rather than allay the frictiOns OF
which he Is appreheDsIve.
As you well said, the convention would
be in session only two days at most. and
III that time the choice of two senators,
five judges. ard superintendent OF Pub
lic instruction would add very materially
10 the confusion and perpleKlties with
which the convention will have TO con-
tfld in naming the candidate for Governor
and his two running mates. and III pre-
pgriag and formulating a platform on
when they viii have TO stand IN increasing
the Democratic majority this year . 75, 900
against the 81, 900 Tven Grover Cleveland
ana the ten Democratic congressmen from
Virginia. All of US who live IN the coun-
try know how delegates are elected 10 the
State convention. and IL Is usually pretty
much this wae Say at Shady Grove Pre-
ciuct. which usually gives Democratic
vote Of 200 (for illustratlon). the precinct
charman will post q notice on the doors of
the neiChDOrhOOd store and blacksmith
shop that q nlass-meetIng Ofthe Democratic
voters of the said precinct will be held to
elect delegates to the convention on the
following Saturday afternoon. At the ap-
pointed time the chairman Will promptly
cail 10 order the meeting, which will con-
sist of himself. a secretary. and only two
others, "a the storekeeper. to the regret of
all present is too busy to attend the meet
ING out on his front porch, and aftor
tho usual formalities the chairman
Announces that tho said precinct
is entitled TO two delegates and two alter
mates, and as ii result for once there are
more Offices to be distributed than there
are applicants. The chairman having
already declared hisinabilIty TO attend the
convention. the storekeeper is urged TO
allow himself TO oe elected delegate. which
he does on the condition that he will go If
ne happens 70 have any business in Rich
mond at that time. The choice OF the secre-
tary OF the meeting leaves the two places
of alternates TO the remaining two men,
bers of the meeting. Now the busi-
ness of the meeting is completed
with the resolutions of the meeting
that the proceedings be published IN
the county paper and The WEEKLY DIS
PATCH. The delegates and aiternates
having thus advertised themselves as
prominenf Democrats of the county are satls-
fed, and when the convention assemblies
they are all lacking, with the possible ex-
ceptiou OF ths said and inevitable store
keeper. So the convention can hardly be
called o body representative OF the choice
Of the people for senators and Judges.
I am an old man and have tor forty years
been q Democratic worker, and am certain
that those who are acquainted with post
ballum politics will testify that have not
cverdrawn the picture Of a precinct meet
ne. And as for a mass-meeting on court
dav. ! have seen delegates elected when
there was not a voter present from two
thirds of the precincts in the county.
| acree with Brother Scott that this Is
an important election. and ! am sure ca IN
county will put forward It's best man for
the Legislature. and they, in most cases,
will make a house-tO-hOuse canvass ana at
the fireside leave the wishes OF the soye-
reigns and when In the Democratic caucus
in Richmond act on H..
Let Fltz Lee, T. s. Martin. Holmes Con.
rad. George ID. Wise. General Hunton. and
sIp, ,.tbar gentlemen who are willing and
desirous OF serving Virginia IN th5 Senate
adOpt the manner of electlOneerlng rs
was practiced by John Randolph. Little
ton ". Tazewell John Il. Floyd, Henry
"a. Wise. and others of that school-name-
| lv. bv appealing 10 the people by cham
pionjnp the cause of Democracy on the
hustings of each county, and III that way
the people will hold them all on probation
and readily decide on the best man and
MAKE their representative know 1t.
Let not the five Judges have their spot
less ermine befouled by being selected In
a convention which, according TO Mr..
Scott. is to be held largely TO reward par
tisaps whom Dir. Cleveland hes thought
fit TO leave out but rather let them be
taken because of their known ability and
learning in the law and the purity OF their
characters than az reward tor party ser,
vlce-only knowing that they are SOUND
Very respectfully. j. c. BOWMAN.
KeysuiAe, Vd., March q, 1898.
A Southwestern View.
To he Editor Of he DisDdtcA:
In your paper of the 2Gth instant notice
q letter from Mr.. w. w. Scott, which Is
novel. startling, and suggestive. Hsd II
not originated from so respectable
source | would have supposed 1t scheme
10 erdae the popular judgment and in be-
half of some favored aspirant for the
Senate.
Mr.. Scott IS O politician, at least from a
virginia standpoint. and gentleman
whose intelligence is rarely ut fault, and he
certainly understands the way county and
district and ward meetings are held. now
conducted. how by com Oinalon Oh
three or four leaders or even one active
leader the results may be determined, ana
how in nine eases ont of ten they are de-
n n
credible that he should propose-selious-
". asst appears-to transfer TO an unwIeidly
and boisterous mob, governed more by the
lmpuise of the time. the lRspTdh0H OF q
holiday visit to the city, and the cnangeiuI
clamor Of the galleries than by any We'll
studied question of representative respon-
sibilltv, the constitutional functions Oh
the Legislature. ~, CD.
An the issues mentioned IN Mr.. Scotts
letter will be before the people tor months
for discussion aud reflection. Candidates
for the LEGISLATURE will be elected with d.
rect reference to these matters, and when
members vote they will vote under the
solemn obligation Of this sacred honor ana
with reference TO the will or their const'-
tuents.
Moreover, I can hardly foresee a time
during the life of the healthlest BABE porn
TO-DAY, when any combination OF the lhlru
party and tho Kepubllcans Gun eNpi
menace the assured ascendency OF the
Democratic party in Virginia. We are IA q
our fathers house once more, thank Hou
and we are here 10 stay. Let US keep IT,
a. il was given us: it was bullded we'll
and ITS foundations are broad ana deep.
some stcut-hearted Democrats may nave
been disappointed by Dir. Cleveland 5
rulings. but these are merely the Yiclssl-
tudes of politics. and | think can roresee
time not four years distant when the
party not only will be stronger ana
healthier in Virginia. but stronger ana
healthier in many other states, oecause
the people. whose candidate he was; VIII
become assured of his unconqueraole de-
termination to make the axiom or the
authors" the greatest good To the great
est number the rule of his conduct.
And now, Mr.. Editor. If 'perchance out
of the goodness of his heart Mr.. scott mas
suggested this plan IN the interest OF some
friend whom ne thinks could be h0n'-
nn,ed by convention, but not eifc'ed oy
the General Assembly, we suggest 10 hih
the couplet
lie olther fears his fate too much'
Or his deserts are small,
Who tails 10 put IL to the toucn
And win or loss u all
! have the honor TO be very. truly yours,
HAIRY NJ. SMYTHE.
Graham, Va, March 2sth.
a. Ef.ctfng .Iudpas