Evening star., 1899-04-01
TO ELECT BY DIRECT VOTE
Virginia Democratic Convention Called to
Consider Senatorial Elections.
Growing Sentiment Among the PeO-
pie I'm Opposition to the Pres
ent System.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star


RICHMOND, Va, March 81, 1899.
No political movement in Virginia in five
years has created as much interest as that
aroused by the call signed by half hum
dred of the prominent and leading demo-
Gratis of this state for convention of the
party to meet in this city May IL. the OBJ
ject of which is to consider means of Sc
curing the election of United States sena-
tors by the direct vote of the people. and
until that is accomplished to nominate sem
atorial candidates by some popular method.
The question had been talked about and
written about by the independent political
papers, and it has been for some time rec
ognized a popular demand, but the call
just issued came Unexpectedly, and, being
timely, struck powerful bow.
The question live one in 1897, and
was defeated by narrow margin in the
Roanoke democratic convention of that
year. Congressman W. A. Jones then led
the fight for the nomination of United
States senators in Virginia by a primary
vote, and was much complimented on the
degree of success he attained when the
greatest influences of the party machine
were pitted against him in this popular
move.
The committee on platform wrestled with
the question for hours, and when it was
about to be embodied in the platform of
the convention Senator Daniel threw him.
self into the opposition and with all the
power of oratory he could command COM
bated the movement.
Jones Had Best of the Argument.
Congressman Jones defended the propo-
sition, and it was recognized that he had
the best of the argument, and the resolu-
ton would have been adopted had it come
up earlier in the session. Daniel used the
plea that it was an innovation and should be
postponed until the people had time to
think it over. The county delegates were
in favor of the move, and it was only the
vote of the city delegates that defeated il
by the narrow vote of So to 609 in open
convention.
Only Daniels influence and personal pop
ularity saved the question. The state was
then wild the free silver question, and
Daniel was more than ever the leader of
the silverftes and still the popular idol of
all the people, regardless of their monetary
views.
Az resolution had been already passed
pledging the convention not to honor or
support any man who did not advocate
the return of Daniel to the United States
Senate
1t was, therefore, known that he could
have no personal interest in the defeat of
the resolution providing for the nomination
OF United States senators by primaries.
He opposed 1t with all his might, but it was
in the interest of his friend and colleague
Senator Martin, that he made the fight
as II was Deileyeu that IL would weaken
his chances of re-election.
The people were in the humor to grant
anything that Daniel asked, and nothing
but the weight of his all-powerful infiu-
ence, added to the late hour at which the
question was taken up in the convention,
strangled what was then and is now a
strong and popular move in Virginia.
The question is one that comes ciose-
home to Senator Martin than 1t did then
because next year he comes before the leg
islature for reelection. He has opened
headquarters in a hotel in this city and is
making an organized effort to succeed him.
self.
The Effect ON Martin.
The fact that Martin was the cause of
the defeat of popular move in the Roam
oke convention was like damming up a
tide which, having grown too strong to be
further held in check. may engulf him.
The reflex action will at least be more
powerful than the original force employed
The names appended to the call for the |
spring convention are among the strong
est. politically in the regular party organi- |
zation. and none of them, except Walton