Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-04
PRECEDENTs ENOUGH.

The Fredericksburg Free Lance refers
to us for answer a saying Oh the Lou
doun Enterprise. that II would be IN
antagonism TO the Constitution OF the
United States TO nominate candidates Tor
the United States Senate by some
popular method" The Lance refers the
question 10 us with the dignity and So
lemnity to be expected of past-master
An politics, though had we been face to
face with our contemporary doubtless
we might have noticed that he "wlnked
the other eye" But be that as 1t may,
we choose to consider the question as Sc
riously asked, and we reply that legisla-
tive caucus. which is approved by the
opponents of the primary election system,
In quite as Unconstitutional as a pri-
mary is.
Where do our friends find any warrant
in the Constitution for holding legisla-
tive caucuses to choose senator's? No
where. Where do they find any war
rant in the Constitution Tor holding ma
1ional conventions TO nominate President
and Vice-President? Nowhere.
The truth is, that though the trainers
OF the Federal Constitution were among
the most advanced political reformers and
precedent up-rooters that the world ever
saw, and though they did not hesitate to
recommend changes wherever they
thought changes would be beneficial, they
never foresaw the condition of things that
Hax MI
electoral college should elect the Presi-
dent and Vice-President; but instead of
that, what with an amendment that has
been grated upon the Constitution, and
what with the peoples taking the matter
into their own hands, the President Is
now nominated by national convention
and elected by the people. What volition
has the electoral college? Practically
speaking, none. Yet who complans-who
cries out that the practice is ''in antago-
nism TO the Constitution" Of the United
States?
AT present we nominate senators in
legislative caucuses. In Virginia a nomi-
nation is equivalent TO an election. There
Is no constitutional warrant for eau
Gus. nor Is any needed. Now, instead of
having legislative caucus we purpose.
IL possible TO have a caucus of all the
Democratic voters OF the old Dominion!
our members OF the Legislature cheer
fully respect the conclusions reached by
the legislative caucus, and may We not
suppose they would quite as cheerfuly
respect the decision OF one or two hum
dred thousand Democratic voters? We
have no doubt they would. AS matter
Of fact many of them would be greatly
relieved II the senatorial question We're
taken out OF their hands, SO far as the
nomination" is concerned. The result
of such change would be that the people
would give more attention than they now
do 10 choosing Legislators. and would
select such as could render valuable ser
vice In the making Of laws. Now, too
often. a legislative candidates qualifica-
tons. or lack OF qualifications, are over
looked. or disregarded In the eagerness of
a constituency TO advance the claims OF
this. that. or tother aspirant for the
Senate.
And so we wish the Free Lance would
inform the Enterprise that the United
States Constitution does not deal with
the subject OF party nominations; also.
that the legislative caucus Tor the nomi-
nation OF senators, and the national con-
vention for the nomination OF President
and v.ee-Pre sident. AFFORD excellent pre-
eedents for the proposed change.
Furthermore. we can find few public
men in Virginia who oppose the nominal
tion OF senators by some popular me-
thod.. A. far as most Of these gentle