Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-10

There is no man who KNOWS more
about General Lees feelings in this mat
ter than l do" said Colonel James with
emphasis. II know he has no feeling
that he has been side-tracked. His letter
of withdrawal, written to me, was square
| and honest. He did not want to be in
sisted upon. He wished to be out Of the
race, and got out
And l know. furthermore" concluded
Colonel James, that General Lee Is
deeply interested in this movement, and
that It has his sympathy
WANTS \ CANDIDATE NAMED.
Mr. LLOYD r. Smith. of Northumber-
land. is one of the few delegates in favor
of a nomination being made to-day. He
asserted that he was unqualifedly in
favor Of this course. He said he saw no
reason why one should not be made, and
every reason why 1t should. IL think the
people throughout the State" he said ARE
I'm favor Of a direct vote for senators, but
If we merely enunciate a principle they
will certainly not feel as kindly toward it
as if we had named a man TO stand FOR
that principle"
When asked If he would advocate a
nomination on the floor of the conference
to-day, Mr. Smith said that ne would
not. Il expect to take very little part
in the proceedings" he said, but / sin
cerely hope that a nomination will be
made, though 1 fear it Will not be-"
Is NOT A CANDIDATE.
Hon. Eppa Hunton. who mas been men
toned more than once as a possible SEN
ator from this State said that he had
no idea of entering the race for this high
Office preferring TO devote himself TO
the profession which he has chosen. Mr..
Hunton said that the sentiment through
b. "a
ton TO judge it, was in favor of a change
in the Constitution. and certainly his
section favored il. He did not think the
conference would nominate to-day, and
thought it would be exceedingly unwiso
for such action to be taken.
Mr.. j. n. Brenaman. Of Shenandoah
who represents his county as delegate
to the conference. said THE Demo-
Gratis of Shenandoah are practically unani-
nous for some feasible plan Of Sc
lecting United States senators by pri-
mary. l am unalterably opposed to this
conference endorsing any one for senator.
Such action would not only minimize the
Importance Of the movement, but would
be contrary TO the very principle we are
here to promulgate."
Mr. S. wilkins Matthews, the member
of the House from Accomac, said: THE
people of Accomac favor a direct vote
for the United States senators. and are
demanding a change from the present sys-
tenn Of election. In this they are nearly
unanimous. l do not care To express
myself concerning the advisability OF
nomination being made to-day"
THE PEOPLE ARE FOR IT
Mr. O. L. Motley, of Richmond county,
said the sentiment In his county was al
most unit In favor OF a change from the
present plan of electing senators. 'The
people" said he, want TO vote for them
directly, and l think it would be wise
to give them that privilege" Mr.. Motley
said that when he left home he was OPP
posed TO the conference nominating any
candidate but since he had arrived in
Richmond he had heard the proposition
preached more than once. and he was not
certain now as TO his views on that ques-
tion.
Hon f.. T. Montague. Of Hampton. said
70 a Dispatch man that the sentiment In
his county was strongly in favor of
direct senatorial vote, though he would
not conceal the fact that there was some
opposition to the idea among his people.
He thought, however. that the people
throughout the State were largely in IA
vor Of q direct vote. and that the action
OF the conference to-day would meet with
general favor.
Mr.. Montague was an exception to the
general rule in expressing the opinion that
many of his home people opposed the
conference movement. In every other in
stance, without exception, large num-
Der Of delegates interviewed expressed
the opinion that the sentiment at home
was wellnigh unanimously in favor of the
movement.
NOTTOWAY PEOPLE FOR 1T.
DR.. J. W. Bryant, of Nottoway county
stated that he had talked with nearly al
of the men of the 5000 Inhabitants Of
CrCwe and that he had not found single
man opposed TO the conference movement
Prom reliable information as to the
sentiment throughout the county" said
Or. Bryant. II am led to believe that
at least 30 per cent OF the people favor
~
DR.. Bryant thinks the conference should |
issue an address calling upon the people |
to put forth every effort to induce their |
county committees TO put in operation |
primary for the purpose Of instructirg |
their candidates for the House OF Dele |
gates as TO their choice for the Senate. |
Or. Bryant does not know it, perhaps. |
but his plan is one quite likely of adoption |
ton to-day.
THE SENTIMENT OVERWHELMING. |
Senator Thomas T. Blakey. of Essex |
thinks the sentiment in his sec
ton practically a unit in favor Of the |
movement. The Senator has no plan TO |
propose to the conference: be only wishes |
to see the aims Of the conference accom- |
plished.
Mr. A. A. Lpscomb. Of Alexandria !
county. says the sentiment in his county in
favor of the popular choice OF a candi-
late for the Senate is overwhelming. eve
want candidates for every office. from
constable TO United States senator. chosen
by the people" he said.
Mr.. S. Carroll Chancellor. of Loudoun
county. says his county will have a large |
delegation In the conference TO represent |
what is an overwhelming sentiment in
lis section.
COMING UP FROM NORFOLK.
Mr. James l.. Goode, prominent young
attorney of Norfolk. and son Of Hon.
John Goode, expects good delegation up
o-day. THE sentiment In favor OF the
conference is strong in Norfolk" he said.
though il also has strong opposition
rom the usual quarters"
Mr.. r. ID. Ransom. young Staunton
awyer. says the sentiment in Augusta is
'ery strong, and that the county VIII be |
yell represented to-day
Mir w T. Shields. Of Lexington. presi-
lent OF the Board OF Visitors of the Nir-
,inia Military Institute. is one or the
sockbridge delegates, and very warm
dyocate OF the idea OF the conference.
lr Shields will not offer any plan OF pro-
edure. but has some very clear-cut ideas
$ TO the best methods.
SOME OF THOSE HERE.
The men already here are those most
enerally seen in State gatherings Of the
'irginia Democracy. Among them are
ION. W. a. Jones. Attorney-General |
fontague. Congressman John Lamb,
congressman Rixey Hon. Walton Moore.
ION William A. Anderson. Hon. j. c.
arker. State-Senator William =. Banks