The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-28
Virginia Democrats to Favor
Election by the People.
ADDRESS TO DEMOCRATIC VOTERS
Evils of Prevailing System Glarin:ly Evil
dent in Scandals that Have Attended
Recent Election of Senators in Several
States Hideous Scandals that Shock the
Moral Sense of The COuntry-Call for "A
Convention in Richmond in May.

sDeCill to The Post.
Richmond, Va. March 25.-Congress-
men John F. Rixey, William A. Jones,
and John Lamb; Attorney General A. j.
Montague, ex-Congressmen John Goode
and George d. Wise. and James w. Mar
shall. r. Walter Moore. Joseph f. Will
lard, w. F. Reddy, Eppa Hunton, jr, and
others prominent In Democratic politics in
Virginia have issued an address TO their
fellOW-DemOcTats of the State, reciting
recent events in connection with the cleo
ton of United States Senators. and ap-
peallng TO the party TO unite with them
in an effort 10 secure the adoption of Il
constitutional amendment comforting
upon the voters of the several States the
privilege of electing Senators by direct
vote of the people.
In order to the furtherance of that end
ard the selection, before IL can be at
tanned, of party candidates for the SEN
ate by some popular method, the signers
invite such Democrats as hold the prin-
ciple that the people are capable of
choosing their Senators to meet them in
conference here on the 18th day Of May
next. Following is the full text Of the
address.
Address ia the Voters.
ITO the Democratic Voters of Virginia:
THE demand for change in the method
of electing United States Senators $ so
widespread and so imperative that the is
sue thereby raised cannot longer be wise
~ or safely avoided by the Democrats of
I Virginia. The sentiment in favor III the
election Of Senators by direct vote of the
people Is not OF recent origin; hut its
growth In its present decade Is unaquale1
In our entire history That IL has been
FfFkTs INN hNFf
Closures of the legislative scandals which
/ nave dlsgraced many OF the States of the
Union Is painfully apparent, and their ef-
! feet upon the public conscience cannot
have escaped the most indifferent obsery-
er of passing events. Indeed, the situa-
ton has become Well-nigh intOlerable In
many OF the States The people of Nir-
| ginia cannot remain insensible 10 condi-
/ tons so fraught with peril 10 our institu-
tions.
TOO often Senators of the United
States do not represent the body of the
I people Of the several States, but very
/ frequently represent special corporate liz
! terests or special classes. Notifying as
/ this fact must be 10 every lover OF our
| government. IL IS no recent discovery,
although the evil consequences and bitter
degradation involved In il have OF late
been presented with frequent and impress
sive emphasis.
Wee in Existing Methods.
THE vice in the existing method Of
electing Senators was detected by many
OF the wisest Of the founders OF the re-
| public. at the very beginning OF their
| great task, among them. the Virginia
| patriots, whose opinions al this date are
accep,ea a. the most valuable political
| legacies that have come down 10 Us from
all the past. These men had an Inherited
| and instructive love of liberty and ahhor-
| renee OF tyranny in any form, whien arm
| ed them with the power OF genius 70 carry
out their high resolve 10 have for them
| selves and 10 bequeath 10 their descend
ants an enduring free government rest
| ing upon the free viii of free people
| The argument for the present system was
/ made M that day frankly and without dis
| guise. one or the most prominent advo-
| Gates OF the legislative method OF elect