Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-28
THE I.EersLArrvE CAUCUS.

action OF the Roanoke convention con-
cerning Senator Daniel had been regarded
as a nomination." It would have been
unnecessary for our members OF the
LEGISLATURE to have nominated him In
caucus.
1t was the decree of the Roanoke con-
vention that the legislative caucus should
nominate Major Daniel and 10 that end
/ it's members were committed beforehand.
In view of his distinguished services the
/ convention took decisive measures to
guarantee his reelection.
The resolution adopted by the conven-
! ton pledged the party 10 oppose any as
| pirant for legislative honors who was
nimical to Danel's nomination. 1t thus
made sure that no one should receive q
| Democratic nomination or enter our legis-
| latiye caucus who was not committed
| In advance to his reelection.
By turning TO the records OF the pro-
! ceedings OF the legislative caucus held
on December 3. 1897, we find that the
| question OF nominating a senator was
Unexpectedly sprung upon the body, and
renominated Perhaps II an evening had
been set apart for the consideration OF
the senatorial question there might have
been some discussion of the proceedings
at Roanoke, though we are satisfied that
the conclusion reached would have been
just the same and just as unanimous in
favor of Daniel.
The resolution pledging our party not
TO support the candidacy Of any man who
was opposed TO the nomination OF Major
Daniel originated in the Committee on
Resolutions, and was adopted as part
Of that committees report. 1t was not
sprung upon the convention suddenly or
unadvisedly 1t was the result of action
deliberately taken. and call it recon-
mendation," reinforcement" or "nomina- !
ton" or what you WILL 1t was the en- |
phatic, final, and conclusive judgment of !
the Democratic party of Virginia as to |
the disposition of the senatorship, in the |
event that the Legislature was Demo-
cratic. In fine, every legislator who
went into the caucus of December Sd was
committed from the beginning of his cam
didacy as Democrat 10 vote for the
nomination Of Major Daniel.
1t makes no difference how much dis
cussion there may be about whether the
conventions action was a nomination.
or not. The name of the thing done is 1
not important, but the conclusion reach
ed was. And that conclusion was that
the Democratic party of Virginia then
and there. through their representatives,
chose Major Daniel 10 be their senatorial
and nothing short of a revo-
luton in the party could have reversed
that decision. Nor is 1t of vast conse-
quence that it was known that Daniel
would have no opposition" AS a matter
Of fact, no such thing was KNOWN" and
we must infer from the action of the
on Resolutions which was APP
proved and ratified by the convention it
self, that 1t was believed that Daniel
would or might have opposition.
The precedent that the Roanoke con-
vention has set is that any State con-
vention, called for any purpose, may EN-
dorse" a candidate for the Senate in the
form following:
We cordially and heartily endorse
-, and will oppose any candidate for
the Legislature and Senate of Virginia
WHO is NOT IN FAVOR OF HIS
Now, if that deliberate declaration of
a State convention doesn't make sure Of
the nomination of the person named
therein, then there Is no faith to be put
in party pledges. 1t is a good enough
sort of nomination for any one who
wishes to be senator, and we doubt not
that there are several thousand Vir-
any one of whom would con-
slider himself signally blessed by fortune
II he were the object of such solicitude ,
upon the part of d State Democratic
Whether a State convention of our
,arty should be called at this time or not
SEA question of policy for the State Com
nittee to determine. But we cannot
imagine how the committee could argue
rom the proceedings of the Roanoke
convention that that body was opposed"
o the nomination of senatorial candi-
ates by State conventional Opposed"
ndeed when it left the legislative caucus
othing but a routine duty to perform!