Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-06
THEY WANT PRIMARIES
Senatorial Reform Committee Will
Issue an Address,
THE MEETING LAST NIGHT,
All Members Represented in Person OF
by Proxies.
MR. 8. $. p. PATTEsON's POSITION.
He Attended the Meeting of the
Committee and Defined His views
ms to the senatorship-He Wants
Primaries.

At a meeting of the Executive Commit
tee of the Senatorial Reform League,
held at the jefferson last night, it was
resolved, among other things, to issue an
address to the people Of Virginia. urging
them to fight for an opportunity to eX-
press themselves at the polls as TO their
choice for representative in the United
States Senate.
The address will be prepared by ccm-
mittee to be named by Hon. William A.
Anderson, the chairman Of the Execu-
tive Committee. 1t will be issued in
few days.
A SHORT SESSION.
The session Of the committee was not
long one. A number OF matters dis
cussed. and decisions reached, it is under
stood, were not made public. 1t was
stated. however, that each member Of the
committee was urged, and practically
stands pledged. to do all in his power to
further the cause of the popular election
Of senators, and Of giving TO the Demo-
cratic voters of Virginia opportunity 70
express their preference as to the repre-
sentative VI AAlt SAiAt III llAt = AAANA lNAAN .
Senate
It is understood that plans in further
ance of the principles enunciated at the
conference in May. and noted above. were
agreed upon, but they were not made
public.
Hon. William A. Anderson, Of LeXing-
ton, chairman Of the committee, presided.
1t was stated that nearly all of the twenty
members were present or represented by
proxies. Hon. William A. Jones had ex-
pected to be present, but was detained
at Orkney Springs by the Illness of his
WIFE
HAVE HAD NO PRIMARIES
a member Of the committee stated after
the meeting that all his colleagues
favored the instruction Of candidates for
| the General Assembly as TO the choice
of their constituents as between the two
| candidates for the United States Senate.
1t was also stated that 50 far as known
not county committee in the State
had granted 70 the Democratic voters
the privilege of so nstructing their legis-
latye candidates The efforts Of the
committee Will be directed towards Sc
curing this privilege for the Democratic
voters.
1t was not stated what arrangements
We're made, ii any, regarding speakers
! i'm the present canvass. Mr.. Anderson
said his business would prevent his going
on the hustings. Mr.. Jones will take
the stump after August lith. Mr. J. c.
| Parker. of Southampton, Will take the
stump after August 9th Mr.. II. b.
Boiling. of Charlotte county. who was
at the meeting last night. will meet Mr..
| Glenn Green, OF that county, in joint de-
bate at the county seat tomorrow
MR.. PATTEsON'S POSITION.
Mr.. $. 5. p. Patteson, recently nomi-
mated to the House Of Delegates from
| this city. is a member of the Reform
! League Committee, and attended last
nights meeting Mr.. Patteson was the
only one of the five nominees from this
city who did not declare for Senator
| Martin for reelection. The friends u
| the latter have recently claimed that
he would vote for Senator Martin.
| Il am not committed 70 any man." said
| Mr.. Patteson after the meeting last
night. Il am for the popular election Of
senators. | have wanted all along TO &c
| thar which was for the best interests OF
the people of Richmond. l will adhere tS
that principle 10 the end Of the fight.
am an earnest advocate Of the election
Of senators by direct vote of the people
and / insist that the people be allowed t'
express their choice for the senatorshiE
when they select candidates for the Cen
eral Assembly during the present cam
palgn. 1T is very evident that the need Of
reform exists now, and the time for re-
form is when it is needed.
81 am totally opposed to sitting The
voice Of the people on that question now
II is well-known that l have always op'
posed snap conventions and snap prima'
ries. as they do not reflect the real views
OF the Democratic voters. The Demo
cratic primary election law for Rich
mond as prepared by me, provided that
no primary could be held before thirty
days OF the general election. 1t was at
| forwards changed"