Evening star., 1901-08-12
Big Results Expected Of Virginia
Democratic Convention.
CHANGES IN COMMITTEES LIKELY
Swanson is Practically Out of the
Race for Governor.
EP BLICAN ACTIVITY
'ecial Correspondence Of The Evening Star

|
RICHMOND, August IL, 1901
Wednesday next at noon the state demo-
| cratic convention to nominate state tick
| ct will be called to order in Norfolk by
| State Chairman Ellyson. The body will
| be composed of nearly 1000 men, and the
work will extend we'll into Thursday. Pros
poets are that in point of interest the con-
vention will be the most memorable as re-
| CARDS results Of any held within the last
| twenty-five years. The contest for dele
| gates has been hot, and judging from the
| number secured by Mr. Montague, the pres
ent attorney general, the machine" has
met with a severe rebuke, Representative
| Claude A. Swanson, who was charged with
being the machine favorite, having re-
ceived far less than enough to nominate
| In fact, he practically retired from the field
when Danville, the only town in his dis
trict, elected a Montague delegation by
small majority, whereas in the county of
Pittsylvania, in which both the candidates
have their political homes, Mr.. Swanson de-
feated Mr.. Montague by vote of more
than ten to one.
An important feature of the convention
will be the reorganizst ton of the state CEN
tral and executive committees. Taken as
body, these two committees alleged
by Montagues followers to have been in
imical to his success. Whatever impor-
tance attaches to the charge, coming from
the Montague following, the results of the
primaries fail to subStantiate. At any
rate, the fiat has gone forth that none but
the truly Loyal are to be recognized when
the honors are to be distributed, and all
who are known not to have championed the
successful aspirant are to have the "blight''
put upon them. So great many new men
are to come to the front with the new
order of things, and what the outcome will
be one knows.
Il M.
Men who have labored in season and out
of season for the success of the party are
to be thrown aside. Their work in plac-
ing the state beyond the possibility of re-
publican control is to go for naught. 1t is
rather remarkable that some of the men
who naugurated the system of conducting
elections now in vogue are to be found
with the reformers. laboring with the zeal
of new converts and shouting with all the
arder of men who have experienced a
change of heart for a reformation of the
evils said to exist. What success will at
tend the advent of untried men at the helm
is matter of conjecture. The old regime
look wise and say, Wait and see.'
The question whether the Norfolk plat
form shall make any reference to the two
conventions or to W. j. Bryan Is one that
is not being discussed to any great extent.
Many of the more prominent Montague
men men who were conspicuously anti
men who were too much engrossed with
business cares to have time to meddle
with politics. Now an opportunity has
presented itself, a Moses has been found,
and they are vieing with each other in
professions of love for the party and the
welfare of the state. When all these con-
ditions considered it will be patent
that If the platform at Norfolk contains
any reference to two national platforms 1t
will not indorse any of the principles
which he espoused.
Effect on Constitutional Convention.
What is done at Norfolk WILL it is be-
lieved, have an important bearing the
work of the constitutional convention,
which took recess until the 22d. The
delegates expressed a desire to see their
constituents and to ascertain their views
on many matters before that body. The
real trouble with the convention is the Suf-
frage problem and it is not unlikely that
an effort will be made at Norfolk to have
the nominating convention sounded on the
proposition to submit the result of the
constitutional conventions deliberations to
the people. Sentiment is growing to have
the convention proclaim the new constitu-
tion, and many of the men who supported
the idea to let the people decide have be-
gun to advocate proclamation. Senator
Robert Turnbull of Brunswick, in discus
sing the matter with The Star correspond
ent few days ago, voiced the sentiments
of the members of the convention who
incline to the belief that common sense
is chairman of the committee of the whole
in the constitutional convention. He Is a
discreet and a conservative man. He said
Il am opposed to submitting the ques-
tion to the people. We were sent here by
the people, charged with a specific duty,
and the interests of the people would best
be subserved by removing the matter en-
tirely from politics. The time has come
when it is necessary that the vicious ele-
ment should be eliminated from politics
We had only majority of II, 900 in round
numbers for the convention, and all men
who hit by reforms in the various
branches Of the state government will
most assuredly vote against the new con-
stitution, and there goes our work. An
abridged electorate will not do; the rea-
sons for this are so obvious that they will
not bear discussion. full electorate
would be even worse, for it were sheer
fClly to disfranchise any element and then
allow that element to pass upon the mat
ter We want to end the cry of frauds in
elections. and We must use discretion in de-
Gliding the matter. Fair elections are de-
manded. White supremacy must be main
tanned. Those are the conditions Emer- |
gences call for heroic treatment We |
have the remedy and should apply it like |
men,
The general assembly should convene the |
first Wednesday in December, but that au-