The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-05-13

quest that he Immediately convene the
| Central Committee for its cOnsidera-
ton.
3. In advance of action by the Gen.
trail Committee, or in case II declines
10 act as recommended. we appeal TO
the Democratic voters Of each legisla-
tive district to nominate no man for
the next General Assembly unless he
favors the principles herein expressed
and pledges himself to support for the
United States Senate a candidate who
is the open and unequivocal advocate
thereof To this end we urge that the
preference OF the Democratic voters In
each legislative district for United
States Senator be ascertained by party
primary in the district or by some other
equally fair method. The right OF
Democrats to resort To such local action
is incontestible. Ia all cases where
local action is taken as suggested 1t
will be the duty If every Democrat in
good faith and IN good spirit to abide
the result whatever 1t may be. We
hope aud believe that the necessity for
local action will be obviated by the nc
ton Of the State Central Committee
hereinbefore requested.
6 We now and here organize Demo-
cratic league for reform In the election
! of United State Senators TO consist Of
members Of this conference and all
other Virginia Democrats who approve
this declaration of principles To con-
duct the affairs Of the league and give
effect to its patriotic purposes, a com
mittee of twenty shall be appointed by
the Chairman of this conference, az
soon after its adjournment az possible,
to he known as the executive committee
Of the Democratic league for reform in
the election Of United States Senators.
This committee shall have power "a
elect a Chairman, either from within
OF without its own membership, to fill
vacancies and TO adopt such measures
within the limits Of loyal support OF
the regular Democratic Party Of the
State az may be deemed proper to adj
vance the general objects in view.
secure the cooperation of Democrats
in other States, and the election by our
next General Assembly Of Senator
who is heartily in favor Of tho great
reform contemplated
Here follows some of Mr. West 5 obser-
vations on the conference
The conference adjourned this evening
after one days session. and after pass
ing resolution requesting the Demo
cratic State Committee to call a State
convention for the purpose OF naming
a United States Senator IL the COM
mittee declines TO take this action, the
Democrats Of the State are asked not tn
support the nomination Of any candi-
date for the State Legislature who is
not unequivocally committed TO the
election Of Senators by the people.
The idea Of calling upon the State
committee for convention was decid-
ed upon at the last moment as the only
way out Of the difficulties which con-
fronted the delegates in the way OF
practical action The result can be pre-
dicted. The State committee will not
call a convention, and as for the alter
native proposition, IL suggests abso-
lutely nothing that the voters do not
now enjoy. viz: The right TO keep any
man ont Of the Legislature who does not
represent the views Of majority Of
the district conventions which make
the nominations.
Here follows what seems to be the
anti convention view Of the situ-
alton. Mr.. West says
Chairman Ellyson, OF the State
Committee, is out Of the city and can
not receive the committee OF twenty
from the conference until he returns
1t is difficult TO see, however, how the
State Committee can recognize the
mass. meeting held today. The plan Of
Democratic organization is very ex-
plicit. 1t says that the State Com.
mittee is charged with the affairs OF the
party and shall have power 20 perfect its
organization and to direct its conduct
i'm obedience TO the declarations and
policy Of the party as the same shall be
set forth by the State conventions.
The policy of the party regarding
elections Il Senators by the people was
let forth by the last State convention
held at Roanoke. when the proposed
innovation was defeated after an ex
haustive debate The State Committee
is the creature Of that convention. and
can hardly recognize telf constituted
conference which is at variance with
the decision Of the State convention.
This is the opinion of Democrats well
versed in party law, and when 1t is re-
membered that the conference today was
not an expression OF all the voters, but
was an ex parte affair, and that there
were no credentials. no roll call. No
list Of delegates, and that all questions
before il were voted upon by everybody
in the hall, spectators and delegates alike
il is difficult TO see what standing II can
have before the State Committee.
The situation became somewhat cleart 7
TODAY. Attorney General Montague
switched himself out Of the Senatorial
race and Il Walton Moore. Of Fairfax,
announced that he was not a candidate
and never would be candidate for any
office. Congressman Jones has made no
such declaration, bat on the contrary, II
is expected that he will issue card an
nouncing his candidacy. This would
be the logical result OF the conference
in the advancement OF which he has so
industriously labOred, although In a
speech inst before the adjournment OF
the convention he declared that not d
single member Of the conference was
actuated by selfish purposes or had in
his heart any motive that was not OF
the purest description.
Describing the assembly of the con-
vention, Mr.. West says;
"a picture of Bryan, given the place
Of honor between portraits OF Jefferson
and Jackson, smiled upon the delegates
when the latter were called to order
this morning. The main floor Of the
Academy of Music was we'll filled. the
actual counted attendance being 32l, but
the balcony was practically empty. AT
noon there were exactly seven persons
in this upstairs contingent, but this
number finally increased to forty two.
The personnel of the attendance was
excellent although the absence Of men
who are usually associated with Demo-
cratic gatherings was noticeable. Be
fore the assembling of the conference a
local band played outside the building
with tuneful energy, but even this mu-
steal demonstration, coupled with the
appealing announcement In the morn.
ing papers to delegates to bring their
friends, failed to fill the hall The