The Washington weekly post., 1899-05-16
The Virginia Senatorial Situation.

The net result of the May conference,
sO-caned. recently held in Richmond, has
been. as The Post anticipated, of very
little Importance. As 10 the character oi
the conference, II is only necessary 20
state that ii was composed, in some de-
gree, Of men who are sincerely anxious
10 institute a change in the MODE OF
electing Senators and of other men, who
believe that. through new methods, shey
can gain entrance 10 the United States
Senate For the former, The Post has
the highest respect, even though it diff
fers with them as TO the necessity or ad-
visibility Of a change. Nor does The
Post challenge for single moment the
right OF any ambitious politician TO seek
election as a United States Senator, but
IL does question the sincerity of these
aspirants when they attempt 10 cloak
their real purpose under the guise Of
purely patriotic motives. II would have
been much more straightforward, IL seems
TO Us, if the candidates for the Senate
had frankly announced their position
and gone before the people on the direct
issue Ii is not a difficult task to gather
three or four hundred people together in
state capital, but even this number
would not have assembled had not those
who were interested in succeeding Sen
ator Martin inaugurated and stimulated
the movement Having met and passed
resolutions, however, the conference is
now a thing of the past, and some con-
sideration OF its action may not be map
propriate.
The request to be laid before the State
committee for the holding OF State
convention cannCL in cur opinion, be
granted. IL is plainly out OF the PROV
ince of the committee. under the Demo-
cratic Plan OF organization, TO recognizs
a mass-meeting. especially when the
participants therein propose TO repudiate
the action OF a regularly constituted
state convention. A convention called by
the committee under the circumstance
which now exist would be neither legal
nor binding II the request should be
granted = very dangerous precedent
would be established. Within the next
lew months. for instance, other agitators
might assemble and demand a state con-
vvHtion TO determine any question which
troubled their uncertain minds, and their
appeal would be as worthy Of attention
as tho one whi-h is presently 10 be sub
mitteI 10 the STATE committee. The mo-
meut The well-esta tablished and time-tried
rules OF party organization are broken
through irregular ana spasmodic action.
that moment a Pandor4's box il opened
and disorganization Is certain.
IL would be particularly unwise. also
for State convention 20 be called, be-
cause The remedy for existing conditions.
II remedy DO needed, Is In the hands OF
the people The conference recognized
this when Il appealed 10 the voters TO
send no nan 10 the Les stature who Is
not unequivocally committed 10 the prin-
cipIe OF popular election Of Senators. As
matter Of fact this power has always
been possessed by the people The con-
ference merely emphasized an estsb-
llshe4 and recognized fact. No candidate
can be nominated al a legislative dis
trict convention except by the votes OF a
majority OF tie delegates thereto. II
this majority Is earnestly I'm favor or
popular Senatorial elections. or II IL op-
poses the choice OF a certain candidate
- the Legislature, its desire can easily
e expressed through the selection Of