The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-24
PARTY NOMINATIONS
OF Candidates for the United "a rs
Senate by Primaries or Convention

Senate by Primaries or ConVen''on'
Editor Of The Times:
SRI hope that all the pemocr'ti'
,,ress of the state will. I'm view of the iact
tbat n will bee impossible TO have eiec-
tion of senators by the people TOT soulo
time ia come. at least. advocate the hoNt
best thing. to-wit-party nominations "l
candidates for the United States 9ei"''
nv state conventions or primales'
Vrben I look around az the scenes no"
beins- enacted in Delaware Pennsylvania.
Montana. California, West virginia anu
other States. / am more than ever con-
,inced that. taking everything into con-
CELEBRATION. the very wisest course TOT
Irsroocracv IN pursue in this state Is 20
have a convention next summer NN'
those we usually have to nominate
candidate for Governor ana homiha"
a Democratic candidate for nlted states
Senate In this manner the Hsht lo'
United States scnatOrship Will oe eHin'
mated from the contest for seats lh 'Ho
next Legislature (and we know from
few Of fights over hold-oVer seha,viS
seats I'm the fall Of 1891. just how plDter
euob a fight will bel there Will be no
nossibiIgtv OF a dlsgracefu wrangle IN
The legislature and. above all. the voice
az the people will be distinctly heard IN
the election OF a United States senator
Some one opposed TO this plan will cry
ont that the application Of the above
editorials TO Virginia is "a reflection on
the integrity of her Legislatures. i reply
that do not charge the Virginia Legs
Iatures with corruption II has been, aho
probably will be next time composed OF
as high men as there are TN the state,
but | want q course pursued THAT VIII
prevent the possibility OF any such
charge being made against Virginia Leg
islature as is now being made against inc
Legislatures OF 50 many other STATES
Virginia legislators may be better tnan
those Of other states, but they are nor 80
high that they cannot be even suspected
Human nature i'm Virginia IS the same
that it IS in California, Montana ana
West Virginia. and there are no ahgehc
natures that I am aware OF IN the VIZ
tyinia. LEGISLATURE. The people OF this
State have not forgotten the palniul
Il will not say disgracefuD scene that
was enacted in Richmond just five years
ago. when, in obedience to popular de-
mand the Legislature investigated the
methods employed I'm the election or
United States senator. True the inves-
tigation apparently indicated the meth
DDS used. but in the light OF that eSpe-
rience the Democracy Of the state ought
IN Leave no stone unturned In the effort
IN nrevent even the possibility Of a re-
eurrence Of such scene. Such expe~
riences are too costly 20 be disregarded.
Resides this do honestly believe THAT n
the United States senatorial question II
allowed 10 remain. as 10 now is the domi-
nant factor IN the fight for members OF
the Legislature that such bitter striie
Will be stirred up within the party lines
as to endanger the supremacy OF tne
Democ1 attic party IN the next iesisid'uie'
Eliminate this question from the Legs
lative lights bv having a State convention
and Won will then have harmony IN the
marty. men will be elected to the Legs
Iature with reference TO their illness lot
Mace and their views on public questions
ard nor solely with reference 10 "non
g., Tavor for United states senator. Inc
ro,,ocracv win then again win SiQtlou7
.,,a,o,v and there will be no POSSIBILITY
.,rargie In Richmond over the sen
otorsbin such as is now disgracing 50
many States 80. g., .bfs case
.hat 4, is impossible just az this unie 70
sac,,re what we want. we should aoVo'
&c The next best thing to II, to-"l'.
nominations by the party dominant anu
In control OF the legislature Iea'"'s' -
We are ever to have elections OF senators
nv the people we must start az the ioun-
Sstion. That object can only be attain
ed by amendemend 10 the United states
Constitution, and that amendment mus
a., ma approved by Congress, OF which
che senate Is a part You can't expect
senators who were elected by the meth
DDS named above 70 favor constitution
amendment doing away With those me'h-
DDS and hence IL you ever expect 20 get
a senate that will favor such an amend
ment YOU muct begin by sending men 20
fhe Senate who were themselves elected
,v nc near the popular vote as possible.
that Is by party primaries or conventions
let all the Democratic press Of the state
advocate a convention, let the state Dem
ocratIc Committee call convention, LEI
the voice OF the people be heard. and al
will be well. II would not be an expert
n,ent Primaries or conventions nave
been held for this purpose in other States,
and Southern States. too, and worked
well. Refuse to have such convention,