Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-05-24


formed Hon. VIM. A. Anderson,
chairman of the May conference, that
he will call together at an early day
the democratic State central commit
tee to consider the questions prepared
and submitted for It's action by that
conference. 1t is thought that the
State committee will find an excuse
for rejecting the proposition to call
State convention-a primary, unless
legalized, it is believed, would fail to
give satisfaction. Should this expec-
tation of the committees action be
fulfilled, according to the belief of
the Richmond Dispatch Mr.. Martin
will have an opponent.
We were anxious to have this Ques-
ton of senatorship separated from
the selection of legislative representa-
tives- We know the power of corpo-
rations, and how easily disposed they
are to help candidates upon whom
they can rely for favors. If the cor
poratlons are interested IN the sena-
tOrship issue, it is safe to say the leg
islative aspirant who favors the sem
atorial candidate favored by the cor
poratlons can secure the latter's in
tluence, and this means great deal
in closely contested legislative dis
tricts.
There are some who are contend
ing that the nomination of a Senator
by State convention has had no
precedent and would not be binding
on the members chosen to the Legis-
lature, but they had simply forgotten
what was done at the Roanoke con-
vention two years ago.
Referring to the action of that con
vention the Richmond Dispatch COM
pletely refutes this contention when
1t says;
The Dispatch will cheerfully ac-
cept the judgment of the State Dem
ocratic Committee as 10 whether il
would be for the best interest of our
party to hold a convention to consider
matters connected with the nomina-
ton and election of senators. but we
do hope 1t will not take the ground
that nomination by a convention
would be violative of any policy
adopted by the Roanoke convention.
See what the Roanoke convention put
upon record as the judgment of it's
Committee on Resolutions and of it
self:
eve cordially and heartily endorse
the course of our beloved and distin-
guished senator, John W. Daniel. in
the United States Senate, AND WILL
OPPOSE ANY CANDIDATE FOR THE LEG
ISLATURE @ AND SENATE OF VIRGIN
IA WHO Is NOT IN FAVOR OF HIS NOM
NATION"
Before seeing copy of this resolu-
ton some Of our newspaper friends
were of the opinion that the conven-
ton merely endorsed Major Daniel.
They must see their error now. \
careful reading of the resolution
shows that 1t goes much farther than
a mere endorsement. 1t made it i'm
possible for any opponent of Major
Daniels, or any person who wished
ty 60 to the Legislature uncommitted,
to secure a Democratic nomination.
We do not say there were any such
unfriendly persons; but the conven-
ton evidently thought there might
be some, and representing the Demo
cratic masses, as it did, it adopted
the positive and decisive course set
forth in the resolution. In every
thing except the name it was a NOM
ination, and one of the most binding
ever adopted by any convention under
any circumstances.
And yet we are now told that the
Roanoke convention was opposed to
choosing candidates by any other than
the old method.
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