Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-12
THE DATE IS CHANGED,
The Senatorial Conference to Be
Held Wednesday, May11th
WILL MEET IN THE ACADEMY
The Building Engaged for Both Day
and Night Sessions.
OPEN AN OFFICE At MURPHYs.
Mr.. CIaggett u. Jones to He in
OPEN AN OFFICE At MuRPHY's.
to lie by Card.

The date for the senatorial conference
has been changed from May 11th TO May
10TH
Arrangements were made yesterday to
hold the conference in the Academy OF
Music.
Arrangements were also made to open
bureau Of information at Murphy's at
once, with Mr.. Claggett i. Jones, Com
monwealth's Attorney of King and Queen
county, and one OF the signers of the
| call for the conference in charge.
| REASON FOR THE CHANGE.
The change in the date Of meeting was
| decided upon yesterday after Congress
man Jones, who came TO Richmond Mon
day night, had conferred with number
| of friends of the movement here. The
| chief reason for making the change was
that large numbers of prominent men of
the State who will wish to attend the
conference also desire TO be present at
the great Confederate reunion in Charles
ton. which begins on the nth of May.
The conference will last only one day,
and those who attend can leave on the
night train Tuesday and reach CHARLES
ton the next day. Three south-bound
trains leave the city at different hours
every night.
Mr.. Jones and other advocates Of the
conference decided upon the Academy OF
Music as the place of holding the con-
ference, and it was engaged for day ana
night Of Wednesday, the 10th Of May
1t was found absolutely necessary to
engage the Academy in order to accom-
modate the crowd expected.
Congressman Jones and his friends en-
gagged Room IS, on the first floor at MIr-
phys. to be used as an information bu'
reau. The room will be fitted up with
necessary office furniture to-day, though
Mr.. Claggett Jones viii hardly be ready
70 take charge before tomorrow or next
day. lie was here yesterday, but hau no
idea of being called upon to take charge
of the bureau when he arrived in Rich
mond.
FOR THE BUREAU.
Mr.. Jones will 80 to his home IN King
and Queen to-day. lie stated last night
lPe'.f'~'1
city now, not having arranged to do So
He Will return by the latter part OF the
week. at latest He is not certain that
he will be able TO remain in charge OF
the bureau until the meeting OF the con-
ference. owing 10 the pressure OF private
business. 1t is probable that several or
the gentlemen who signed the call Tor
the conference will take turns in relieving
Mr.. Jones. Congressman Jones stated
Yesterday that he would be here again be-
fore the NEE ting, and ii is quite probable
that others of the fifty Will be in position
to take charge Of the bureau for few
DAYS at a time. In this way the work
will not fall heavily on any one man.
The selection OF Mr.. Jones as the man |
TO be placed i'm charge of the information |
bureau is regarded by friends of the |
conference movement as most excellent. |
He is a man of high character and VIDE |
and is thoroughly familiar
not only with the general features OF the
agitation for the popular selection OF
senators but took an active part in the |
contest for the primary plan at the Roa- |
noke convention in 1897.
The room which will be used for the |
bureau will be supplied with the neces-
sary office furniture to-day. Mr.. Jones |
viii be assisted. for the present. at least, |
T. I
The establishment of the bureau was |
rendered necessary by reason of the i'm |
mense number OF letters of inquiry re-
ceived from ali parts of the State, and |
from other States, by signers of the call |
for the conference. The writer's asked |
for information regarding the meeting. |
the basis Of representation, the terms of |
admission 10 the conference, and other |
matters.
RESTRICTED REPRESENTATION.
The original intention TO make the con-
ference a mass-meeting in the interest |
of the movement for the popular election |
of senators will be somewhat modified. |
II has been found that the conference |
would be far too large even for the Acad-
envy of Music unless some means |
of reducing the representation of various |
were adopted. 1t Is probable
that an effort will be made to induce the |
friends of the movement in the counties /
10 agree upon some plan of selecting dele
in order that all the people may |
be represented. Otherwise one county |
might have an overwhelming representa-
ton. while an adjoining county would be
without delegates owing 10 their repre-
sentatives being unable 10 gain admission
10 the hall. 1t has been decided that ad-
mission must be upon cards obtained at
the bureau.
MEASURES AND NOT MEN.
The chief movers for the conference
are pronounced in the declaration that ii
rnust be regarded as a movement for mea-
sures and not men. 1t is not question
NJ a candidate. but of principle. 1t Is
NOT 10 be considered as blow aimed at
senator Martin or any other candidate
for ,he United States Senate. but must
be- looked at as a movement In the drec-
lion of the election OF senator's by popu-
lar vote.
Congressman Jones yesterday reiterated
his dcclaration of several days ago, that
here was no cut-and-drled plan for the
conference. and so far as he was CON
,erned. would be none.
The conference itself must decide
said Mr. Jones. There will
rot be any attempt at manipulation. no
Effort TO work II for the benefit of any
,andidate. All Of us who signed the call
Will do our best 10 get the conference In
shape for work. The work itself must be
lone by the men who will assemble IN
he Academy on the 10th of May"
RESULT OF THE CONFERENCE.
Mr.. Jones stated that he had seen seve-
al plans suggested for the popular
.hojce of senatorial candidates. and pos |