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.

the People.
Richmond, Va, May 1C.-The confer
ence of Virginia Democrats called for
"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 $50 dele
gates pLesent.
The conference was called to order by
Hon. j. G. Parker, of Southampton
county, who in a speech elaborated the
object of the gathering. In concluding
Mr.. Parker recommended the follow
ing temporary organization, which was
excepted:
For chairmad, Hon. John Goode, of
Bedford county; for secretary, Mr.. John
s. 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 a recess un.
til 4:30,
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.
Mr.. Anderson accedted the permanent
chairmanship in a 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 as follows:
81. We earnestly favor an amendment
of the federal constitution so that Uuit-
ed States Senator'S shall be elected by
direct vote of the people of the Several
States, instead of by the legislaturer
thereof.
-. 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.
4. We urgently and respectfully ap-
peal to the State Central Democratic
Committee to provide at once for hold
ing state primary or State conven-
tiou for the nomiha tion of a Democratic
candidate for the United States Senate
to be voted for by the next General
Assembly.
"5. In advance of action by the Cen
rral committee, or IN case it defines tC
act as recommended, we appeal to the
Democratic voters of each legislative
district to nominate no man for the next
G. nerally Assembly unless he favors
herein expressed and pledges himself
to support for the United States Senate
a candidate who is open and unequivo
cal advocate thereof.
''6. We now and here organize 4
Democratic league for reform in tn,
election of United States Senators, t,
consist of members of this conferenc,
and all other Virginia Democrats wh'
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
coed to make a nomination for tn
United States Senator. This PROPOSE
tion was debated and defeated by
practically unanimous vote.
A motion was then made that tn
proposition to appeal to the State CON
mittee to hold state convention b
stricken from the resolution, so that th
plan of making nominations for Sen;
tors by primaries might stand as til
sole recommendation of the conferenc
This was adopted, but Immediately r.
considered and rejected, and the repo
of the Committee ON Resolutions w;
, then adopted as submitted.
x Congratulatory speech upon the wol
of the conference were then made b
Congressman w. A. Jones, Attorns
General NJ ntague, Hou. Walton Moo
Hon. Eppa hunton and others, and Il
conference then adjourned.
WERE ANTI-MARTIN.
Richmond, Va, Nay 10.-The Dem
cratic Senatorial conference which m
here today was composed of 500 re
resentatives. Comparatively few of t
Democratic leaders conspicuous in {
past gatherings of the party, we
present.