Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-10
HEAR ONLY MEMBERS
NO OTHERS CAN SPEAK At OLD
DOMINION's MEETINGS.
Mr.. SAUNDERS ADDRESSES TIE CLUB
The Member from Franklin Makes
n Ringing speech and Arouses
Good-Government League.

These are the days when the candidate
for municipal office is much in evidence
and when the most humble CITIZEN Is
made to feel his Importance, and swelis
quite bevond himself when he thinks or
the power of his vote. Every one now
receives the "glad-hand." and the world
seems bubbling over with good VIII ana
friendllness. with never an unkind ieei-
ing to mar the harmony of this peaceiui
period of the city's history.
This seeming love feast was quite appa-
rent last night at the meeting Of the Oid
Dominion Democratic Club, when quite
a number of candidates mingled with the
sturdy sons of Democracy of that organi-
zation. and gave them the right band OF
fellowship.
Hon. f. w. Saunders was present, ana
was introduced as probably The most
distinguished member of the House OF
Delegates" The Delegate from Franklin
delivered a splendid address, which was
warmly received by the organization ana
at its conclusion he was elected an
honorary member of the body.
The club was called to order about $50
bv President Wood, and the usual order
Of routine business was disposed OF. Seve-
raj new members were elected. and their
names placed upon the roll or the ciuD py
Secretary Taylor The following standing
committees were appointed for the en-
suing year:
Executive Committee-Messrs. Wood. j..
w IL.
Cohn. George Il. Bowden, A. =. Mont
gomery, John f. Donleavy, 5. l.. Wood
and c. Manning. Jr.
Membership Committee-Henry ]. Cohn,
III. c. Adams. and l.. l.. Wood
Employment Committee-W. III. Mullen,
Adam Diacont, G. Manning, Jr., j. Ia.
Taylor, and W. II. Adams.
ONLY MEMBERS CAN SPEAK.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Conn,
providing that a public meeting be held
at Old-Market Hall on the night OF Marcn
sth at which all candidates be invited 10
speak An amendment was offered TO TINS.
providing that only those candidates VINO
are members of the club be allowed 10
speak at the meeting. Mr.. j. W. Gibbons
opposed the latter, and thought the de-
monstration should be open TO all. Messrs.
Taylor and Mullen favored the amend
ment. as did also Mr.. Cohn. The object OF
the amendment was 10 exclude from the
meeting candidates representing the GoOd
Government League.
The president stated this very plainly
I'm explaining the position the club had
taken in regard TO this matter. he was
opposed to allowing those men, calling
themselves "good Democrats" and who
were now attempting TO run the city
government" voice in any meeting held
under the auspices of the Old Dominion
Democratic Club. The resolution, as
amended, was adopted almost unani-
mously.
SPEECH OF MIR. SAUNDERS.
Mr. f.. W. Saunders, member Of the
House of Delegates from Franklin county,
was introduced to the club, and made a
most interesting talk. He stated that the
dub was much more orderly body than
that in tho proceedings Of which he was
accustomed TO participate.
Mr.. Saunders said he heartily approved
OF political clubs. He thought it was
only i'm dealing with important questions
OF to-day that the party could hope
TO receive support. Certainly, as far as
he was concerned the mere action Of a
party In the past and in years long gone
by. would have little weight with him.
The Democratic party, he thought, mad
in the last five years manifested a more
active purpose 10 live up 10 its platform
promises, than i'm those days of the past.
THE PARTY NOT DEGENERATING
Mr.. Saunders said he was not one Of
those who believed in the degeneration
Of the party. and who was imbued with
the idea that those who shaped the laws
of to-day were inferior to those patriots
of old. For shrewd tactics, and adroit
schemes. ''those old fellows Of a hundred
years ago" not even excepting George
Washington and Patrick Henry, could
easily out do the legislators Of the pres
ent day. He thought the politics OF to-
day were as clean as they had ever been.
In recent years. said he, the country had
seen the Democratic party turn its eyes
from the East and look toward the West
for man to lead them-a man who
would live up TO the platform OF his
party.
"When we nominated that son OF
the West w. j. Bryan" declared the
speaker. 1.-The people knew that the Dem
ocratic party had put up candidate
who meant business, and would surround
himself with a Cabinet that would live
I'D to the principles laid down for them.
And hence Mr.. Saunders, continued the
money power had arisen and exerted It's
mighty influence against that candidate.
The latter was denounced as theo-
rist and a dreamer. by men who were
mot worthy To tie his shoestring.' CAP
plause) a
FREE SILVER AND CLUBS.
Discussing the currency question, Mr..
Saunders said that those opposed to the
free coinage of silver bad not deigned
10 discuss seriously that great question,
hut contemptuOusly swept 1t aside as un-
worthy of consideration, when II was
really a determination on the part OF the
great mass Of the people to right great
wrong. Such clubs as the one TO whioh
he was addressing his remarks
were the bodies TO make the influence
felt I'm such problems. IL was IN the en-
actment of such laws as the employers
liability bill" and the measure requiring
street railway companies TO put vestibul5
fronts on their cars that the people were
interested. more than In all the talk
about Jeffersonian Democracy, etc. The
people should make their candidates an
nounce their principles before they chose
them as representatives.
WILL BE NOMINATED AGAIN.
speaking of the future prospects OF the
marty. Mr.. Saunders said the contest ol
| 1900 would be waged on the same pat
form and with the same candidates as
| the last. This remark caused the mos'
enthusiastic applause.
Mr.. Saunders referred to the crlticish
of a Richmond daily (the Tines during
the last national campaign, when tha'
| paper spoke OF Bryan as IAN impas
| stoned boy" The speaker declared thai
| IL was the magnificent speech OF tnal
| "bov" before the Chicago convention
| that gave him the nomination, and that
| the body In that action made no ms
| take. Prolonged applause also greetee