The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-23
SUNDAY, APRIL %. 1850.


III r. VI n y Wv sftf 1850
As the convention approaches ior CON
ssderation Of the question how best 10
asc.rtain the choice Of the people OF Nir-
r,nia Of their representative in the United
S,,,es Senate. the interest in the subject
Increases.
The serious and widespread considera-
tion Of any new method for ascertaining
the preference OF the people for United
States senator was not thought Of In
virginia before the Lco-Martin contest
IN 1893. We think IL fair 70 say that II
was the result Of that contest which
rives the real force 70 this movement.
We consider Il. therefore. of the utmost
importance 90 draw clear and strong
line between the establishment Of q prin-
ciple on the one hand which Will be
lasting. and on the other hand the asiia-
lion Of A movement which may have in
s. the personal ambition OF some indi-
viduals or political resentment against
other individuals. The Times FOR itself
has neither the ono nor the other. IL has
no axe 70 grind" no friends TO reward.
no enemies 10 punish. It's sole and SIM
Gle object IN advancing this convention
e the puriacation OF Virginia politics.
in our opinion the real substantial object
- be obtained by this convention il the
arousing Of the interest Of the people lh
the choice Of senators so that the mem-
bers OF the legislature Will fairly respond
10 the wishes Of the people al home. The
D. HrI t.. I'D Do On
the head Of any one person. IL was the
result OF forces which had long been Ia
notion and was due 20 political situa-
lion which grew ont Of the Malone re-
CINE. when IN their anguish and indigna-
ton the people cried out anything 10
beat Malone" That cruel period made
the ordinary citizen swear a fidelity 10
his party organization which forbade him
even 20 question its methods. no matter
how he might condemn them. II pro-
duced a corruption in elections and
smoothed the way for debauchine the
electors themselves. any means being
considered jusuaable TO avert q recur-
renee Of that condition under which
lizard gambler was made judge ana
q negro criminal was substituted for an
honorable Confederate soldier as DOOR
keeper OF the House OF Delegates.
When John :. Barbour. then president
81 the Virginia Midland Railroad tri-
urnphed over Malone ia lSN3 tho people
Of virginia gave themselves nap 20 a dee
Nriurn o. delight. and whatever Mr.. Bar
hour did was voted 20 be right II was
then. We believe. that money was hrst
lavishlv used 10 influence politics in Nir-
rinia. unless indeed it was when Malone
himself was running the 4. A. d o. rail-
road. and was a power with the Legs
Iature The eood results of money in
elections were so appreciated that there
was no condemnation but rather glori-
fcation al the effect 40 produced. And
60 II went on from less 10 more until
money talked more potentially than the
most eloquent orator As long as the
Democratic party carried the elections
the results were acQuiesced In cheerfuly
by all good Democrats and no questions
were asked about methods. The regular
current flowed on undisturbed. the poo
pie looking only on the surface. where
ell was serene and in due order and out
side OF chosen Few. not dreaming OF
the machinery OF Us managers who were
doing the work. until the death Of Air
Barbour made q vacancy Zoo the United
States serate. To the astonishment OF
The ordinary Democrat in Virginia 81
was announced that Alr. Thomas $. Mar
tn was a candidate for senator ana that
& majority Of the members OF the Legs.
iature in vacation had signed e petition
70 Governor Mckinney 90 appoint MY
Martin IN Senator Earbour's place. This
choice OF Mr. Martin was said TO hr due
10 his being recognized az the influential
representative Of the railroads and the
administrator Of funds which had been
used IN the Democratic cause. We do
not mean 10 dotract from any merits
which Mr. Martin may otherwise have
had. merits which his friends claim are
great snc valuable Governor Mckinney
appointed General Epps Iunton, and
when bis term was about 20 expire tho
now celebrated Les-Martin contest came
% end the same influences which had