Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-30
TO PICK THEIR MEN.
The Labor Conference Committee Soon
10 Meet for This Purpose
PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT.
Letter from Chairman Dawson Ar
x~iux the CITY Committee" Right
a.. on,.,r nm Esprc~xion of Opin-
ion on This Question.


,,srre c,udlda'es may be chosen will
moo, next week 10 make The selections
The convention Of representatives OF or
rani,ed labor 20 be held the second We'd.
nesday In September Will choose five out
pf the ten names submitted. AZ least that
Is the idea, though the convention VIII
have full power TO do rs II chooses IN
The matter. II is understood that only
Two workingmen will be named. and that
three businessmen will be endorsed. The
object that the working people seem 10
have In view is securing the nomination
and election OF members OF the house
who Will advocate amending the CITY
charter so az TO make the heads OF AL
departments elective by the people. rather
than by the Council as now.
CHAIRMAN DAWSONS LETTER.
In the following letter the chairman OF
the City Democratic Committee discusses
n question In which great public interest
Is felt:
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
In reply 20 the editorial which appeared
ia the Times Of yesterday morning, r.
garding the recent action OF the CITY
Committee. 1 beg 10 say that the duties
OK this committee have not been hereto
fore clearly defined, SO far as l have oeen
able. after careful investigation 10
ascertain. Its own constitution ana ny
laws GO not clearly deln- either is powers
or its duties. except 50 far as 10 say mat
the various, ward superintendent shall
be considered the respective heads OF the
party In their wards. Even the Times.
though it repeatedly undertakes 20 assert
that this committee has exceeded its au-
thOrity. does not conGcsceni 10 enligh'en
either the committee or the public as 10
what. IN its opinion, this authority ought
10 be. /, therefore. or any other member
OF this committee, have the same rlsht as
the Times 10 determine what course IL
ought to pursue In "a matter purely poll
teal and whether or not II exceeds us
authority IN taking that course.
The Times. In reply 10 my letter Of yes
terday, says II cannot colcede that nave
made out IA case. ! had TO case 10 make
out. and made no effort IN this direction.
] simply explained what j believed 10
BE- the powers which had been delegated
70 the committee by the people, and am
content 10 leave IL 10 them 10 say whether
or not made cut that case" The mem
lers Of this committee were elected by
their constituents 10 superntend, regulate
and direct elections within the lines OF
the Democratic party and TO proVide
for an expression OF opinion from the
Democratic voters upon questions OF
political nature. II they were not elect
"a for this purpOse. ! confess that l
am at a loss 10 know what they are |
supposed 10 do.
BROAD. UNQUALIFIED STATEMENTS |
The Times contents itself with making |
broad. unqualified statements without con
descending 10 descend to the common |
place plane Of ordinary reasoning 10 !
prove that those statements are either
reasonable or founded ,n TACT. For eN-
ample. It contends that If the argument |
that political body should yield 10
the wishes of the people and allow them
10 express their opinion in a fair ana
ppcn primary on purely poll
teal question, could be tolerated
1t would produce anarchy BY
what sort Of reasoning, logical or
illogical can the Times reach con-
illusion SO much at variance with the
teachings OF history or the dictates OF
common-senso? Ii its position is correct,
then this conservative community is
rapidly fastening to that deplorable cons!
ditiOn which IL predicts. because the ar
gument which ! made has not only been
tolerated" but has received the endorse
ment OF all, without one exception, Of
those with whom i have discussed il.
IL the Times doubts this statement, l VIII
so with any representative which 1t may
select, and ascertain the views Of the
thoughtful and conservative people Of
Richmond as TO whether or not the
people have a right 20 express their opin-
ion by their votes on a political question
which Is agitating politics. If 20 per
cent. OF them DO not agree with mo,
l will then acknowledge that the con-
mittee has exceeded It's authority, and
does not merit the confidence of those
who place its members in positions OF re-
sponsibility.
The Times continues to repeat hat
have shown no authority for the com
miitee's action. While / do not acknow-
ledge that the committee is called upon
10 show It's authority for its action in
this or any other direction, stlll l r.
spectfully but firmly deny that | haze
failed TO name this authority, because
/ distinctly stated that the committees
authority for taking this course was de-
rived from the source whence /. received
its authority to manage party elections,
10 keep the party in line, TO WORK for
its welfare, and TO strive increasingly
for its success.
A FEW QUESTIONS ASKED.
In this connection. with the kind per-
mission of the Times. l will ask it wha'
] believe TO be a few pertinent questions.
When II replies 10 them ] will be III a
better position to inteligently understand
ats position and explain my own, as "A
member Of that body which IL has ad-
versey and unjustly criticised.
!. VIII 1t define what It believes TO be
the powers OF political committee like
that under discussion?
2. Can IL cite some authority for the
assertion that the committee has ex-
reeded its authority? AS the powers Of
the committee have not been defined by
II, Is II not encumbent upon the Times
10 prove an usurpation which will lead TO
dreaded anarchy?
3. In constituting our powers, does II
contend that we are 10 be judged as II
~e were constitutional convention or
legislative body?
T. IL W. have no power to let the
Democratic voters say what they desire.
what right have members OF any party
elected 10 legislative body to caucus
on any measure? Are they elected with
any such defined authority, and do they
exceed their authority when they so meet
and discuss and decide what they want?
II such representatives can by confer
ence and vote ascertain the wish OF a
majority, why cannot the people, who
are the supreme power in any party.
do the same thing?
8. Can II suggest any plan wiser or
safer or fairer for ascertaining an ex-
preston from the people touching DO
litical question than by allowing them
TO vote upon II IN an open. public. pri-
mary election;
6. Can 1t point out another mode by
Oh.