Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-25
p.cuuoND's DELEGATES.

How are we Democrats Of Richmohu
Going 70 elect our delegates TO the State
Democratic Convention, which Is 10 DC
held at Staunton on June 4th?
our city is entitled to 1ol delegates IN
that convention, and as the currency
question and the constitutional conVeh-
tion question are to be discussed ana
delegates 10 Chicago elected and electors
for the Democratic ticket chosen there
viii be plenty Of good men who VIII be
Interested in the convention. and who
WIN be willing TO go there If appointed TO
represent us.
Rut how are our delegates to be chosen?
This will be for the City Democratic Com
mittee 10 determine. Our own preference
would be for the election Of these dele
gates at the primary election which Will
be held TO nominate Mayor, Sergeant.
commemorative Attorney, members Of
the City Council etc.
The only objection that can possibly be
raised against choosing delegates to
Staunton at the time that we make
municipal nominations is that 1t would
make the ticket extravagantly long. and
would thus aid in protracting the count
ALREADY TOO tedious at the big white
precincts. But this difficulty could be
obviated by having a separate ticket for
the election of delegates to Stanton,
and these separate tickets might be
turned over TO special judges to be
counted and certified to.
In our judgment. the Stanton conyen-
ton will be the most important oonven-
ton that our party has had since lSS3'
when the party was reorganized at
Lynchburg under Mr.. Barbour. and pro-
oeeded to take the field and whip the
Mahoneites out Of their boots.
Richmond should send a delegation Of
her best men to Staunton. and we know
of no better way of getting such men
than through the medium of a primary
election. And as we have already said
no substantial objection to electing them
in that manner presents itself to our
mind.
All along 1t has been considered fore
gone conclusion that the foremost topic
for discussion at Stanton would be the
currency question, and certainly that
question will occupy a prominent place;
but the "livest'' issue in Virginia to-day
is the acknowledgements question.
III was a surprise to most people when
the Legislature passed the bill authorizing
a vote to be taken as to whether a con-
yention to revise and amend the Con-
stitutlon should be held or not. Now
arises the question whether the Demo-
cratic party of Virginia in convention
assembled shall make any utterance on
the subject Or, If it decides 10 endorse
the project, whether it will do 50 unre-
servedly or with some such qualification
as has been suggested by Governor
O'Ferran.
At the present moment there are two
opinions among Virginia Democrats-one
that the Stanton convention should
sot make any deliverance on the sub
ect; the other is that it must speak
,ut in favor Of having constitutional
convention. And OF the people who hold
the latter opinion, there are some who
wish the Stanton convention TO endorse
the constitutional convention scheme
without reserve, while others favor the
adoption Of resolution more or less like
that which has been suggested by Cover
nor OFerral.
We believe, however. it is generally ad-
mitted that the action OF the State Re
publican Convention on this subject will
!. oo OF some importance in determining
aereSaS-eS tbs reSolgtioDa yfNS- vii be
proposed at the State Democratic Con-
yention But. look at it any way that
you please, the constitutional convention
question Is a big question. And 20 Rich
niond ought TO be considering first how
she viii select her delegates. and then
whom she viii ask TO serve her.