The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-15

The Democratic State Executive Com
mitlee VIII hold special meeting ia Co
lumDla on Wednesday evening I'D deal
with The political situation ia the State
as affected by the decision OF judge CON
ia the registration case. The meeting
has been called by Chairman no.. We
do not know what plans he has In view
ana we are unable 10 predict what ac-
ton the committee Will take. but the
situation Is undoubtedly OF the grayest im-
portance, and requires the most careful
treatment The one overshadowing issue
IN the state today is the issue OF white
supremacy. and upon this issue the white
people cannot AFFORD 10 divide
IL Is necessary that the factional lines
by which they have been divided in re-
cent campaigns snail be- obliterated and
That the Delegates TO the constitutional
Convention shall be elected without re-
gard TO these divisions Several PROPOSE
tons have been made looking 10 this
end and various conferences have been
held. The Tillman-Barnwcll conference
proposed ia February last plan by
which there should be an equal division
of delegates in the Convention between
the Conservative and Reform factions
upon certain basic conditions. and this
plan, in view OF the situation i'm the
state AT the time IL was proposed and In
the light Of ali subsequent events is
the only practicable working plan by
which the white people can be brought
together. The plan subsequently, propos-
ed by the Conference of the Forty. as
We have said. is the same i'm effect.
though not in terms. as the plan pro-
posed by the Tillman-Barnwell confer
ence, and We repeat that it is upon line
proposition OF white supremacy and upon
4rI.a Ifrf
sition rests that the delegates 10 the
Constitutional Convention must be elect
ed II the highest and best interests Of
the State are TO be guarded and pre-
served.
As we have said. we do not know what
Chairman liDy's purposes are. but We
would warn the Executive Committee
against too ready acqulescence i'm his
views. lie IS Oh record as having said.
Il want II understood now and for all
time that / viii not and do not agree
TO any equal division Of delegates TO the
convention" Ii may be that he will
take different view Of the situation as
it IS affected by Judge Gons decision.
but IL is evident. from his attitude to-
wards all the efforts which have been
made TO reunite the white people Of the
State, that the EXecutivc Committee can
not safely trust entirely 10 his superior
leadership in this crisis.
IL is perhaps worthy Of note AZ this
time that the Conservatives who took
part in the conference with Senator TIL
man, and other representatives of the
Reform wing Of the party have a,
no time and In no way sacrificed their
independence as Conservatives, indeed.
while agreeing 10 a truce between The
factions. they agreed TO obiiterate the
fractional lines, not by surrendering their
identity as Conservatives. but by maxi
ing the Conservative and Reform lines or
exactly equal length. by giving 10 the
Conservatives and RefOrmers exactly
equal voting strength, or "as nearly equal
as possible, i'm the whole Convention"
While going in with the RefOrhers 10
make the Constitutional Convention
body which will guarantee white su-
premacy TO the State. they went in as
Conservatives. and in all that they have
done they have preserved their distinctive
character as Conservatives.
IL is said that the Executive Commit
tee will provide at its meeting on We'd
nesday night for a general primary for
the State for the election OF delegates
TO the Constitutional Convention. and at
such a primary il the basic conditions"
of the conference plan shall be OBJ
served in the choice OF delegates and II
the equal division OF the managers OF
the primary shall be provided for as
agreed to in the conference plan" we
presume that there will be little difficulty
In conducting such a primary, although
under the terms OF the conference plan"
each county shall act for itself as 10 the
question OF election by primary or other
wise as deemed best by the county ex-
ecutiye committee" We do not know
what course the Executive Committee
Of the Forty will take II the Irby Com
mittee should order a general primary.
but IL would seam that they will be
bound 10 take Tart in such primary.