Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-24

| thereof, previous 10 OF ~ 80 eiecttnf
,newhers ~ the General Assembly WI,
will 10 charged with tne duty, oi eieV III ~,
/ United states senator, 10 holu -
mary election for the purpose VI -
mining the choice OF candlqa.s'e. Tor IN,
party organization or associallon 'o' ~,
posiifon OF United States senatVi' .n'
aaid primary election 10 be conuuS.., " g.
der such rules and rcRuiatuHs, ,, 49, -,
such manner as may pc eos"soelatlon
provided. however that no expense ~
ctrred In connection Herewith shah 20
paid out of the public treasury; 80.
3 AS TO the honest ana ial'n I'M. -
Torrance Of their duties under me rules
! and regulations prescribed under the pro-
| Visions OF this act the judges clerks
and other persons selected or engaged IN
holding and conducting said primary
elections shall have al the rights pow,
/ ers and privileges. and be subject 10 an
! the penalties prescribed by law Tor the
Judges and clerks conducting general
| election under the laws OF this State.
Mr. Floods speech.
Mr.. Flood chairman Of the COMMITTEES
on Privileges ard Elections; which re-
ported the bin adversely, made the closing
| argument against the measure He claims
| that an article IN the Richmond Times
OF Sunday did the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections injustice. In claiming
that the committee had delayed the bill.
Mr. Barksdale agreed with Mr.. Flood
that the committee had considered the
bin with all the dispatch possible.
Mr. Flood then argued against the de-
tails OF the bin and its constitutionality.
Coming TO the question asked by Mr.
Rarksdale why the opponents OF the
measure did not amend IT, he said:
Il reply that we do not care TO amend
H. because we are opposed 10 II in every
detail. and to the principle ii involves. i
believe that the Democratic party as well
as the other political parties of the state
ought to be permitted to prescribe the
method Of selecting their candidates for
an Offices ! am not afraid TO trust the
Democratic party, acting through It's COM
mittees or through its conventions, 10
deal fairly and honestly with It's mem
bers who aspire TO the honors wlthin us
Gift. / know It will deal fairly with
them and every one OF them, as i know
il will deal fairly and honestly with It's
political opponents.
''The people are not afraid to trust the
Democratic party; they have trusted It
since the foundation Of this government
and il is to-day their only hope in the
struggle for their rights. 1t mas a ms
tory which will command the respect ana
confidence Of every Nirginian and every
Not a foot of soil. with the exception
of cold and nhospitable Alaska, has Deen
added TO the origina. thirteen states
which was not secured under Delno-
cratic administration. Inc Demo-
cratic party added State after State, en-
nire after empire to the Union, until the
republic spans the Continent. It's voice
has ever been freedoms trumpet call. Inc
people have always been willing TO trust
IL and I'm Virginia, the Democratic masses
are not willing 20 say that they Will not
trust their party TO prescribe the methou
Of naming its candidates.
TRUST N THE PEOPLE.
"I desire to revert to the statement
made by the advocates OF TINS heasuIe
that its opponents are afraid TO trust the
people There is no such question IN
yolvfd here IL is not in the power OF
these gentlemen, or of any other person,
to place us in the attitude OF dlstrustlng
the people Is II not in the power or the
people to send to the Legislature men
who reflect their views and wishes upon
every question; to reflect their prefer !
ences for United States senator's? The |
possession of this power does not rest |
upon argument We have an instance |
in point: When in the summer OF 1922 |
the rumOr became prevalent in Virginia |
that the senior senator from this State |
would have opposition for reelection, DO |
we not all remember that in all, save one |
pr two of the twenty districts, in which |
State senators were to be chosen, VINO |
would participate in that contest, the |
PEOPLE took the matter into their own
hands and instructed the delegates whom
hey sent to the nominating convention |
% cast their ballots for no candidate who \
vas not favorable to that distinguished
gentlemen?
Last summer, in the remaining sena-
Orias districts, and in all of the legis-
ative districts where there were con-
'entons the same thing occurred. And
lid you not witness in December last the
delity with which these instructions
we're obeyed, when, by unanimous vote,
We renewed the commission Of Virginia
o that high-souled gentleman whom the
eOple of this Commonwealth wear in
heir heart of hearts?
And this gentleman was one who
AIRED to oppose the scheme advocated by !
he Senator from Halifax.
This constant iteration Of the people
he people'-is as the Senator from AL
emarle has said, really sickening. II
on Will pardon personal Illusion, l VIII
ay that ! have no need for such iteration
nd reiteration. l am one of my people:
hey are my neighbOrs and fellOw-citi-
ems and friends. / have no political
thoughts or views that are not in har-
lony with their thoughts and views;
hey are my everyday associates; l know
hem and respect them. and admire and
we them; they know me, and, / trust,
aspect me, and have faith that / will in
u things represent and reflect their
fishes.
Il resent for myself and others who
-and with me on this question the i'm
utatiOn that in opposing this measure
'e manifest any fear Of the people. /
ill not be guilty of the discOurtesy of
aging that this cry of distrusting the
sOple is a device of demagogism. but
will say IL is an exceedingly far-fetched
xpedient TO deter senators from treating
his revolutionary measure as it deserves
} be treated"
GENESIS OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Referring to the adoption of the Con-
tuition, Mr.. Flood said:
Now. when in May 1851. the convention
et in Philadelphia to form a more per-
ct Union two principal antagOnisms
a seemingly insurmOuntable character
once presented themselves. The first
these was a sectional antagonism. a col
sion Of interest between the Northern
nd Southern States; the other was a ,
between the larger and smaller
6tes as to their respective influence and
lice i'm the administration of the new
stem. The first of these, the sectional
ltagOnism, was adjusted. or, more pro-
,rly. compromised. by the constitution
the lower branch Of the National Legis-
ture the House of Representatives. and
Re corresponding constitution of the
lectoral College. In this branch of the
ltional legislature the States were to
I'VE representation In proportion to
cir respective population. except that
4 diminution Of the influence Of the 5
,uthcrn States, five slaves We're 10 he ;
united only as three white persons. In ]