Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-05

'SheeIs) The proposition would be elo-
Vuen,iy opposed. but he desired to say
.'at u was proposed TO limit the election
10 tne senators which should follow that
vi ,he senior Senator from Virginia. lie
mad already been renominated by the peo-
pie, as witnessed by the plank adopted In
the platform, instructng the General As-
sembly TO elect Daniel. mot satisfied
win putting II In your platform" he said.
you have adopted a resolution instruct
ing your representatives TO vote for his
reelection, or be morally damned by the
Democracy"
]. for one endorse from the bottom OF
my heart your action. Qoud cheers)
A STRONG POINT.
The speaker scored a strong point In
calling attention TO the fact that the
committee and convention had both al
ready adopted the primary principle. Al
that remained was to put the matter III
shape for the future. What was wanted
was declaration that the Democrauc
party was in favor Of letting the iiol-
yidual voter have voice in the selecuon
OF United States senator's. Mr.. Jones saiu
That he and his friends were not "euueu
TO this form. and were ready 10 accep'
any reasonable amendment or more per
feet substitute. 1t was proposed 10 grant
the people a privilege; not 10 take any
thing away from them. Why ne asH-
ed, "are the people OF this state coihpe-
tent 10 vote for their Governor, Tor the
President of the United States. for mem
bers OF the legislature. and not fcr tie
senator to the United States Congress ny
the direct vote of the people, hr. Jones
reviewed the action of both branches OF
Congress on the amendment 10 elect SEN
ators by popular vote, and called atten-
tion to the fact that the only vote against
IL I'm the Senate Committee was that OF
William T. Chandler. of New Hampshire.
Chambers reason was based on the as
sertion that IL IL were adopted the Demo-
Gratis of the South would cheat the. he
publican party out of its representation
in the Senate. So extensively has this
idea grown that many States have in
structed their senators TO vote for the
election of senators by the people. This
plan has already been tried. and the peo-
pie of South Carolina demanded that the
senators to represent them should be
elected by popular vote. That plan has
been in operation for one year, and works
admirably, and to-day we see the candi- |
dates running who will be voted for on |
the 3lst dag Of this month, and If no one |
received the necessary quantity of votes |
another election is to be held ten days |
1t Is easy TO criticise, he said, |
easy TO pull down; but not so easy 10 |
build up. II you do not like our plan sug- |
gest something better 0sOud cheers)
Mr.. Jones went on to speak Of the |
workings Of a similar plan in Georgia. |
and paid a high compliment to the sena-
tors from that State. At this point Sena-
tor Daniel remarked that he thought Vir-
ginia senators had as much title TO re-
spect as those of Georgia. Mr. Jones an
swered: "Not only as much. but Virginia
has reason TO be prouder for she has pro-
duced some of the most illustrious sena-
tors that have ever been In the halls Of
the Senate" (Cheers)
SHOULDN'T STAND STILL
The Democratic party, he continued.
does not want to stand still, while the
whole world is marching on. The Demo-
cratic party could not sit supinely by.
(CheersD He spoke OF the probability OF
fights over senatorships. and the subse-
luent lack of representation in the Sen
ate. He instanced the States OF Florida
and Delaware, where the deadlocks had
lasted the whole session of the Degisla-
ure and necessitated the TecOnvening Of
he body at an enormous additional eX-
)ense. rhe same had been the ease in
Washington and Wyoming and Oregon.
Nr. Jones next touched on the objection
'lan presented he said. provided for the
lolding Of the elections for senators at
he same time as the election Of men,
'ers Of the General Assembly The ex-
ense Of primaries was touched upon, and
lie made a strong point by saying the
Ian would give the representation to the
in the black district. 'Vote
own this proposition" he said with en-
hass, "and every Democrat at home
will think you have insulted him. The
ght is on the issue which has been
made"
General Hundley asked whether he had
nderstood Mr.. Jones correctly, that |
very Democrat would be represented |
'hether the Democratic party was in
Majority or not in any certain section
Mr.. Jones answered that by the pro-
osed plan every Democrat who believed
! the principles of Jeffersonian Democ- ;
acy. whether he lived in a black district :
r In old Accomac, would be represented. :
loud Cheers)
81 notice" he said. chat when vou {
ant TO conjure in this convention YOU !
ave only 10 mention the name of VIII
am Jennings Bryan. l tell you that VIII !
am Jennings Bryan was one Of its most ..
lnspicuous advocates. TO you delegates. .
no are here by the grace of God and
|
lnnot go back and tell them that YOU I
ave refused to entrust them with this |
'lvilege.' Mr., Jones pleaded i'm the name
distracted Democratic party. I'm the '
ime Of each individual Democrat. for the
ioption of the plan as reported by the
Q-oud cheers) The speech of -
r. Jones made a fine impression. and
was very loudly cheered
DANIEL, IN OPPOSITION a
Senator Daniel. who was the chairman Il
the Committee on Resolutions which r
ported the senatorial plan. followed Nr. 81
mes The senior Senator. as told i'm TO- L
y's Dispatch made an eloquent argu n
ent before the committee in opposition 81
this proposition. In reply to Mr.. Jones c.
might he said: II had hoped In this
eat convention of acknowledgements TO cl
We had no encounter. No man was ever f,
nored by convention as | have been
day, but the responsibility of being one
advise you upon this subject came
on me unsought. and have made il a ~
lie OF my life to avoid no responsibility.
d 10 declare myself, whether IL be popu- ~
: or not II there is any one who has "
V abuse TO speak of any senator. out
tn 1t like a man. / remember at one ~ ~
ne. when my colleague was the subject VI
public report, he threw down the III
untlet 70 those who charged him, and W.
2 General Assembly Of Virginia de- OF
red that his raimeHt was untainted.
there is a man who wishes to besmirch pe
stand up and let the world know ~
on what the allegation rests. Now. 40
ltlemen. i want TO lay a proposition -,
fore you, and it is this: Every Demo- W VI
tic Vofpr II VIRGINIA now chopIT baNp | Ia