The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-11
THE VOICE OF THE
PEOPLE IS HEARD


Torrance OF the ou'NS Ah"t '''"e "
hand and the duties which have sum-
moned Thy servants, citizens or tire
Commonwealth OF Virginia, 10 assemble
here in this convention al this time, our
ing this year OF our Lord. we thank Thee.
dear Father. that we may expect nom
Thee divine direction. whsle We arc mere
for after all, Goo is making history fast-
or than man can make %, ana We take
part with Him on His s'de-
MAY We seek - Know. ana a. an
times rejoice TO know that we arc ed
by that Cod. and every day dat we
dwell here on earth may we feel mat
we ripen because OF duty well done ana
have a personal friend in our Father In
heaven.
preside over the deliberations Of
these Thy servants. and We bescech Ihee
when the work OF this con5caiion shall
have been brought to u close, that cach
one shall realize that ne mas spohl JUS
time In the fear OF Goo. and in the love
~ man. and may each one Zoe able 70
eav on Blended knee wncn DE has return
ed home Il did tho bnst l could ana
God save our native land Hear as ana
answer US for Jesus sake. Amen.
Amid perfect silence Mr.. Parker th@l
delivered the opening speech OF the me'"'
Ing which has 50 hong been iookca ior-
ward TO.
when this convention was called SAID
AR. Parker, those who began the move
mon: thought that the majority or me
people Of Virginia were in favor OF IT,
"Now" he said with emphasis. we
absolutely know g."
40, we don't" cried voice from inc
audience but 70 was orawned IN the
cheers Of the majority. AS Mr.. Parker
proceeded with his address he again ana
again declared that tie object OF the con-
vention was not in the interests or any
man, nor was IT aimed az any man. ana
great cheers greeted the uttcrance.
"The opponents Of this movement, ne
continued ARE watching us. They claim
that We are boilers. l challenge any
man IN Virginia 10 say that ne is ~ better
Democrat than l am
A BETTER DEMOCRAT.
I'm a better Democrat than you are
~ Won come 10 that" said the same voice
that had chmed in before.
Air Parker paid no attention 70 the in
corruption, but continued his address. II
was vigorous. welldeliVered, and met
with the unqualified approval Of the great
majority Of. his hearers, judging by the
liberal applause.
lie said:
MIR. PARKER's SPEECH
Fellow Citizens OF virginia: Believing
that the method provided by the Fedeia-
Constitution for the election Of United
States Senators had outlved its useiui-
ness-if It cover had any-and needed 10 DE
changed. and believing that Virginia, in
accordance with her old time prestige
and leadership should take the initiative
IN organizing a movement, the ultimate
result of which would be 10 accomplish
this much desired purpose, hfiy-two
Democrats Of this State a few weeks ago
signed and published an invitation 70 all
their brother Democrats IN this state
who felt as they did on this subject. in
wiling them 70 meet here to-day IN con-
ference. and here formulate such plans
20 efTectuate such an organization as
would result ultimately IN bringing about
this much desired change.
The splendid assombage OF virginia
Democrats that ] see before me to-day
speaks Of tho manner IN which this IN
vitation has been received and responded
20 IN far more eloquent tones tnan any
words I can command.
When We issued this invitation we
thought and believed that the Democrats
Of the State Of Virginia were in favor Of
this movement. ] may state to-day that
we absolutely know II beyond the per-
adventure Of a doubt (appiause). CRY Of
mo they are not.)
There are some Democrats IN tho state
OF Virginia-and / do not say they are
not ItIuOtidlN-Nli IiUAfra ID H.iANFf iNA
the election Of United states Senators,
but who refuse TO attend this meeting,
and denounce those who called and at
tend Il as having something more than
unselish ends I'm view: that we are here
20 further the ambition Of some men,
and oppose the ambition Of some others
Ii is not for me 10 say that the gentle
men who take this position are not sin
Cera In their assertions. Admitting for
no al - that fhgir CHARGE
IS true, thu answer comes inevitably
that we have as much right 10 further
the ambitions Of one man in advocating
this meeting. as they have the right 10
further the ambition Of another man in
opposing IL. (Appause)
OBJECTS or THE MEETING.
But l say here, without fear of sue
lcessful contradiction. that the charge
they bring against us is not true. (Ap-
plause) We are not here to advocate
the candidacy Of any man for United
States Senator. nor are we here 10 OPP
pose the candidacy OF any candidate OK.
cept In so far as some candidate may
force US TO oppose him Dy virtue Of his
opposition 10 the principles OF Demo
cracy. (Applause) The object of this
mooting may be summed up az follows.
We are here to adopt such plans and
organize such movement as shall ulu-
mately result in the securing OF & con-
stitutional amendment To the United
States CoQstituuon, providing for the
election of United States Senators by
the people: and tho securing upon the
adoption Of that amendment tho adop-
ton Of some popular method whereby
the Senators elected hereafter TO the
United States Senate froin this State
shall be committed unequivocably 10 the
principle OF tho election OF Senators by
the people (Applause) That is the OBJ
feet of this convention. and nothing else
50 the object of 10.
We are here for higher motives than
any personal interest or any individual
ambition. We are here in the interest
Of the people who are making a hght
10 be invested with the right which even
under the conditions under which our
Federal Constitution was adopted. was
in the eyes and in the minds OF some OF
the wisest statesmen In this land, and
particularly IN Virginia, al that time
We are hero 20 make a fight against
these insdious political influences which
have invaded both our state and national
legislation (appiause) and We do earnest
~ believe that unless they are tracked
and throttled I'm time. will shortly throt-
tie us and the liberties OF the people
(applause). and make OF us a race OF
princes and serfs.
Gentlemen, with those high motives be-
- ,. Ia