Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1899-05-05
FRIDAY, MAY ., 1899.
The May Convention AGAIN.
The Alexandria Gazette saws.

the proposed Richmond conference
to amend the u. S. Constitution
were ordered by the Democratic
party, he would probably attend
it, but that as it is not he will not
do so. This is exactly right, and
with it every good and true Vir-
glnla Democrat will agree. No
party should expect to prosper
that has IL party within itself. Those
who may attend the proposed meet,
ing have an indisputable right to
do so, but no intelligent Virginia
Democrat entertains the idea that
he will be bound by anything they
may do or say. The assemblage
will not be a Democratic conven
tlon, and wise Democrats, with the
good of their party at heart, will
take no part in its proceedings.
The above extract voices the
sentiments of majority of the
Democrats i'll this section and also
OF this paper. The convention to
BE- held i'll Richmond is ill-timcd
and unfortunate. 1t may be, that
in the evolution of governmental
affairs that U S. Senators NAV be.
and ought to be elected by the
people, Though nothing is clearer
now than that this was not the
primal object in the minds of the
originators of this convention) but
why should Virginia take the lead
III "gltating this question at this
time, when the party in the State
Is harmonious and strongl The
action of these May convention
people is an implication upon the
honesty and integrity of Virginia
legislatures. 1t is implied, that
heretofore they have been bought
and controlled by corporations and
trusts, and as representatives of the
people have failed to carry out the
wishes of the people ard are not
to he trusted. If this move had
arisen ut this time in some Other
State where recent trouble and I'M
mistakable evidence of fraud and
bribery have become notorious
there would be not so much caus,
Tor wonder. Have the Senators of
Virginia heretofore held their high
Office through bribery Do the
present incumbents occupy Their
seats by the Will Of the people, OF
have the lcgislatures-the peoples
representative been bribed. or
bought like cattle in the market?
We repel these destinations there
by made upon. the Senate and
House of Representatives. We
point with pride to the history of
these bodies, from the formation
of the State to this good hour, and
say with truth that there has nev.
er been more friction than was
naturally incident to the filling of
OF so Important an office. Why
otherwise, then, we ask again,
should Virginia borrow trouble
and create strife when there is
neither trouble nor strife, but har.
monyand strength within ourranks?
Again; 1t is stipulated distinc-
~ that those who "are in sympa.
thy with the purposes ofthe May
meeting are invited to take part
IN the convention, and only these.
None others will lie admitted.
If patriotic desire to promote
The welfare of the people prompted
this move why was the call notissn.
ed to all Democrats in the Sta:e.in
order that full and free discussion
might be had? Instead, only those
VINO "favor the purpose of the con.
Ventlon" are invited-a convention
calied without and beyond party
organization. And this is called
q representative meeting! The
truth Is this meeting will represent
only faction, and a weak one at
that' but strong enough, we fear.
10 Sur up strife and bad blood, to
the disaster of the party in the
State. We are now, as a party.
without dis ord, and at peace: a
great struggle is before us next
year, and in view of all these
things we wonder at the lack of
W isdom displayed in thrusting m
this way, this question upon ms at