Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-03
IS R|CHMOND'S TURN,
Delegates to the Conference
VIII Be Chosen Saturday,
WILL MEET At SANGER HALL.
All Democrats Who Favor The MOV.-
ment Are Invited 10 Attend.
A BUSY DAY AT THE BUREAU.
The Last Week Before the Confer
cnce is Being Filled With Hard
WOrk-Extracts from Letters from
All Over the state

! At meeting Of Democrats held at
Murphy's last night a call was issued
| for a meeting 10 be held at Sanger Hall
Saturday night at $50 o'clock for the
purpose Of choosing delegates to the SEN
atorial conference May 10th. The follow
| ing is the call, signed by seventeen or
the gentlemen present:
| To all Democrats OF the city of Rich
mond who hold to the principle that the
people are fully capable of choosing their
| senator's, and who are willing to unite
with us in an effort to secure TO them
that cherished right, an invitation is
hereby extended TO assemble at Sanger
Hall, Saturday night. May 9th. at half
past o'clock. TO select delegates TO rep
resent the city Of Richmond at the Dem
| ocratic Conference, to be held at the
Academy of Music. Wednesday. May 10th,
| for the purpose of adopting such mea-
sures as may be deemed best to promote
the election of senators OF the United
States by the direct vote of the people
and, until that result Is accomplished,
| the selection Of party senatorial candi-
dates by some popular method:
John Lamb. George ID. Wise, w. +. Red
| dy, Alex. Coke, John Il. Minor, Jr., Cum
ningham Hall, f.. Il. Thomson, S. S. p.
Patteson, Il. c. Walthall, W. +. Poy-
thress. b. o. James, John Garland Pol
lard. Joseph Wallerstein, Sol. Cutchins
John S. Harwood, W. IL. Cullingworth,
j.. II. Ferguson.
The meeting was presided over by Con-
gresham Lamb. The session lasted near
ly two hours The entire subject was
quite thoroughly discussed. The call for
the meeting was the outcome
The meeting Saturday night is expected
| to be largely attended. This will be the
| first opportunity presented the Democrats
of Richmond who favor the popular cleo
ton of senators To show where they
stand.
BUSY DAY AT THE BUREAU.
The managers in charge at the Sena-
toriaI Conference Bureau yesterday stated
that more hard work had been done
during the day than on any since
the bureau was established.
There were fewer out-Of-town callers
than usual and while the number of let
ters received was fully as great as on
other DAYS. they were not answered
promptly. but were allowed to wait until
more pressing matters were disposed of.
A great many letters have come in ask
ing for information regarding the con-
ference, and all have not been answered,
owing to the rush Of work. Yesterday
afforded opportunity TO catch up with this
behind-hand correspondence.
Congressman RiXey went home yester-
day afternoon. leaving Colonel Il. o..
James and Hon. W. +. Reddy in charge Of
headquarters. They sent out number
of replies to letters. and also much liter
allure.
Among the letters received was one
from Hon. Camm PattesOn, of Bucking-
ham. signifying his intention Of attend
ing the conference, and stating that he
would soon write a letter giving his views
on the subject. Mr.. Patteson has not been
in good health for some time.
LETTERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST.
Following are some letters received
from the Southwest yesterday common
datory of the conference:
Pulaski-I have been deeply gratihed
that you gentlemen have taken this mat
ter up In such Il manly and practical way
a way that is sure TO bear abundant
fruit. L have been panied at the
way things have been going in regard to
this important office throughout this coun-
try, and also in the State of Virginia. As
a private citizen, who never in the world
expects to be in politics. whose business
and vocation preclude the possibility Of
such a thing, l desire TO attend the CON
ference. and basing my action, and my
interest solely upon my ruties as a citi-
zen, l will do all in by power 10 further
its ends. / think our State Government
and our National Government Will be all
the purer and more just when the people
take a livelier interest in the selection
of such public servants, and when such
men must depend solely upon their merit
and ability and the widespread admira-
ton which their public acts excites to
win such worthy honors. l am grateful
to the signers OF this call and wish you
abundant success in getting the matter
properly before the people of Virginia.
Montgomery am glad TO know that
there is such a move on hand as that 10
elect our United States senators by direct
vote of the people. / have talked with
a good many OF the best citizens, and they
are all of the same opinion. and i am
satisfied that a large majority of the
voters Of the State VIII be with you.
Scott think the move is in the right
direction, and will give ii my hearty sup
port. and L feel assured that three fourths
OF the voters Of this county are in favor
of the election of United States senators
by a direct vote Of the people.
Wise-I am most heartily in favor of
the adoption of some method that Will
put the election OF United States senators
i'm the hands of the people. Recent de-
yelopnents. in my opinion, establish the
fact that the methods of what is mildly
called practical politics often defeat the
will of the people. These methods are
given their best opportunity In legisla-
tive caucus, while ii would be impossible
for the same politics TO beg practical
where the field for manipulation is the
whole State 1t will say that the public
sentiment. so far as l Nave observed, is
unanimous in favor Of the election OF
United States senators by the people.
Band--I am In full sympathy with the
movement. and it is popular here.
Washington-I am In hearty sympathy
with the move. | Think United States
senator's should be elected by the people
directly, just as governors and other
officers, thereby removing the cause for
the disgraceful and shameful bribery OF
portion OF the Legislature. ! think the
Democratic party in this portion OF the
State is ALMOST unit for the change.
RUSSELL am In favor of some popular