The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-08-13

rooted In devotion to the principles YOU
represent and appreciate the lifelong
friendshlpiof every noble and worthy
heart which has stood by me in my strug-
giles. Ihe official honors and dignities are
not without their sweetness, but the day
that received at your hands commits
sion as senator of the United States was
not day half so sweet as to-day; this is
the highest appreciation that could ever
come to a man in this life in that Won
have given me your free appreciation of n
noble cause. When political honors have
becomr but as dist, when the glory of
the Dattie mas become as an echo of an
earthly tale, my children, and trust my
children s'children, may hand down.to the
generations hereafter that .relict of nv
public life which was given to me by the
people OF old Virginia through YOU, their
worthy and sovereign Representatives.,
but;i Ind no words to express ny heart.
felt gratitude.
The most important plank in the plat
form, or the one which engendered the
greater amount of enthusiasm and argu-
ment was the question Of choosing United
States Senator's by a primary election. 1t
is question OF considerable Importance
to the people of the State. 1t was evident
from the first that the convention was
divided on the practlcability of the prop
ositlon.
Congressman w. A. Jones, of the
Northern Neck, was the champion of the
proposition and he delivered powerful
speech favoring the proposition. The
convention was worked up to high
pitch OF enthusiasm by his eloquence.
Mr.. Jones said in part
1.-The present Congress is Republican:
the Fiftysecond and Fifty-third were
Democratic. VIM. Jennings Bryan was
the first one to present n resolution to
elect Senators by direct vote and it passed
the Democratic House by two thirds
majority, every representative from Nir-
ginia casting his vote for it, but it did
not pass the Senate. 1t was brought ND
again by Mr.. Bryan in the Fifty. third
Congress. Mr. Bryan then left the House
and went home and the Democrats of Ne
braska nominated him for United States
Senator, but he was defeated by the greed
of the corporations of this country. So
rapidly has the sentiment grown in the
last few years that II number of States
have passed resolutions similar to these
offered to-day. This plan is now in vogue
in South Carolina, and to-day five candi-
dates are running in that State to be
voted for on che 3lst of this month One
of the objections is that it does not pro-
vide that all of the candidates shall run
over again. If you don't like our propo-
sition, present to this convention some
thing that is better. There is also in
vogue this same plan in Georgia and she
has given this country noble and grand
old Democrat, and If you don't like the
South Carolina system give us the sy stem
of Georgia. Virginia has produced some
of the most illustrious Representatives
who have ever adorned the halls of Con-
md .1- 81,
ter your earnest consideration.
It was evident from the demonstration
on the part Of the convention that the
proposition was meeting with favor
among the delegates.
SENATOR DANIELS SPEECH.
Senator Daniel followed Mr.. Jones and
spoke rs follows:
81 had hoped in this great convention
OF fellow Democrats to have had no en-
counter No man was ever honored by
convention as have been to-day, but the
responsibility of being one to advise you
upon this subject came upon me I'M
sought, and have made it the rule of
my life to avoid no responsibility, and to
declare myself, whether it be popular or
not. If there is anyone VINO has any
abuse to speak of any Senator, out with
it like man. l remember mt one time
when my colleague was the subject of
Senatorial public report, and he threw
down the gauntlet 10 those who charged
him, and the general assembly of Vir-
ginia declared that his raiment was I'M
tainted II there is mar who wishes to
smirch it, stand up and let the world
know upon what the allegation rests.
Now, gentlemen, want to lay this prop,
osition before you, and it is this: every
Democratic voter in Virginia now should
have, and has had since Virginia was a
sovereign State in the Union, has had an
opportunity, and now has ali opportunity
to have himself heard as to who shall be
his Senator. Is there any county in the
commonwealth to which the privilege is
to-day denied, or in which easy opportu.
nifty is not afforded to attend his county
conviction, or his county primary If SO
and they choose to have it let them in
struct the member of the legislature who
to vote for. Has ever a member of the
legislature of this State been instructed
to vote for some one man and voted for
another? Who, ..and where, and whens
In this very election some of your consti-
tuents have been pleased TO give to their
representatives an expression of their
choice, and l need only to look upon the
faces of this audience to know that no
man here has the countenance of guilt
or who would sbetray public trust.
Now,.as to this primary system 1t might
be that primary syste III might lie laid be-
fore me that would command my earnest
sympathy and support, but do not be
lieve that Thomas Jefferson, great as he
was, exhausted all of the fountains of
human wisdom, and as much as l love
and revere and respect the great and no.
BILE leader of my party, William Jennings
Bryan, would take issue with him as
quick as would with you if l saw the
truth rs conceive it, for if he is a wise