Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-13
His Opposition Killed Plan to Elect
Senators at Primaries.
SAYS TEE PROPOSITION WAS CRUDE
Andrew Jackson Montague Nomi-
mated for Attorney General.
CONVENTION ATH
pecial From a Staff Correspondent.


journed at 9:45 o'clock last night, amid the
widest enthusiasm over the defeat of that
plank in the platform which Endorsed the
plan to elect United States senators from
the state of Virginia by primary elections
instead of by the state legislature.
The vote on the adoption of this plank
stood GO9 for, $50 against. For some little
tine after the vote was announced 1t was
impossible for any one to get the floor, SO
great was the excitement. And again was
demonstrated the fact that it is next to i'm
possible for the Virginia democracy to
adopt any resolution opposed by the senior
senator from Virginia, John w. Daniel
This question of trying the primary plan
had been discussed quietly throughout the
day, and the action at night brought forth
a political skfrmish seldom seen in bodies of
this nature. The debate was opened by
Congressman William A. Jones, and he, in
a most able manner, advocated the adop-
ton of the resolution of which he is, in
fact the father Mr.. Jones said that it
could be plainly seen that the sentiment of
the people al large, throughout the state of
Virginia, is in favor of trying the new
plan. He stated further that it was not the
intention of the platform to put this plan
in action until after the election of Maj.
John W. Daniel to succeed himself as the
senior senator from Virginia.
This is not a new question: said Mr..
Jones. land the people. for the past ten
years. have wanted to try the scheme, and
l want to add, with emphasis, that the
plan of electing United States senators by
William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska, and
from what we know of him he is not apt
to be mistaken
Mr.. Jones remarks were received with
round after round of applause, and it could
be seen that ne had made a great impress
sion On his hearers.
Daniel I'm Opposition.
Senator Da 1iel opened the question for
those opposing the adoption of this partic-
ular plank and with his usual eloquence
spoke for more than an hour. 1t could be
easily seen before Senator Daniel had
spoken five minutes that as usual he had
carried his hearers with him. In the course
of his remarks the senator took the usual
liberty of indulSing in quiet personalities,
for which he was very promptly, and it
might be said effectively, called down by
Congressman jones. For awhile the cross
firing of questions between Daniel and
Jones created the widest excitement, but
all ended in apparent good feeling
The convention being a thing of the past,
the representative of The Star was able to
secure exclusively interviews with the
prominent movers in the primary plan of
election. Senator Daniel in answer to a
question as to Just how ne stands in re-
Sard. to the matter, said:
Il do not commit myself for or against
the proposition TO nominate United States
senators by state primary election nor
VIII | commit myself until have fully and
sedately considered the subject with the
light of such plans as have been adopted
elsewhere before me.
Il do commit myself against the particu-
lar proposition submitte to the convention
at Roanoke as seriously imperfect, re-
stricting the choice of the party to the two
persons who may get the higfes votes on
tne frst ballot, as a plan which may force
the party to select a man who without
such arrangement, will never be able to
command more votes than those supplied
Dy one or the other of the two most popu-
lous districts in the state, or even less
Ihe principal reason, it is said, for SEN
a,or Danlefs opposing the adoption of the
plank is that with true Virginia chiyaIry
ne desires to defend his colleague the
Junior senator from Virginia, Thomas Mar
tin, who, it is alleged, is not the choice of
,he people, out OF the ring, and this plank
Is proposed SO as to avoid a repetition of
the scenes caused by the election of SEN
ator Martin.
state Senator Floods Views,
In response to request for his views on
the subject, State Senator H. A. Flood said :
Ihe plan proposed is subject to so many
and saeh serious objections that II is a
fortunate thing for the peace of the demo-
cratic party in this state that it was de-
feated. 1t proposed to pay the expense of
the primary, which would have been yery
large There are loo precincts in the
state, and the cost of the primary Would he
at least s. to "a precinct and if there are
TO be two OF them before the choice is made
the cost would be $4,000 or more This
money must be raised by the democratic
committee or put up by the candidates for
the senatorship. The committee has ma
assured source of revenue, and If the cam
dldates are to pay this sum for the privilege
OF running for United States senator it will
either exclude men of small means or be a
great hardship upon them.
Inc plan proposed was crude in the
extreme, and it is not believed that the
people of Virginia are ready for the prin-
ciple 1t embodies in any event
1t was sprung on this convention with
out the slightest demand for it by the peo-
pie, and got the support 1t did because the
opponents of the scheme were not prepared
for 1t and its friends WERE"
Walton Moore Favors the Plan.
r. Walton Moore of Fairfax county. who
was Congressman Jones' colleague and first
lieutenant in the fight, said that the
strength of the suggestion that candidates
for the United States Senate shall be nom-
mated In a popular way. instead of by a
legislative caucus, was shown by the gen
eral support given it by the Virginia press
by the fact that 1t carried In the resolu-
that II was defeated in the convention by
a bare majority and only after the most
strenuous exertions of both Senator Daniel
and Senator Martin.
Mr.. Moore added that the friends of the
proposition simply contended for the prtn.
ciple of popular nomination without being
welded to a primary election. While the
report was under discussion by the COM
| mttee he asked Senator Daniel whether
he would agree to substitute providing
for nominations by state convention
such as the Nebraska convention which
| nominated sir. Bryan, and the senator's
reply indicated that he would oppose al
this time anything of the kind
Mr.: Moore says that the fight which SC
nearly resulted in victory in the begin.
| ming will be kept up. and that the adyo.
Gates of the proposition have not the faint.
4 est doubt il will result successfully
Montague for Attorney General.
As predicted in The Star of yesterda,
afternoon, Andrew Jackson Montague @
Danville was chosen as the representativ,
| of the Virginia democracy as attorney gen
eral On the ticket nominated by the conven
| ton From the first 1t could be seen tina
Mr. Montague's chances were above tn,
| average. and while the third ballot wa
! being counted friends OF Mr. F. r. Lassiter
| his strongest opponent, moved that In
| nomination be made by reclamation. which
| was done with great applause
1 The entire day was taken I'D In tn