Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-26


have changed my views upon this subject
within the last year or two. The whole
people cannot be debauched by money or
otherwise: II Is safest TO put all the power
We can in their hands"
POSITION OF VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS.
The doom Of this relic Of q dark past
Of the age when the people were not
trusted with the custody of their own
rights and liberties, is already written.
The question OF the hour is. Shall the
Democrats Of Virginia refuse to partici-
pate I'm a great movement destined to re-
store 10 the people, where IL rightly be-
longs, the right to elect their Senators as
they now do their Representatives ana
their Governors?
in South Carolina, Georgia. Illinois, and
other States, the people, despairlng OF
any action by the Senate itself, have DIS
covered a remedy for the evil ana have
not hesitated TO apply IL. They have
adopted senatorial primary systems. by
means Of which they virtually elect their
senator's. In no single instance where
such primaries have been resOrted 70 has
the result been disappointing TO them
OF course. the trusts, the rings, and the
political bosses have opposed, but when
ever and wherever the people have once
taken this power into their own hands
llEl never nave Uttl kllQNH ~ lEllll4Alsl
II.
It is vain and misleading to say shat
this question has been decided by the
party organization in Virginia. Nothing
is ever decided which is not decided right,
or which is decided against the irresist-
ible course Of events. 1t is true that
resolution providing for senatorial pri-
maries failed Of passage at the Roanoke
Convention Of 1891. but it is also true
fett .r al n
hour in the deliberations Of that body.
and until many of its members had de-
parted for their homes. The principal
argument urged against its passage was
not directed against its merits, but was
based upon the contention that the con-
vention-not having been called for that,
but on the contrary for an entirely DIFF
fercnt purpOse-namcly. the nomination
of q State tickct-ought not nasuly and
inconsiderately to take action so inn
portant. As it was, and in spite Of the
fact that many OF the votes against the |
proposition were cast by proxies. unin-
structed upon that subject, it received G50 |
votes.
INFLUENCE OF CORPORATIONS.
The Legislature Of Virginia has always J
contained men of a high order Of charac- |
ter and ability, and many of the senators |
from this State have been most distin- |
guished for wisdom and public and pri- |
Nate virtue. And yet il cannot be sue /
cessfully denied that 40 men assembled |
at the State capital. subjected TO the |
powerful and insdious influence Of cor
pOrauOns and combinations of corpora |
ions, controlling hundreds Of millions OF |
money and employing hundreds OF thou |
sands OF trained agents and professional |
men, have not the resisting force of half |
a million of voters each intrenched in the |
fortress of his own home and the af- |
fectiOns of his own household, whose sole |
protection is his freemans vote. If this |
rcfuge-the people-should ever fail, then, |
indeed, must the republic be despaired Of, |
but not until then.
In the light of recent events IL can |
not be gainsaid that Legislative elections |
are a prolific source Of legislative corrup- |
ton" That in many recent and we'll
known instances they have resulted in |
prolonged deadlOcks and entailed great |
cost upon the unfortunate Common |
wealths where they have existed is an
additional argument against the present |
mehod Of electng United States Sena-
tors. Within a few days past the lesis-
latures of Delaware. California, and Utah,
after frittering away their entire terms |
IN fruitess efforts to elect United States |
have adjourned finally, and for |
two years 10 come each Of those States
will be deprived of one half of its repre-
sentati0n in the Senate. The indications
all are that the legislative deadlock in
will not be broken and that
IL also will lose senator for at least two
years
CALL FOR MEETING HERE.
To the Democratic party of Virginia this
note of admonition and warning is sound
ed Upon it has been laid the solemn re-
cf.encfIflffv az ha of
beloved Commonwealth in the visible
future, and the election of the next United
States Senator 10 be chosen from this |
State. With the people of Virginia it is
the whites man burden" which he may
not refuse TO lift and, therefore, with a
view 10 carrying into practical effect the
principles herein set forth, this aUuress
Is now issued.
To such Democrats as hold to the prin-
cipie that the people are fully capable OF
choosing their senators, and who are will
ing 70 unite with us in an effort TO secure
TO them that cherished right. the invita-
ton is hereby extended 10 assemble In the
city OF Richmond on Thursday. the llth
day Of May, 1922 for the purpose of adopt
Ing such measures as may be deemed best
10 promote the election of senators Of the
United States b. the direct vote of the
people, and until that result is accom-
)lished, the selection of party senatorial
candidates by some popular method.
Signed JOHN II. RIXEY,
HENRY c. STUART.
CLACGETT B JONES,
A. j. MONTAGUE,
JOHN GOODE,
j. G. PARKER,
WILLIAM A. ANDERSON,
JOSEPH l.. WILLARD,
GEORGE w. LeCATO,
W. r. REDDY,
JOHN LAMB.
TPPA HUNTON, Jr.,
H. +. BUCHANAN.
ALVIN 4. EMBREY
GEORGE ID. WISE.
W. A. JONES,
WILLIAM KEAN,
n. y. WESCOTT
II. l.. AILWORTH,
II. WALTON MOORE,
II. r. BARTON,
CHARLES T. MCORkLE,
FRANK r. GLASGOW,
THOMAS ID. RANSOM.
JAMES W. MARSHALL
GEORGE *. ANDERSON,
pHILI.IP v. COGBlLL,
JOHN r. LOWELL. J
\. s. WALLER. ,
w. u. p LEECH
]. SINGLETON DIGGS.
]. T.. BRYANT,
j. T.. PRINCE. G