Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-05-02
THE STATE CONVENTION.

The democratic State convention met
10 Norfolk today.
At the meeting last night of the State
central committee the report o. the com
mittee on party plans was adopted. Il.
d. Flood was selected as temporary
chairman, William Henry Mann, Of
Petersburg, temporary secretary, and
w. II. Jacques. OF Norfolk, temporary
sergeant. alarms of the convention.
The special committee, composed OF
one from each congressional district, ap-
pointed by the State committee to con-
slider the plan Of party government and
recommend any desired changes, WAS
in session at the Monticello Hotel yes.
terday Afternoon. The "home rule" ele-
ment urged the committee to recon-
mend that in cases arising from alleged
irregularities, as in the Stands and
Stickley incidents, the matter shall first
20 to the county or city committee,
then to the district committee, and
finally to the State committee, il neces-
sary, and in cases where there are pri-
msries to be held to nominate candi-
dates for Congress or for an office In
which two counties or county aud
city are represented, the primary
shall be held in al the coun-
ties or counties and cities on the
same date. The committees report
was not a surprise, but it was direct
blow to the advocates of local adjust
ment of difficulties. Its report gives
the State central committee power 10
settle eli disputes between contesting
organic ,tions and nominees and no
power was given to the district organi-
cations themselves to decide any con-
tests.
The question OF platform of declara-
tons was last night discussed by the
leaders. 1t Ia certain that w. J. Bryan
will be heartily Endorsed for a renomi-
nation. Senator Daniel is quoted "a
being somewhat disinclined to favor the
convention adopting declaration which
might letter the national body along
vital issues.
1t is possible, but not at all certain,
as stated yesterday, that the delegates
at-large will be Senators Daniel and
Martin, Gov. Tyler and ]. T. Ellyson,
or the first three and another There
are reasons for this slate, particularly If
the elements can harmonic on the con-
vention fight. The district delegates
will be chosen today. The permanent
chairman of the convention will be
Speaker of the House of Delegates
Saunders.
Senator Daniel, champion OF the con
stitutional convention, said last night:
1.-THE convention is going to do what
the people demand on the subject of the
constitutional Issue. A convention is a
necessary expedient, believe, in every
State, making grand round every
twenty-five or thirty years, and sweep
ing out the cobwebs. Nearly every
southern State has had to do it, and
Virginia Is second to none OF them In
her need of constitutional revision"
The Senator declined to commit bi n
self regarding any probable suffrage re-
striction that might BIO included 10 the
new constitution.
There will he some strong opposition
to making the convention party ques-
ton, nevertheless. The Ninth district
Is opposed, and opposition has also de.
veloped in the delegations from the
Fifth, Sixth and Seventh districts. The
reason assigned is that these democrat
ic districts would be most seriously az
fected by the building up of wbits re-
publican party, which would inevitably
result from the elimination of the ne
gro vote. This ia one of the most i'm
portant and far-rescbing phases of the
question. Senator Dnniel did not dis
cuss it at all in bis interview, saying
that the financial and economic condi-
items prevalent In Virginia render the
convention q neoeesitv