Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-02
If Is ron THE PARTY TO DECIDE.

| IT Is FOR THE PARTY To DESiDH'
| The following I'VE reproduce from the
editorial columns of the Norfolk Virgin
| ian-Pilot:
Newspapers have some rights even In
| party politics, and the Virginian-Pilot
| dares maintain these rights. as its duty
| 10 the press and the public. as well as
| 70 party. AS TO United States senators.
| for instance; while 1t is heartily In favor
| of restoring the popular control of the
| choice OF these, 1t is bound to no partic-
uar mode OF doing this until the party,
| by its majority, and I'm the pre-
scribed way, shall declare the mode
| 10 be pursued Then the Virginian-Pi-
| lot recognizes that mode alone. as Its
sense OF obligation requires II to do. So.
| the mode Of nomination being settled by
| competent authority. there Is no party
! choice or nomination until the candidate
| is named I'm the manner provided. and.
| mean while, the Virginian-Pilot holds ana
exercises the right. common TO every De-
mocratic journal and voter, TO favor. OF
TO oppose. any man (his fidelity to true
Democracy being unquestioned for the
position, whether * be seat In the
United States Senate, or any other Office
as thus only can a free and fair choice
be made. But when the party speaks,
This is the man-the choice OF the De-
mocratic party" from that moment ne
Is the choice, and the unanimous choice.
of the party, whether so formally moved
and voted or not, and shall be so re-
garded by this paper.
We desire that the position OF the Nir-
ginIan-Pilot in this. and other such mat
ters, should be most distinctly. stated,
and most clearly understood. From the
party regulations, upon men and mea-
sures. they become binding on the whole
party-persons and papers-but not be-
fore: no. not before. Until such authorl-
tatiye decision Is reached, we and all are
free to discuss, or propose, oppose, or Ia
yor, any man or measure; but the party
decision once made, all must equally ac-
cept II. as ali have had equal opportunl-
~ TO form 1t.
We understand the Virginian-Pilot 10
be heartily IN favor OF restoring the pop
ular control Of the choice" OF United
States senator's; but that 1t does not hold
itself bound TO any particular mode OF
doing this until the party, by its MAORI
ty, and in the prescribed way, shall de-
clare the mode 20 be pursued" And "un-
I'll such authoritative decision Is reached
we and all others are free to discuss or
propose. or favor, any man or measure;
but. the party decision once made all
must equally accept 1t. as all had equai
opportunity TO form II"
1t is the object of the May meeting 70
invoke the decision of our party author
tiles on the question of changing our
plan of making senatorial nominations.
The question will be, Shall the legisla-
tive caucus system continue? Or, Shall
the nomination be made by a State De-
mocratic convention? or, Shall a state
primary election be ordered by our State
committeeman primary TO be held
when our voters go to the polls In No
vember to vote for members Of the Legis-
Iature. or at such other time as may be
deemed best.
Preliminary to the adoption of any one
of these plans our State Committee would
have to call State convention. If the
State Committee declines to do so, then
no other course is open, except for each
separate Democratic constituency to in
struct it's members of the General Assem-
either by primary vote, or by petition,
or public meetings. or in such other man.
ner as may be agreed upon by our party
in that constituency.
After ALL it is the party which must
decide. The May meeting will decide
nothing, except what it Will urge the par
ty to do.
The Democrats who will gather here on
the 10th will confer. and, If possible,
agree upon the form of a petition to the
party. 1t is well that this fact should be
thoroughly understood, because there has
been an insinuaton that the May meet
ing would undertake to "legislate" for
the Democratic party Of Virginia.
Yes; after all, it is the party that Is to
decide and, as the Virginian-Pilot says
from the moment the party decides, ac-
ccrding to party regulations. upon men
and measures, they become binding on
the whole party-persons and papers-but
not before"