Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-28
Icgislatiyc Nominations.

We are glad to find that there is Httle
disnosition on the part of our city people
10 press legislative nominations OUTING
this hot weather There will be plenty or
time for the primary contest AFTER the
middle o. September. and experience has
shown that a short. sharp. and decisive
canvass is the best sort Of canvass for
the candidates and voters. both.
At present our people are giving very
little consideration to the important fact
that in November next this city is To
elect five members Of the House of Dele
Gates. There is a movement in the Cen
trail Trades and Labor Council TO have
the workingmen represented on our
ticket, but beyond this we have seen no
evidence ot popular interest in the APP
Troachiag contest
And vet the next legislative session will
he an unusually momentous one. There is
10 be no election Of United States sena-
tor. as many suppose: but the purely le-
eislatvc questions that viii arise Will
.-urpass senatorial election in import
rrcc. There win be- several propositions
10 amend our election laws. Malone and
the populs,s hope to commit a majority
o. the members > the repeal Of the Wal
ton law They are even now al work In
many directions. How to revise and
amend The Underwood Constitution viii
be the subject of much discussion. w
coubt not. one plan viii be to hold
constitutional convention. Another Will
D. 10 appoint commission TO examine
i0;o the whole s,bjcct and 70 report -
tso Legislature for its action And OF
those who favor the commission there
WI ta some Nnr wish il appointed by
tto legislature while others viii wish
it elected by The people. There Will be
e"trrmi1.1 effort made this year to Sc
.clre changes i'm our laws with reference
a. 'hs ADMINISTRATION of criminal Justice.
There is also movement on foot in
favor o. Law rcfo~n in matters Of civil
rlOeeiLr,. Doubtless. too. we shall hear
me,1ing ah9lt the oyster question"
iut ,lo.c hes ioon Uuw01tcd peace on
,te Clc-spcai." aui its tributaries this
.ear. and We trust that the new oyster
4aV can rc made wholly acceptable 10 the
masses by fox amendments carrying
out thc general IDEA Of its trainers The
~ sistfsH .tfF Hali - V'itt4VItA ~ Sttuit
lron the War-Records Office at Wash
inston copies of the original rolls Of the
Virginia soldiers who served in the Con-
Tolerate armies during the late war.
several cities ard towns will come for
ward with requests that their corporate
limits be enlarged; but whether Rich
nond will be among them we do not
know; We hope so-that is. If. before the
Legislature meets. we can make a suit
able treaty on this subject with Man
chester. Ii seems probable that the lie
eislature viii be petitioned to make some
changes in the charter Of our city with
reference TO the city officers to be elected
10y the people.
Altogether-as may be seen--the next
legislative session will be unusually i'm
ror;ant. and 1t is of grave consequence
that Richmond shall have in the House
i've men Of ability ana influence. If We
had State senators TO elect-as many other
districts have-that issue. involving the
United States senatorship question would
.mbarrass US more or less; but. as it is. we
are at liberty 10 select our five delegates
upon their individual merits.
We suppose that the political contest of
the year In this State viii be between
the Democrats and coalition of it's old
enemies. What name the coalition will
take we do not know; but the chances
are that Il Will call itself the Honest
Elections party Under this name Il is
hoped by its promoters 10 gather all the
men of Virginia, white and black, who
think that the Democratic party OF this
State cannot be trusted to revise and
amend our election-laws.
Malone is back of this movement. and
hs Is expected To bring 10 IT most of the
Republicans whom he has commanded
since 1879. So. IL would seem that the
November contest may be lively: at
any rate. 1t IL never safe to despise Gene
raj Mahone's power for evil-doing
against the Democratic party And
next year being presidential year. it
will doubtless be his purpose TO put forth
his best efforts and distinguish himself
BY so doing he will probably be able to
control the Virginia delegation TO the
National Republican Convention.
We conclude that Richmond ought not
only TO send an influential delegation 10
the House but should set an example OF
party loyalty and unity.