The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-19
ford all chance for the untrammelled
expression of their views on the subject
AN INTERESTING TOPIC.

AN INTERESTING TOPIC.
The matter is one that will no doubt
cause wide discussion, and if the member
from Richmond Introduces the bill. il
will doubtless cause some Interesting de-
bate IN the Legislature. The trend Of
the public mind III Virginia has been
thought to favor the primary election
system for q long time and several at
tcmpts have already been made TO have
it inaugurated. Never before, however,
has the necessity for the reform been APP
parently so strongly pointed out as by
Mr.. Follles.
4 member of the Legislature, in dis
cuSs!ng the question said last night that
While he favored primaries 10 nominate
candidates for all Offices he did not eN-
actly see how the present Legislature
could properly act on the subject. as the
members had had no expression from the
people along that line He thought. how
ever. that it was a reform that was bound
to come in Virginia. and he looked for
the matter to come Up at the next State
convention.
Several prominent Democrats expressed
themselves as being favorable to the pro-
position. while some others opposed it,
Ii is beginning to be freely discussed N
political circles.
PRACTICALLY SETTLED.
II mas lOE some lililG scented EJIdSIiCd!iS
settled that the Legislature would decide
to have the delegates to the coming Con
stitutional Convention chosen at the resu-
lar election on the fourth Thursday in
May. Another matter about which there
is Very little division of opinion among
the members is the size of the body,
which will pretty surely be composed OF
one hundred members. Exactly on what
b:,sis they will be appointed is another
question. Some members favor the basis
Of the House OF Delegates, While others
say they should be chosen by senatorial
districts, giving two members Tor each
Senator and have then two from each
congressional district
Still others favor two from each sena-
toral district any 20 from the State at
large; so the matter of apportionment is
expected to cause some debate.
These questions and the time for the
meeting OF the convention (and Il majority
of the members seem to favor early in
june are all the Legislature VIII have to
determine in connection with the mat
ter, as the convention itself determines
how long it will sit; the pay OF the mem
bers and all other mntters relating to the
body.
1t is probable that the Democratic mem
bers of the General Assembly Will agree
vention IN caucus, that they will be dis
posed OF in a short time after the meet
ing Of the body.
MAY BE HELD HERE.
1t is highly probable that the State Cen
trail Committee OF the Democratic party
Will choose Richmond as the place for
holding the convention to nominate cam
didates for Governor and other State
officers TO be chosen next fail.
The members of the committee from
this section will fight for Richmond and
they claim that she is entitled to it
this time. There is some talk of Norfolk
entering the fight for the convention, but
the last one was held in that city and the
committee usually chooses a different
place each time. Richmond is centrally
located and has admirable hotel accom-
mocations, and while there are better
halls in some other cities there are sew
eral here that are available for holding
the convention should it be given to Rich