Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-16
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION.

THE SENATORIAL QUESTION.
The Charlottesville Progress finds occa'
sion for alarm in the proposed ehanse
with respect TO the method of electine
senator's because IL would confer upon
the United States Senate the right to poke
its nose into the conduct Of every board
of election officers In the Black Belt. In
several issues it has prodded the Dispatch
to know how we feel aboutit.
We answer that in the FIRST place the
| United States Senate IS already the judge
Of the qualifications Of its own members,
and It can go into the investigation Of
the election of legislators from any coun-
~ or city on occasions when senatorial
question is involved. So far as power is
concerned. the Senate has plenty now,
and would have no more then.
That there is no great occasion for
alarm we may be sure when We find Con-
gressmen Epes, Swanson, Young. Lamb,
and Jones. as well as all the other mem
bers OF the Virginia delegation, voting
I'm favor of the resolution looking to
charge in the Federal Constitution We
may be quite certain that II there had
been any danger ahead the viglant mem
bers Of the House Of Representatives from
"the Black Belt of Virginia would have
been the first 10 see it and foremost in
denunciation Of the proposed amendment.
Again that the change does not menace
the success Of the Democratic party we
&. God ia q a
fact that it IS supported and advocated
by Senator Jones, OF Arkansas. the chair
man of the National Democratic Com
mittee. Mr.. Jones long held out against
the change. but Of late has become
thoroughly convinced that it ought to be
made. and IL now one Of its most en-
thusiastic friends.
Furthermore. we tell the Progress that
the disposition at Washington to inter-
fere with congressional elections in the
South is growing less and less. And what
Is more, there is much reason to
believe that before any change in the
Federal Constitution could be made
Though the greatest possible degree of
speed were attained "the negro question:
as we know it at this time, will
have been eliminated from southern poll
tics. by the adoption Of restrictive suf-
frage clauses in the several State con-
stitutions.
But the May meeting is to be held not
alone to further the change in the Fede-
raj Constitution, but TO induce our party
to adopt some popular method" for
making its senatorial nominations. Now,
suppose the May meeting should declare
that in its opinion nominations would
better be made by primary elections.
what objection could the Progress have
TO that plan? or course, such primaries
would be open only TO white Democrats.
There would be no NEGRO in the wood
pile; there would be no basis for fear
that a partisan Senate would undertake
to revise and recount the ballots. 1t
would he friendly contest within our
party, such as We have bad for other
purposes in Richmond and in many other
communities of this State.
Here in Richmond we have had Demo-
J
and eleven thousand votes were polled
And with us there is no objection heard
when d primary is proposed; but indigna-
ton is vented when it is suggested that
in this or that case the primary might be
dispensed with.
Long before the May meeting began TO |
be discussed, il was the general talk |
among our city politicians that If there |
were more than one candidate for the |
United States senatorship our City Demo-
cratic Committee ought to be, and would |
be, asked TO allow the sense of our party |
to be taken as TO the choice Of this com
munity for the senatorial nomination.
Our information is that the plan was
very generally approved by our leading
party men. In that way it was proposed |
o make the path of all the aspirants for
legislative hOnors easier than they would
be- otherwise and make it clear to them
or whom the Democrats Of Richmond
wished them to vote in the legislative
caucus.
If our friend, the Progress, continues 10
see in tho effort TO change the Federal
Constitution a danger which is not OBJ
'ious TO tie chairman Of the National
Democratic party. and which seems not
% have impressed our congressman from
the Black Belt" we hope it will not be
deferred from encouraging the nomination
IF United states senators by primaries
IF white Democrats or by "some other
popular method"