The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-11
He Says There is No "Cut and Dried"
Programme for the Meeting.
LETTERS RAPIDLY POURING IN.
They Indicate That There VIII be One
OF the Most Remarkable Gather
ings of Democrats Ever Held
i'm the State-NO Fear of the
ward Hcclers" - Talk
About Candidates.

Congressman W. \. Jones arrived in
Richmond yesterday afternoon. lie came
from Washington, where he has been
attending to some business for his con-
ttuents since the adjournment Of Con-
gress. Mr.. Jones is at Murphys Hotel
some OF his friends. learning Of HIS
presence In the city, called upon him last
night
1he visit of the Congressman naturally
excites interest in political circles, as he
IS Deneyed TO be the originator OF the
Nay convention mONeh.eDt. 4 no COIL
gresham said he had some business to
transact in Richmond ana came down
here TO spend a day.
what have ! 10 say about the con-
ventisn?' he repeated after the reporter.
well, L can assure you that II Will be
a SUCCESS. Ju0ging from the letters /,
as one OF the slsners OF the call, nave
received, there viii DE d very large at
tenaance Of representative Virginia DEM,
ocrats. i know that some other signefs
have received similar communications,
and great many OF thenL 1neie Will
be no lack of people and the gathering
viii be representative OF Democratic
party IN this State
TO ESTABLISH A BUREAU.
ATr. Jones was asked II he thought the
COM eEtion woud nominate d candidate
for senator. lie replied that there would
be no cut-and-dried programme. 81 can
not tell what this meeting will DO" Mr..
Jones said. AS YOU know Il is called
TO give expression 20 the wishes of the
people with reference 10 the method Of
electiug United States senators and nOmi-
mating candidates for that office. can
not say in advance what will be done,
for the people will be left free to act
for themselves
The convention movement has become
so popular IL is necessary 10 open
bureau Of information in Richmond.
This will be done at once. Rooms Will
be engaged to-day and one or more OF
the sgners will be here from now until
the DemOcratics meet Two or three
stenographers will be employed, for the
correspondence is heavy. All sorts Of
questions are being asked and must be
answered. There will be some one here
always 10 look after this work
The place OF meeting Will be engaged
to-day. II is likely that either the Acad-
emy OF Music or the Bijou Theatre Will
be secured.
The bureau when opened will furnish
all the desired Information as 10 whore
the meeting will be held and how per-
sons viii be admitted. These details
have not yet been arranged, but they
will be In the next few davs.
no PACKED GATHERING.
Some fear has baen expressed by
friends Of the convention movement that
"bummers and ward heelers" Will 90
into the building and take charge Of the
meeting. This fear seems 10 be un-
founded. A gentlemen who knows all
about the arrangements made so far
told a Times reporter last night that the
men who are trying TO make the con-
venton a success are not amateurs In
politics and they have mapped out plans
whereby the Democrats who attend can
give free expression 10 their sentiments.
and Objectionable characters Will be
kept out.
"This IS a great movement" said The
Times informant. and the men behind IL
know something Of politics themselves.
You can rest assured that they viii not
be caught mapping"
There is much talk I'm political circles
about the convention. As The Times an
nounced exclusively Sunday, the Martin
people are going 10 stay away for they
think Il Is a fight against him. They are
dspeased because no pronounced friend
of the senator's has been invited TO at
the meeting.
TALK or CANDIDATES.
Whether or not a nomination will be
made remains 20 be seen. Mr.. Jones SAYS
he is unable to say that there will or
that there will not be new candida
for the reason that the convention VIA
be left free 70 act and 20 speak for itself
Hon. Lloyd T. Smith. OF Northumber-
land. has been spoken of as a possible
candidate Mr.. Jones. who is his inti-
mate personal and political friend says
he has not heard that Mr.. Smith is as
piring TO succeed Mr.. Martin, though he
says Mr. Smith is most excellent sena-
toria timber
Judge w. ~. Mann. Of Nottowav has
been talked Of bv some. but the matter
OF running for the Senate has not been
presented 10 him. II Is said by his
friends that he would make a very strong
candidate.