Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1899-05-12
THE MAY Meeting
Its Work Completed
Wednesday.
Party Loyalty Affirmed-Res-
olutions Favor Election of
Senators by Direct Vote of
the People,

Senators by Direct Vote of
the People.
Richmond, Va. May 1c.-The confer
ence OF Virginia Democrats called for
1.-THE purpose of adopting such measures
as may be deemed best to promote the
election of Senators by the direct vote
OF the people, convened in the Mozart
Academy of Music, in this city this
morning. There were about 55o dele.
gates pIesent.
The conference was called to order bv
Hon. j. G. Parker, of Southampton
county, who in speech elaborated the
object of the gathering. In concluding
MIR. Parker recommended the follow
ing temporary organization, which was
excepted:
For chairmad, Hon. John Goode, of
Bedford county; for secretary, Mr.. John
3. Barbour. of Culpeper county, and
for sergeant-at-arms, F. A. Bowery.
of Richmond.
Committee on organization and reso-
lutions were then appointed, and the
conference at p. m, took recess un.
til 4:3O,
When the conference reassembled Mr..
Gnode read the report of the committee
on Organization, which Recommended
Hon. VIM. A. Anderson, of rockbrigde,
for permanent chairman, and the con-
tinuance of the other temporary officers.
MIR. Anderson accedted the permanent
chairmanship in graceful speech.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
The Committee on Resolutions report
ed substantially as follows:
Members of the Democratic party.
assembled in conference ,reaffirming our
devotion to the doctrines of the party
and our fealty to its organization, to
declare us follows:
u. We earnestly favor an amendment
of the federal constitution SO that Unit
ed States Senators shall be elected by
direct vote of the people of the Several
States, instead of by the legislaturer
thereof.
'2. In the effort to secure snch amen
ment, we invite the cooperation and
assistance not only of the people Of vir.
ginia, but the people of other states
whose welfare is equally invired.
"3. Pending the adoption of such
constitutional amendment, we favor
the nomination of our party candidates
for the United States Senate by State
primary elections, and we ask the GEN
eral Assembly for legislation legalaiz-
ing such primaries whenever held.
a. We urgently and respectfully ap-
peal to the State Central Democratic
Committee to provide at once for hold
ing state primary or State conven-
tion for the nomiha ton of Democratic
candidate for the United States Senate
ito be voted for by the next General
Assembly.
70. In advance of action by the Gen.
tral committee, or In case it defines to
act as recommended, we appeal to the
Democratic voters of each legislative
district to nominate no man for the next
e. nerally Assembly unless he favors
herein expressed and pledges himself
to support for the United States Senate
candidate who is open and unequivo-
cal advocate thereof.
"6. We now and here organize
Democratic league for reform in the
election of United States Senators, to
consist of members of this conference
and all other Virginia Democrats who
approve this declaration of principles
AMENDMENTS REJECTED.
Ex-Judge Barksdale, of Halifax,
moved, as an amendment to the COM
mittee report that the conference pro-
ceed to make nomination for the
United States Senator. This PROPOSE
tion was debated and defeated by q
practically unanimous vote.
A motion was then made that the
proposition to appeal to the State COM
mittee to hold n state convention be
stricken from the resolution, so that the
pan VI haohih6 uOlliuttiOub lOI Oeud-
tors by primaries might stand as the
sole recommendation of the conference
This was adopted, but Immediately re-
considered and rejected, and the report
of the Committee on Resolutions was
i, then adopted as submitted.
Congratulatory speech upon the work
of the conferen 70 xuara fban noada hv
Congressman w. A. Jones, Attorney
General Montague, Hou. Walton Moore
Hon. Eppa hunton and others, and the
conference then adjourned.
WERE ANTI-MARTIN.
Richmond, Va, Nay 10.-The Demo-
cratic Senatorial conference which met
here today was composed of 500 rep
resentatives. Comparatively few of the
Democratic leaders CONSPICUOUS in the