The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-03-30
THE MAY CONVENTION.
Virginia Editors Think the People arc
Competcnt To Choose Senators.

tDmpeteut To CHOOSE 0'h''''7'
4 number of gentlemen. Including apt
| Thomas d. Ransom, OF TINS ci'y Suuso
| George X Anderson, OF pHie'"
eX-Congressman James ". MI 5''p a.. N,
| Craig. william A. Anderson ana FRANK
/ II Glasgow of Lexington, ana Attorney
/ General Montague have signed an Au-'
| dress calling for a convention OF btho-
! Gratis 10 be held in Richmond III NAY iVr
| the purpose OF dcvising ways an" iH'i4'"
10 give the people an opportunity 70 No.e
for United states senator. me "uUie''
is a lergtny one and emDodtf "","
Der of points favoring the luea 70 icy
the people say. IL Is now 1"@1
heartifv endorse and it IS 10 DC hyPcd
tb9t 10 nemocratic press will lend It's
aid I'm bringing IL 10 the atlehuO" "A s'''
n.opIe There are no safe GROUNDS ior
onnosInr this move and those who at
tempt 10 fight Il will not ma thehselFes
I'm the majority The people nave oeeh
longing for the time 70 come "heh lHeH
voices could be heard in matters Oh tHl7
kind and II is the people that we con
graduate Let the May convention NC
largely attended.-Staunton Spectator
AFTER SENATOR MARTINS SCALP.
Congressman John r. RiXey. William
A Jones and John Lamb. Attorney Cen
eral A. J. Montague. eN-Conercssnen
John GOode. George u. Wise ana james
W. Marshall r. Walton Moore. Joseph
T.. Willard. W r. Reddy Eppa hunton'
Jr.. and forty others prominent ID demo-
cratic politics in Virginia, nave lssued am
address tO their fellow democrats OF tne
state recitng recent events IN connecu7"
with the election of United states sena-
tors and appealing 10 the party TO unite
with thCm I'm am effort 10 secure the
adoption OF a constitutional amendment
comforting upon the voters Of the several
States. the privilege Of electing senator's
by direct vote OF the people
I'm order 90 the furthcr1nce or mat
end and the selection, before it can be
attained of party candidates Tor me
senate by some popular method, me
sigucrs invite such Democrats as hold
the principle that the people are capd-
bile of choosing their senators 10 meet
them in conference here on the lth OF
May next
Tho sguors 10 tho address arc among
the ablcsi Democrats BOO the state. ana
while they disclaim any purpose 10 ar
tagouize Senator Martin the movement
will inevitably take the course ot oppo-
siti0u On him for the reason that De is 40
favor ~ leaving the matter wholly %
the members of the LEGISLATURE. Appa-
re1tiv Doe is afraid OF the people ana
fh.s very fact VIII strengthen the move
meut Just inaugurated.-5taun News
I'm our local columns to-day viii be
found an address 10 the Democratic voters
of Virginia 0n n subject OF prime im-
p0rtance 10 every patriotic citizen on our
whole country. be be- a Democrat or Re
publican. We rater 20 the call for a con-
ference 90 be had at Richmond on Thurs
day. MAY n. 1900. "f0r the purpose OF
adopting such measures as may be deem
cd best 90 promote the election OF 6ena-
tors of the United states by the direct
vote of the people" The purpose Of this
conference is expressed boo the call, and
as we understand it is solely for the pur-
pose therein mentioned. and is not for the
purpose of advocating or advancing I'M
meliately orr remotely the interest or
any man or candidate for the ofice or
United States Senator. 40 especial good
or peculiar benefit is supposed 90 accrue
% amy man connected with the move
mont save that alone which accrues 10
every man who advocates a. measure
both popular and right.
Some of our contemporaries are eti-
IDENTIFY misied when they characterize tlis
call for n conference as am anti-Marun
movement. indeed. SD FAR as we can see.
Mr. Martin has at present no opposition,
and lt is not likely that Doe Will have amy
before the next General Assembly of Nlr-
guia. The present movement Us in no
sense personal. but general, and as the
Virginia delegation in the constitutional
convention at Philadelphia in lN. so per-
-.stently urged that United States Sena
tors D.. elected by The people and SOD te-
nac.Ou. y held tO their opinion being the
first and last 90 cast Nirgluia's vote for
Cd. D.. rII. % I.Y Cd
state pride with all NireIuians that the
Democracy of the ola Dominion should
Doe the first organized political body of
any strength t0 take concerted action
for th. adoption az such measures as may
be deemed best Co promote the election of
United States Senators by The direct vote
of the people
The Star was among the first newspapers.
N not the very first. of Virginia 90 sari-
ousiy urge this concerted action bv the
Democracy Of Virginia. and at the Roam
Okla convention OF 1897. when Senator
Daniel with aI bis mlfchlcss elOQuonce
pleaded with the convention 90 vote down
the resolution providing for senatorial
primaries because 30 was ga new question
20 the masses. it was largely the argu.
meuts and reason presented through this
paper. including the uudnswerable opinion
of Judge Clark. of the Supreme Court of
North Carolina. published for the drs'
time in our columns that caused the
primary resolution 90 receive co votes
and almost 10 carry. But the masses re.
gard the question as d. "new' one no
longer The voters have been informing
themselves. and the lessons furnished hr
The "deadlOcks" and acts OF corruption
and bribery in connection with the at-
tempted election OF United States Scna-
tors Boo numerous states in the past two
or three years have been well learned.
The election Of Senators by legislatures
might have been right and proper when
The legislature voiced the sentiments of
the many and not the few bat what was
| originally right and proper has now de-
generated into an insuferable abuse. and
the people have made up their minds 90
end IN.
With am our heart we welcome tho
move. and believe and trust that the con-
ference in Richmond on May nth will Do
productive OF good results. -F'redericks-
burg star