The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-05
VERY VIGOROUS KICK
Citizens Ia Mass Meeting Protest Against
Exclusion from Democratic Primary.
COMPLAINT STATED IN RESOLUTIONS
independent Candidate TO Bc Nominn
ted for tho Lcgislnrurc--gutIsc
watts Had intended voting for n
silver candidate, But would Sot
Tic Permitted 80 do SO.

a number OF citizens who are on
posed to the action of the Democratic
Executive Committee met last night AT
CHy han In Il mass meeting. The meet
ing WAS called to order by T. y. BIZ
soly. chairman. who Stated that the first
business WAS the,elcction Of a president
Mr. w. Jones Williams was placed IN
nominatiCn and was unanimously elect
ed. Mr.. John II. Downing was elected
secretary
Inc president then stated that tho
meeting was duly opened for business.
Mr.. Il. Hatton then offered the fol-
iowng resolution, which was adopted
unanimously: ~
Whereas, On the 29th day OF Anri,
IS9'' a large number OF Democrats OF the
city OF PORTSMOUTH in mass meetin. as
scmpieo, emphatically denounced and
Tepudiated the action OF the CITY Eve
cutiVc Committee In ruling out tho MI
mares Tor the nomination Of local Of
liccTs, all Democrats. who did not vote
1or Bryan and Sewall, and
whereas, Since that mass n,oo,;nr /,
new Executive Committee has been
chosen and that committee, in nrran,
ing for the election of delegates 10 tho
state convention at Roanoke, convened
LOT Inc nomination of Il governor. Il lieu
tehant governor and an attorney gen
eral, Invited. all Democrats to particj
pate In the selection OF delegates with
out reference to the adherence of those
democrats TO Bryan and Scwall, thus
needing the protest Of the mass mcetint-
and again following the true principles
OF Democracy; and
whereas, The said committee, unable
70 continue long In recognition of any
nHed principle; adopted rules for the an
preaching primary for the nomination
OF member OF the House OF Delegates
ana renewed the rule OF exclusion
against which the mass meeting entered
ais solemn protest; and with character
1stlc ignorance and inconsistency The
committee has gravcly decrced that
democrats whom the committee thought
taithful enough to participate in the Sc
lection of candidates for governor, lieu
tenant governor, attorney general and
State Senators. are not faithful enough
TO be trusted In the primary to nom:-
nae a member of the House OF Dele
gates, whose name will be on the same
ticket TO be voted for at the same cleo
ton as the nominees for Governor.
Lieutenant Governor. Attorney General
and State Senator; and
whereas. Any attempt on the part OF
the Executive Committee to explain this
inconsistency and want of principles.
must necessarily be fiat failure; there
fore be It
"sSooiFSN, nat we IlcTcDN dTG1lEn tnC
said Executive Committee at tho mar OF
public opinion and charge them with lg-
norance and incompetency in the dis
charge OF the grave duties and responat-
billt!cs entrusted TO them by the Dem
ocratic suffragans of this CITY,
That rs Democrats, we have grown IN
an the belief that under our system of
party organization 1t was the duty of a
Democratic Executive Committee to do
- 1Nt,I1
party and Increase its voting strength
TO bring in, rather than drive out vot-
ers; TO prevent rather than promote dis
sensions In the party ranks; to conduc.
Its primaries with impartial fairness
and permit all who will support the
party to participate In It's deliberations
That the action of the Executive Com
mittee adopting rules 70. the approach
Ing primary is n gross violation OF these
plain duties and tends to degrade the
party organization to the level of polit-
tcal profliEaacy
Resolved. Further that all true Dem
ocrats are hereby requested to refrain
from all participation In the primary to
be held on Wednesday. the 9th Inst.
and thereby manifest their dlsapproval
OF the unfair methods OF the committee
in arranging the primary.
That the primary being for the nomi-
nation of State officer, we deem it eN-
pedient at this time 10 nominate n can
didate independently of such primary.
That we avail of this occasion TO cX-
press our demand for n nomination of
city and local officers by primaries or
ward meetings. in which votes may be
cast by all white citizens. who will take
an oath to support the nominees of such
primaries or meetings, and falling to
secure primaries or meetings where such
votes will be received, we Will &C; in
dependcutly OF the perverted political
organization which denies them.
Mr.. II. NJ. Is earns arose and said that
II had been rumorcd that the meeting
had been called for the purpose of
nominating an Independent candidate
for the Legislature. but such was not
the fact in this election, but in the
spring, If the people cannot got what
they want, then Il ticket will ne IN the
field
MIR. Herman Niemcycr then offered the
following resolutions:
That the committee Of ton appointed
by the mass meeting or April 2gth. 1887.
be and arc hereby continued with the
same poWers as were conferred by that
meeting. Adopted.
Judge Watts was called ana said that
ne did not know that he had the right
10 say anything. as he was disfranchis-
ed. lie intended to vote at the primary
ana TO vote for a candidate who sun
ported Tree silver. Eut seven members
OF me Executive Committee said he
fhouid not and ne would Say that there
was not one man in the city who could
a Timely Friend.