Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-05
IN NO DANGER.

The Clarke Courier. when u an "i""
advocate OF the May-conference move
ment. expresses the belief that senate
rial reform will be written in the pat
form Of the next State Democratic Coh-
vention. III 1t is not slain In the mousse
Of its friends
The Courier's reservation Is inspired ny
certain conditions that have grown out oi
differences and friction within the party
in ,,s immediate section. As TO such local
troubles we do not assume TO speak, eN-
cep, in the way Of laying down genera
proposition. That proposition Is that riV'i
claimants 10 legislative honors and war
ring factions should endeavor TO get To-
e,othor" of their own yolition, or by IN
,,itinq the interposition Of disinterested
friends. or their local party authoriues'
and. falling Of this desired consuihnid-
ton through any of these means, shouIo
submit all questions involved TO the S'dte
Committee. with the unqualified determi-
nation TO abide by the result. In our view
that way lies duty TO the party and 10y
atty 10 the best interests of the state
However. whether all local differences
shall be adjusted or not-and, happily
most of them seem I'm a fair way for adj
iustmont-we see no reason 10 fear that
senatorial reform" IS in danger of being
slain in any quarter. The local personal
issues that have evolved during the cam
naien have no more relation 10 the great
prlnciple than has the broader personal
issue. Those who apprehend that either
has iniuriously affected the prospects OF
q complete and speedy victory IN TINS
matter for the great Democratic doctrine
that The people are the source OF all
novor. are. to our mind, losing sight OF
the substance in contemplating the sha-
dow
When we brush away the side issues
we find that the equation of sentiment
throughout the Commonwealth vindicates
the Nav conference. The hard pan of the
situation as disclosed. after getting rid
of the everything strata Of personal amoi-
don and factional feeling, is that the re-
form movement has come to stay AS the
civil engineers say, the angle Of friction
has been practically reached, and there is
q pretty clear and safe road TO the goal
The kernel Of the developments of the
campaign is Democratic endorsement by
a large majority Of the fourth and cardi-
nal resolution of the May conference
which reads:
pending the adoption Of such consul
tutional amendment providing Tor the
election Of United states senators by dl-
rect vote Of the people,, we favor the
nomination of our party candidates LOT
United States senator by state primary
elections. or State conventions, and we
ask the General Assembly for legislation
legaliZing such primaries, whenever held.
As we see it, the popular verdict in
favor of the principle embraced in this
resolution not only ensures the writing
Of senatorial reform" in the next State
Democratic platform but amounts to a
mandate to the General Assembly 10 pro-
vide a way by which the principle may
become operative, and the writing Of
practical effect. AS we understand it, in
deed. the Legislature cannot avoid en-
dorsing the principle in such manner as
will alone place its early triumph be-
vond doubt. oh. no; senatorial reform, we
repeat. is in no danger Of being slain in
any quarter.