Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-14

The Southampton Senatorial District
Franklin Va, October j., 1893.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
! have noted in your columns for seve-
raj days past comments upon what you
are pleased to term ''The Democratic
Difficulties in southampton County" an
item in your issue of the 18th, even refer
ring TO the 1.-TWO wings OF the Southamp-
/ ton Democracy" as being nearer 10
gethef. These items are altogether mis-
leading. and though | am at this writing
sick in bed. cannot refrain from taking
this method of entering protest against
tho publication OF items 20 entirely mis-
! leading. TO one having no other informa-
! ton on the subject than your columns, 1t
would appear that the Southampton De-
mocracy was almost hopelessly DIVIDED
when, as a matter of fact, there mas
! rarely been a time when the Democracy
| of SOUTHAMPTON was more united than IL
| is at present; however much OF danger
| There NAV be that the disscnsions i'm add
Joining counties may hereafter spread 10
southampton.
| am exceedingly sorry 10 have 10 ad
nit that the Democracy of the Thirty
second Senatorial District is divided, and
from my information and observation l
am obliged 10 believe that the Democracy
OF Nansemond and Isle Of Wight Ohe
other two counties In this senatorial dis
tricO Is very much divided. the dissen-
sions in Isle of Wight being of an ex-
ccedingly bitter character and so wide
spread as to cause the parry In that
county to be divided into two very nearly
equal parts But the Democracy of South
ampton is not divided. Its sin % appears
to consist in its refusal TO submit 10 what
II conceives to be unwarranted action on
tho part OF the State Central Committee
and its support Of one Of her sons for the
Senate that IT believes has th1 best right
TO be called the regular Democratic nom
inee for that position. southampton DEM
ocrats are loyal. but are so old fashioned
that they do not believe the state Com
mittee is all of the Democratic rIrtY OF
Virginia. and they do not believe that
being a Democrat involves a surrender OF
ono's right To- resist oppression and IN
fairness. whether attempted IN Or out OF
tho party.
| shall not attempt here TO 90 into
discussion Of the merits Of the troubles III
this senatorial district Nc one deplores
the existence If t.le troubles 61ore '"an l
do. and no ono would more gladly wei
como some solution whereby ;he pemo-
and present an unbr)ken front On the 7th
OF November. But whether his much to-
be-desired Cnl is attained ~ not. / pro-
test in tho name Of the Democrats Of
Southampton against having it horalded
TO tho state that Southamptor Democ-
racv IS divided. If ii be the desle Of the
party in the State (as it would appear
from the utterances of some members OF
the State Committee and other prominent
Democrats who have been intervicwcd)
10 read out of it's ranks all the Democrats
i'm tho county who approve the tc'ioh or
its Executive Committee on last Friday
it will have to read pretty 'auch all of
them out. and there would be an infinite
]? small nucleus left around which TO re-
build the party In this county.
J. c. PARKER.
whether there are many or few Demo-
Gratis in Southampton county who take
issue with the State Central Committee,
we take this occasion to renew the hone
that the trouble in that senatorial district
will soon be removed. That there are
honest. sincere. patriotic Democrats On
each side Of the controversy there can be
no doubt. Therefore. It will be surpris-
ing If they cannot come together
and compose their difficulty.
The plan Of organization Of the Demo-
cratic party in Virginia gives TO the State
Committee power 10 perfect its organi-
cation and TO direct its conduct in obe-
dience to the declaration and policy Of the
party. as the same shall be set forth by
the state conventions"
Furthermore, the plan expressly pro-
vides that the State Committee may de-
eide all questions at issue, which may
arise in election districts. calculated 10
affect the harmony and the interest OF
the party"
Such question was at issue In that
senatorial district. and II was in the pro-
vince of the State Committee to decide IT,
whether both sides to the controversy
called upon 1t to do 50 or not. 1t was not
bound to wait for both parties, or either
party. of disputants to ask its mediation.
While the State Committee was clothed
with full power in the premises, and its
decision is binding upon the Democratic
party. nothing would rejoice us more than
to hear that each side 10 the controversy
is willing to give and take" in the in
terest Of harmony. There can be no ques-
ton at all as TO the willingness of the
State Committee TO reconsider its judg-
ment. in order to enter up any consent
Decree" so TO speak, which may be laid
before it.