The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-13
SAT DOWN ON PRIMARY PLAN.
THE VOTE $50 AGAINST AND GOD IN
FAVOR OF 1T.

A. j. Montague Nominated For At
tOrney GeneraI-Three Ballots Set
tie the Scramble For the Nominal
tiOn-The Convention Pays Senator
Daniel n Great Tribute and the
Party Pledged to Send Him Back
to the Senate Again.
Roanoke Va. Aug. 12.-The democratic
state convention to-day nominated A. j.
Montague for attorney general
AS soon as the second days session had
been called to order, the following were
put in nomination for this office. A. J.
Montague, +. r. Lassiter, w. R. Alex
ander, H. r. Pollard and Lloyd T. Smith.
| The first and second ballots resulted in a
| failure to nominate, but with Montague
leading. Before the result of the third bal
lot was announced it was seen that Mon
tague had received enough votes to nomi-
nate and his nomination was made by ac-
| clamation. A recess was then taken.
At the afternoon session, Senator Daniel
| the chairman of the committee on resolu-
tions, resumed the reading of the plat
form, as given in these dispatches last
night. This had been interrupted at the
morning session by speeches for the nom
ination Of attorney general. The platform
proper, the senator explained, was unani-
mously adopted by the committee The
| separate resolution providing for the nom
| ination of United states senators by pri-
mary was adopted by the committee by
vote of 10 to il.
| The convention adopted the platform
| proper and then considered the resolution
,F,,. Al, .t.aE E.,U r,1r,v
| Secretary Bigger, at this point, read
| resolution unanimously adopted by the
| committee, cordially and heartily indorsing
| the course in the Senate of Our beloved
| Senator John w. Daniel, and we pledge
| ourselves not to support for the legislature
any candidate who is opposed to his re-
| election" This resolution was adopted
without a dissenting vote.
| Senator Daniel eloquentiy acknowledged
| the honor paid him 1t was he declared.
| one of the highest tributes that could be
paid a man by a noble people. His speech
was received with applause.
! The convention then took up the resolu-
! tion regarding the nomination of senators
| by primaries. The efforts by friends of
the proposition 10 limit the debate to an
| hour to each side was defeated.
Hon. w. A. Jones of the First district
| opened the discussion in favor of the COM
mittees report. He pointed out that the
/
| principle involved in this proposition in
| the resolution endorsing Senator Daniel.
In that Mr.. Jones said, every democratic
| nominee for the legisla ture who failed to
| support the senator from Virginia was to
| be forever damned by the party. This res
| olutiOn, he averred had been offered by
| friend of the primary plan. His side,
the speaker said, was willing to accept
| any reasonable change in the plan sub
| mitted by the committee.
Mr.. Jones challenged Senator Daniel to
| say if the question of electing senator's
| by the people should come up in the Senate
! he would not vote In the affirmative.
Mr.. Jones declared that the democratic
party could not afford to stand still Many
! of the most populous states in the union
| had already adopted this plan for select
| ing their senators. He pointed out as a
| reason for adopting it the recent exper-
| iences in Kentucky and Florida, where
| deadlock caucuses had occurred in efforts
| to nominate United States senators. The
| same thing had occurred In the Pacific and
| northwestern states. He reiterated the
fact that William J. Bryan was a conspic-
uous advocate of the principle of select
! ing senators by the people.
| Senator Daniel who led the opposition
before the committee ~ resolutions last
evening, followed Mr.. Jones' If, he said,
| il was a question In which he was per-
| sonally interested he should observe the
| modes of silence of his distinguished col
! league (Senator MARTINI. He would be
worthy Of the conventions censure, the
| senator declared, If he hesitated to advo-
cate what he considered TO be right Mr..
Daniel said that Mr. Jones nor any other
| representative of Virginia has any better
| title to their places than his distinguish
| ed associate in the Senate, MIR. Martin.
| He maintained that every voter in Vir-
| ginia has the opportunity Of being heard
| through the party machinery in selecting
| their United States senator He was not
prepared now to give his unqualified sup
port to the primary plan in selecting any
| public official.
Senator Daniel said that both himself
| and his colleague have been in accord
| with the people of Virginia.
"Was he" asked Mr. Jones. "in accord
| with yourself DanieD and the people of
| Virginia, two years ago, when he voted
against the free coinage OF silver at 16
TO II"
who was Mr.. Jones IN accord with"
/ asked the senator, when four years ago
he sang the tune OF -Four Years More
for Grover" Immense applause)
After further amicable colloquy between
the two gentlemen, Mr.. Daniel resumed
| his argument. lie pointed out the fact
that not a hamlet or county or city IN
| Virginia had instructed this convention TO
| adopt any such plan.
Senator Daniel closed with an eloquent
| argument against the adoption Of the COM
mitee's report.
The vote on a demand FOR the pending
| question resulted IN the defeat OF the COM
mittee's report by a vote OF $50 20 go.
At $40 o'clock the convention adjourned
| sine die