Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-07
THE MAY

Some writers speak OF the gathering
OF Democrats which is TO take place here
on the 18th Of May as a convention"
while others call it a conference" We
prefer the latter term, though the name
IS not n matter Of great importance. But
in political matters we are accustomed
TO associate with the name OF "conVen-
tion" a body whose members have been
elected by certain constituencies In
this case there may be. and. doubtless,
will be, present gentlemen who have
been chosen at public meetings, and who
represent counties, but there will be
many others who come as individual
Democrats in response 10 the call.
The call, as issued on the 26th of March,
extends an invitation to all Democrats
who are ready TO unite with the signers
in a movement looking to the amend
ment Of the Federal Constitution. so as
10 provide for the election of senator's by
the direct vote of the people, and, until
that change can be effected. the nominal
ton Of our candidates by some popular
method.
Therefore, the two requisites for MEM
bership in the conference are: First,
that the man shall be a Democrat; Sc
cond, that he shall be in favor of the
aforesaid change in the Constitution,
and, until that change is made, is desir-
GUS OF seeing the senatorial nominations
of our party made by some popular
method.
1T ought to count largely in favor Of
the objects and aims of this conference
that the Virginia delegation in the House
of the last Congress put itself upon re-
cord in favor OF a change in the Consti-
tuition; also, that the House has repeat
edly proposed such an amendment,
though it has never been able to secure
the cooperation of the Senate.
All the information which comes to us
IS that the May conference Will be at
tended by a great number of people. the
hotels and clearinghouse of Richmond
are putting their premises in order for
b The entertainment Of a large crowd. The
Dispatch hopes that the gathering will
not only be imposing in numbers and
material. but that every section Of the
State will be represented. We presume
that the railroad and steamboat COM
panies will make as low rates for tick
cts 10 Richmond on this occasion as they
have ever made for any political conyen-
iion or gathering in this State.
Some of our contemporaries seem 10
doubt whether there will be any practi-
cal business brought TO the attention Of
the conference. That is a curious idea.
The ffty-odd Democrats who issued the
address TO our people calling for this
conference surely would not have asked
their friends TO meet them here unless
they expected TO have a sensible scheme
20 propose. We are sure that there will
be an important plan Of procedure offer
ed TO the conference for adoption. What
1t will be we do not profess to know.
We doubt II any one knows precisely,
but some of the most sagacious public
men In Virginia AVE their thinking
caps on. and will. no doubt. interchange
views with one another before the day for
the meeting of the conference.
OF course, the May conference will not
be entitled to l~egislate for the Demo-
cratic party of Virginia. but any fecom-
m~endations that it makes may be ex-
pected to have great weight with the
party.
II you are a Democrat. and If you are
sincerely Of the opinion that the Federal
Constitution should be amended so as 10
confer upon the people the right 10 elect
their senators by direct vote, and If you
are further Of the opinion that, until
this change can be effected, our nomi-
nations should be made by some popular
method. you are invited 10 attend. If
you are accredited as the representa-
tive OF your county, or city, so much the
better.