The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-07
FORT EERMUDA HUNDRED. MAY
Co.oncl MarshaIl's Position.

, Editor oi The Times.
Sir.-My attention was called to your
Washington correspondent interview
aim tho lion. William a. Jones. who
criticized an interview heretofore publish
od I'm the Washington Post between one
of its representatives and myself with
REGARD to the conference of Democrats
to Doe held ON the 10th instant / respect
fully ask that you do me the kindness
to publish the following In your Sunday s
issue:
air Jones dissertation IS subtle and
adroit. calculated u befog The question
as presented hy me and 10 direct the
minds of his followers away from the
real issue. which. in effect. was that the
Democratic party through it's regularly
constituted convention. held in Roanoke.
had voted down the resolutions presented
and advocated by himself and others (the
issue then having been forced upon the
convention by himself and aCherents).
and that the agitation Of the subject by
any set or faction of Democrats. through
"a convention or conference called. 10 be
attended only by those who agreed with
them. 10 force or shape the partys action
AZ this time is undemocratlc. unauthor-
lied. and SO far as I know unprecedented
i'm the history Of the party in this state.
We have our party organization. 10
which we look for the management Of its
affairs until the people through their
regularly chosen representatives, speak,
and any effort on the part Of disappoint-
ed or disagrecng Democrats to override
or annul the action of the party. as ex-
pressed in regular convention, is sub
sersive of party discipline destructive
of party efficiency, conducive 10 party dis
Indignation. and when persisted IN, result
ing i'm party humiliation.
The humble gentlemans statement that.
according 10 the people who present this
as their only argument against the May
Conference this question has been settled
by the Roanoke Convention for all time
and eternity &c. &c. ] beg 10 say
is not warranted by anything reported
10 have been said by myself ana ] mod
cstly suggest thar it IS unworthy OF him
and DIS reputation for strength and fair
ness ln debate. not 90 Say Of DIS gen
erll br0aduess Of view. for from his
long service as a member of our State
Committee and his successful career i'm
politics. he knows and appreciates that
whenever the party is again regularly
and authOritauvely called in conference or
convention the whole matter may be
again presented. debated and determined.
as also that he and his associates are
now acting outside Of and against party
precedent. without tine authority OF the
organization.
lie says OF his conference: "I have no
doubt that its action. which believe will
Zoe Democratic and conservative will eX-
ert "a wholesome and beneficial influence
upon the politics OF our State. and re-
d0und 10 the best interests Of the Demo
cratic party" Again. ] suggest. that ~
say the least he is superlatively opti-
mIstic bon the view that pushing upon the
people the agitation of this question ly
am Unauthorized eX part- and one opinion
ed conference. ayOWelly called against
the expressed view of the last regular
convention. will rebound to the best I'M
terest of the Democratic party: it may
Dee. however that 10 Will rebound to the
popu.arization OF its promoters. which
permit me 10 suggest. might Doe added 20
his last paragraph OF his interview.
Respectfully
r. g.. MARSHALL
Portsmouth, Va. May T. 1899