The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-12

tire electoral vote given to the Demo-
cratic candidates In 1896 and 1900 have
f,en from the South. and think that the
representation IN the councils OF the
rarity ought to be measured by the num-
bc1 of votes cast III the electoral college.
II Is on this ground that they will insist
on Southern control of the next conEen-
tcn.
This is a curious conglomcraton OF er-
rcreous statements. and altogether ms
leading. Mr.. Joseph Bryan has had ao-
soIutely nothing whatever to do with
the movement. So far as we know, ho
has never written q single letter on the
subject TO anybody. The simple fact Is.
that cartain Democrats at the No'ph
and several prominent Northern news
,apers had suggested that he time mad
CT me for the Southern Democracy 10 Us
scrt itself. The Times took the same
view. and several editorial arac!es on
that subject were printed, in which inc
suggestion was made that Representative
Democrats in Virginia hold a conference
daring the year 1868 and declare them
selves on certain fundamental AID WEI!
established principles Of Democracy. at
the same time inviting the other South
en- States to hold similar conferences
ana fall in line with Virginia Several
Democratic newspapers in this State re-
rrosucefi. either in whole or il, part,
Ties articles from The Times and heartily
cu,.curred in the suggestion. 1t WAS the''
that the managing editor OF Tho Times
addressed a circular letter TO each OF q
,n-,her of prominent Democrats through
out Virginia. and asktd fo- an expression
of opinion as to the advisaolilty OF 'ho
rrt posed conference. They were not
asked to approve the movement but SIM
njy to express their opinion. Mi Joseph
c,va,, did not even know that such let
tars had been sent out until he himself
received one from the managing EDITOR
Of The Times. lie, with other Democrats
in the State. was requested to give MS
views, but under the press OF other en-
ga ce,1arts he did not find time to Wrlte'
a number Of replies were received, how
ever. and were printed IN Inc lines Is
a matter OF information. y fe" OF the
correspondents, notably the Hon. John
Ge.ode, approved the plan, but most OF
then, d!sapproved it. It has been init
mated that the party leaders disapproved
for the simple reason that the several
cortending factions in the party did not
care at this time to measure lances ana
test the strength in q public gathering
OF this we Go not know. We only Know
that the suggestion vas not generally
approved by the party men.
The Dispatch correspondent further
SAYS that if such a conference were to
meet 1.-The idea would ba to select a man
for the Presidency and then go to the
rational convention pledged to that man.
We do not know what idea others had in
mind. but SO far as this paper is con-
ce-nsd, it was distinctly stated that the
conference should be entirely unseltlsh
If it would accomplish any good pur-
rose; that it should not DE i'll the interest
OF anybodys candidacy, but purely and
sciely in the interest Of old time DEM
ocracy.
Nor was it proposed, so far as The
Times was concerned, TO write q plat
form, but simply TO reatfirm certain well
csta blished principles OF Democracy upon
which all Democrats could stand, the
s.1l.e 10 form the basis of national
pIatforua Nor was it proposed. so far
as The Times vas concerned. to stir UP
sectional strife, to set the South against
the North 1t was proposed that the
South should take tins initiative, but that
il should invite the cooperation and the
fraternity CT the Democracy in other
sections Of the country. In 1886 the
Southern Democracy and the Northern
Democracy became estranged, and the
thought which we had in mind was to
b,:ng these two large and influential ele-
!nents into their former relationship OF
harmony and cordially. It was not by
any means proposed to put the South
in a defiant attitude, but to the con-
trary, in an attitude of Cancellation. 1t
was not to be a fight, but a makeup
PARTY