The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-24

cratic votes Of the state. While under
the plan proposed here. We might be COM
PEELED 10 vote fOr a minority candidate;
one who had received a very small pro-
portion of the entire vote or disregard
the primary entirely, as the senator from
Halifax says under certain contingencies
he would do.
Il have frequently heard Of political
parties in control Of legislative bodies
falling TO carry out the recommendations
of its party made in convention. but THIS
IS the first instance l know Of In which
the majority party is seriously asked To
enact into law a proposition which its
convention had so emphatically disap-
proved Of.
CONVENTIONS TAKE no ACTION.
"Since the adjournment OF the Roanoke
convention this proposition has been dis
cussed by the press and the people OF
the entire State and. although twenty
conventions assembled since that ume
for the purpose Of nominating state
senators, and one hundred nominating
meetings have been held. Of one kind or
another to nominate members OF the
House of Delegates. not single one OF
these tne hundred and twenty conventions
or meetings passed a resolution endorsing
the plan. or any similar plan, TO the one
proposed In this bill.
with what propricty then. can the ad-
v0cates Of this measure claim mat II Is
desired bv the peoTle. With far more
propriety can its opponents claim mat the
people do not want il. and If they under
stood the rccklessly careless manner IN
which this hill is drawn, | do not believe,
as I stated on Saturday. that IL couid
secure the endorsement of one hundred
intelligent men in any county In the
state" ,,ro
WHY DON'T YOU AMEND IT.
Further ON in his address MI loou
said: .e
"Rut " saws the Senator from Halifax,
"v,hv do not the opponents Of this mea-
sure amend IL? ] reply that we do not
care TO amend 81 because We are oppose"
IN If I'm every detail and TO the principle
! Il involves.
"I believe that the Democratic party.
as well as the other political parties o.
rho state. ought to be permitted 10 pre-
scribe the method OF selecting their can
didates for al offices.
81 am not afraid TO trust the Demo-
cratic party. acting through It's commit
tees or through it's convention. TO deal
fairly and honestly with its members VINO
aspire 10 the honOrs within its GIT.
Il. know it will deal fairly with them.
and every one of them. as ! know IL VIII
deal fairly and honestly with us pol'ica'
opponents. -. ..o
| Democratic party they nave uus'eu Il
eirce the foundation OF this Government
and If is to-day their only hope in the
struggle FOR their rights. II has history
which will command the respect and con-
| ndcnce Of every Nirginian ana every
I American. 49,.
The senator from Halifax claims ihat
I'm South Carolina. Arkansas and prona-
| blv Nebraska. there are precedents Tor
| this measure.
An examination Of the system in these
states v,d show that it is entirely differ
ent from the one proposed here I'm e"ch
OF these states candidate has TO re-
c,l-o majority Of the entire Vo'e ''s'
before ne can bo declared the aomlhee
of Ills party. Not so with the measure
under consideration.
TRUST IN THE PEOPLE.
"r desire to revert to the statement
| r,odo law the advocates Of this measure
that its opponents are afraid TO trust the
neonle There is no such question involV-
| cd here. IL is not in the power Of these
! gentlemen. or OF any other person, 10
placc US I'm the attitude of distrusting the
| people Is II not I'm the power or the peo-
ple 10 scrC 10 the Legislature men "h"
| will reheat their views and wishes upon
| everv question: 10 reflect their prefer
| ences for United States senators? The
nossessjon OF this power does not rest
| upon argument. We have an instance IL
! ooint When in the summer Of 1890, the
! runor became prevalent IN Virginia thai
the senior senator from this State would
| have opposition for reelection. do We no.
! an remember that IN all, save one or
| two of the twenty districts. In whiSh
! stale senators were 10 be chosen, who
| would participate in that contest, the peo-
| ule took The matter into their own hands
| and instructed the delegates whom they
sent To the nominating convention 10
! cast their ballots for no candidate who
| was not favorable to that distinguished
! gentleman.
| Last summer. in the remaining SEN
| atorial districts. and in all Of the Legisia-
] tive districts where there were conven-
lions the same thing occurred And did
Won not witness In December last the
fidelity with which those instructions
were obeyed. when by a unanimous vote
| we renewed the commission OF Virginia
10 that high-souled gentleman. whom the
people of this Commonwealth wear il
|
And this gentleman was one who dar-
ed 10 oppose the scheme advocated by the
senator from Halifax.
The Legislature which will convene
two years from now will be called on TO
! elect a United States senator. Does any
body doubt that If the choice of that
senator shall become a prominent SUP
| icct Of public interest. the people will be
sure to send to the Legislature men who
! reflect their wishes and their predelic-
| lions?
surely no one can doubt so plain a
| proposition. and surely. also. there Is no
member OF this body who would be more
| alert than the senator from Halifax TO
| obey the wishes OF his constituents thus
expressed. He resented with some vehe-
mcnce the intlmation that when the Con-
I gresham from the First district pulled
ns he danced to he tune. but
there is one string at whose pull he will
never fail or forget 10 dance.
1--WE can all see with the eye Of fancy
the agile movements with which the SEN
a-or from Halifax would nimbly caper TO
the music OF a popular expression Of
| sentiment upon the senatorial OF any 9TH
| er question.
"rhe truth is. Mr. President. II is a
"oce p~epoSferous proposition that the
Legislature IS ever likely to defeat the
pOpu ar Will or wish upon this or any
question.
This is a popular government. AS Mr..
Jefferson. the great apostle Of Democracy
wrote. in the immortal Declaration, "All