Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-17
LET THE PEOPLE SAY
May Express Their Wishes as 10 Amend
Ing the City Charter.
HOW IT WILL DE DONE.
Each Voter to Express His Pre-
ference md the Legislature to he
of Nominating Discussed.

| Eighth street LAST night at $50 o'clock.
| The meeting was called 10 order by Mr.
/ NJ. l.. Dawson, chairman. who thanked
the members for the earnest co-opera-
ton and advice that had been given TO
him in the past, and expressed the belief
that they would once again carry the
banner Of Democracy TO victory. The
roll was then called, and about twenty
members answered to their names.
The resignation of Mr.. Guyer. of Mar
| shall Ward. was offered and accepted.
Mr. c. l.. Weisiger was elected as Mr..
Guyer's successor. Mr.. Guyer's place on
the Auditing Committee was filled by Mr..
H. st. John Coalter. The vacancy caused
by the resignation OF Mr.. Dunstan was
filed by the election Of Mr.. W. b. Isaacs,
| Jr.
THE VIVA-VOcE PLAN.
Coming TO the matter OF how legisla-
tive nominations shall be made, Mr.. Bow
! cry moved that the viva-voce plan OF
voting be adopted for the primary.
The motion was opposed by Mr.. Jarvis
who said he considered tho vote by bal
lot infinitely preferable. Mr. Bowery
replying TO this objection. said the viva
voce method enabled every one 10 ex-
press their sentiments. He added that
IL is a very speedy method Of election
| and at the conclusion causes no loss Of
time in reaching the popular verdict. 1t
| has given perfect satisfaction wherever
it has been tried. There is no chance OF
cheating in IT. he continued, although.
! as far as he was aware. no dishonesty
| had ever occurred In the regular primary.
II would. moreover. be far cheaper.
Mr.. Bowery then entered into descrip-
ton Of the manner In which the viva
voce election was conducted. Only one
man. he said. was allowed In the booth
az a time. and all others were kept forty
feet away while he gave his vote.
Mr.. H. ". Tyler moved that the resO-
luton of Mr.. Bowery be referred 20 the
Committee on Plans He said he thought
it would be best 10 express the sense Of
the meeting and then refer It 10 this
committee. Mr. Bowery said this was
| practically what he suggested, and hio
motion was adopted.
DATE OF THE PRIMARY.
The next question discussed was the
date on which the primary should be held.
one member suggested September l1th.
as he believed the earlier II took place.
the better place II would be. Mr.. Bowery
said he had discussed the matter with
a number Of persons, and had arrived ut
the conclusion that later date would
prove more advantageous. He said that
October Path would be a preferable date.
Several members spoke for and against
September 18th, and Mr.. Morris suggested
October Ist as compromise. Mr.. c. X.
winston. secretary Of the committee. said
he had seen the candidates personally.
and they were unanimously In favor OF
an early date. Mr.. Tyler proposed that
the matter be laid on the table. and upon
| the question being put the amendment
was carried.
THE CHARTER AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Jarvis said he would like to know
| whether the committee would vote on The
| Epps resolution.
Mr.. Morris proposed the following:
| Whereas the voters Of the city Of
| Richmond desire an opportunity by ballot
to express their approval or disapproval
os the Epps resolutions; therefore. we, the
| city Democratic Committee. believing
that this demand OF the voters is right
and just. resolve that the Epps resolution.
as offered in the Common Council. be
submitted TO the people for an expression
Of opinion in the next Democratic prl-
mary" The motion was seconded by Mr..
Pagan.
An amendment was offered by Mr.
Y
the coming primary be allowed to vote,
and say what officers of the city of Rich
mond they desire to be elected by the
people Mr.. Coalter said that, with the
exception Of the Police Justice. he saw
no objection to all officers being elected
by popular vote. lie suggested the posi-
bility OF a justice of the peace catering
In his decisions In court TO influential
people if his election depended on the
ct Ia I'D h.
names OF Offices be added 10 the ticket
and that the voter should decide which
offices should be filled by popular vote
and which should not, by erasing tho
latter Mr.. Tyler said this plan would
be exceedingly complicated, and would b
80 involved that it would be impossible
to vote intelligently on the subject. He
suggested that the people should vote
either for or against the amendment OF
the charter.
Mr.. Cunningham Hall moved that &C
ton on the Epps resolution be referred
TO the Committee on Plans. His motor
was seconded. Mr. Morris said he was
opposed to Mr.. Halls proposition. lii
| had no objection In the world to the mat
ter being referred 10 the Committee OF
Plans but thought II should be acted upor
there and then.
Mr.. Dawson spoke in support Of Mr.
Halls motion. and was followed by
Messrs Gordon and Doherty for th'
amendment, and Messrs. Winston anC
Bowery in favor OF Mr.. Morriss mo
! ton.
ASK THE PEOPLES WISH.
Mr. Tyler said he only saw on,
course for them TO pursue He did no
think they could submit the Epps reso
luton. or any other resolution. The pri
mary was 10 nominate five candidates fC
the House of Delegates. He suggested
that the ticket might contain a claus
10 be voted on as to whether the public
were or were not In favor of electinl
certain officers. and that II a matort,
was given in the affirmative tn
LEGISLATORS should decide what officer:
should be so elected. If this committee
he continued. should say to the peopl
that IL was in favor of electing certain
officers by the people it would find itsel
in an anomalous position. II should no
go further. he thought than 10 asl
whether or not the public desired 4
elect their public officers.
The substitute offered by Mr.. Hall 4
the motion of Mr.. Morris was carried
with only two dissenting votes.
The committee adjourned at 1920 4
meet at the same place and hour next Fri