Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-03-15

DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE.-A meet
ing o! the city democratic COMMITTEE
was held Yesterday eveniny at 5 O'Clock
at the Office of Mr.. G. L. Boothe. City
Chairman Carter presided, and all the
members we're present but Secretary
Bootbe, who had TO attend the sale o.
the old courthouse property, go Mr.
Summers acted as secretary. Col. F
l.. Smith and Mr.. J. NJ. Johnson were
also present.
Mr.. Carter stated that the meeting
had been called TO discuss the matter
OF holding primary to select caudi'
date for the State convention, and ask
ed for the opinions OF the two candi-
dates present.
Col. Smith said he had addressed q
letter to the chairman asking for a
meeting of the committee to determine
the time and manner of selecting can
didate; he had also mailed copies OF
this letter to Mr.. johnson and to Mr..
Clements, of the democratic committee
of the county. He said he favored a
primary election in preference to ward
meetings; explained the nature of the
convention, which would frame new
constitution, and spoke OF the impor-
lance attached to such convention. AS
the city aud county were mutually in
terested In the selection of candidate
he thought the primary should be for
this purpose alone and the candidate
should not be nominated at a primary
when candidates for city offices were to
be chosen. He wanted the primary
held as speedily az possible, and the
date TO he determined by the city and
county committees.
Mr.. Johnson then explained how the
State convention would be composed
and how the members would be SO
lected. BE, too. favored en- carly pri-
mary, but as the municipal officers
were soon to be nominated he did not
want TWO primaries but thought all the
candidates could be nominated at one.
The city officers wanted an early pri-
mary and he thought two primaries
would be needless expense; would In
yolve she loss of time and would be too
much to ask of the voters; then, too, 8
iuller expression of opinion could be
had il only one primary was held. Two
primaries 10 80 short time was un-
precedeDted.
Col. Smith said State convention to
change the constitution was an unusual
occurrence and primary for this one
occasion would not be q hardship; the
people should be sufficiently interested
to take this trouble. He wanted Hat
race and DO complications with, candi-
dates for other offices. He was actu-
ated in becoming candidate by his
belief that he could be of some service
TO his people 10 assisting to frame a
constitution; he wanted no Office.
Mr.. Summers then offered the follow
ing which was adopted:
Whereas it is deemed advisable that the
democratic party should present candidate
to represent this city and the cou atty OF Aley-
andria in the Constitutional Conyontion; and
whereas the position Of delegate to said Com
veniion is most important tiust, and Que 10
which the people of the city and county are
alike interest d and where's il is the sense
of this comm ttee that in selecting said csndi.
date the same should be done separate and
apart from any other primary election; there
fore, be 1t
Resolved, that we request the democratic
committee of the county of Alexandria to
meet with Us here on Tuesday, the 10Th of
March, at o'clock D. M, st the office OF Mr..
@. j.. b othe to determine upon time and
plan for the selection of . clndidate.
The secretary of this committee is instruct
cd forthwith to forward copy Of this rest
luton to the chairman Of the dem ocratic
committee of the county OF Alexandria.
The meeting then adjourned until
next Tuesday evening.