Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-08
THE PRIMARY PLEDGE.

..The person voting this ticket hereby
pledees himself 10 support the nominees
Of the Democratic party at the ensuing
national election"
whoever reads the foregoing pledge
taken by those who participated IN the
last Democratic primary here, VIII see
hat Il requires all who voted not onV
~ support Bryan and Sewall, but our
nominee for Congress in this district
There is no escaping this conclusion
There can be no successful pleading tnat
the ticket headed by Bryan and SeWah
,s not the Democratic ticket. The very
men who. al our primary, were elected
delegates to attend the stanton conven-
ton acted as our peoples agents IN ADOPT
ing the chicago platform and in making
the Chicago nominations.
Neither the people OF Virginia nor the
neople Of Richmond have rebelled against
anv action Of the Chicago convention.
Have YOU heard Of any public meeting oil
the Democrats of Richmond TO denounee
the aas.en Of the Chicago oonventionY NO.
Brvs you heard OF our State Committee
~
dias,rr the action OF the Chicago conyen-
,oag No: indeed. Then, how can any
man who voted at our primary
,,ain, 10 have secured release from
the primary pledge? Is he to set
IN his own opinions against the opinions
az tho pabuc and Of all our party auf
thoritieS2
Taase gentlemen who voted at our pri-
mary. and who have recently signed
nledrs 10 bolt our nomination, should re-
consider. We do not think they have
done intentional wrong; but they have
acted thouehtlessiy. and should make
haste 70 put themselves right ana 10
withdraw their names from the anti
Rrvan pledge. They are held and firmly
hound by the primary pledge. and IKE
GOOD citizens and honorable men, ought
10 20 TO the polls on November 81 ana
vote not only for Bryan and sewan, but
for our congressional nominee.
Friends. this is plain statement OF the
case. You voluntarily took pledge and
hound yourself to vote for the Demo-
cratic nominees. Nothing has occurred TO
release you. The Chicago convention was
the Democratic convention. 1t acted with
,n ,ts mowers. and its authority is recog-
nized as binding by the great Virginia
public. by the State Democratic Commit
tee. ard by all our county and city COM
mitteCs. Moreover, as we have saio'
there has been no pretence even OF hold
ing a public meeting here OF citizens to
renounce allegiance 10 our existing party
organization, ana 10 set up new one
II the pledges taken by those who par
tlcipated IN our last primary do not hold
good. then It will be useless to have any
more Democratic primaries here. VAN
win II be for as 70 agree to settle our
disputes at a primary. and thereafter TO
act together. SO. friends. you who. voted
at The primary ard have since signed the
anti-Rryan pledge. consider well what you
have done. and resolve TO withdraw your
names from the new pledge and 70 be
faithful 80 the old one.
we make this appeal so that we may
helm to put you back into the right track
II ls our firm conviction. based upon the
testimony OF hundreds OF intelligent gem
tiemen, that the Democrats OF Virginia
will this year poll the largest vote they
have ever polled. and hence, the party
can afford to lose some hundreds OF votes
IN Richmond. But you cannot afford 20
break your pledge; nor can the Demo-
cratic party in Richmond afford to have
overturned the foundation stone upon
which our primaries are built
Read the primary pledge again and ask
yourself how It Is possible for you TO re-
lease yourself from Il.