Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-06-18
DEMOCRATIC STATE
CONVENTION.
Sustain The Primary And Adopt
The Secret Ballot.
Delegates UNRESTRICTED.

the platform and refuse to instruct
it's delegates to st. Louis.
There is no reason to believe that
there was any reason for the refusal
to instruct for Judge Parker save the
one given by United States Senators
Daniel and Martin. which was that
the delegates should be left free to
vote at St Louis as seemed best TO
to them under circumstances then ex
listing. There was no attempt to Is
sue positive instructions to the dele
gates, but the committee on resolu-
tions recommended the adoption OF
the following:
Having entire confidence In the
sincerity and good judgment OF the
dele gates selected to represent Vir'
ginia in the National Democratic Con
vention at st. Louis, this convention
deems it unnecessary to tie the hands
of that delegation with Instructions
but it is hereby declared that the
preference of the Democracy OF VIZ.
ginia for President of the United
States is Alton b. Parker, of New
York.
Following the reading of this Sen
ator Daniel opposed even an indorse
ment of Judge Parker or anybody else,
saving that it would be as bindtrg
as an instruction. judge Parker, he
said was the most available man now,
but he had not so far received the in
dorsemeut of enough States to insure
his success. 1T is true" he sald.
THAT New York has instructed for
bin, and | am not opposing him, out
there should be no instructions
Several resolutions were offered as
substitutes. but motion was made.
amid the greatest confusion, to lay
the whole matter on the table. Thls
WIS carried on roll call bya vote ofSlS
TO 72S Before the result was announ
ced Senator Martin declared that n
would not do to let it go out that
Virginia had refused TO instruct ior
Parker. II am for Parker" he said,
and the Virginia delegation is Tor
him, but we do not want to have our
hands tied
A resolution was adopted instructing
the chairman of the st. Louis delega
ton to east the vote of the body on
every question ~ directed by the Ina .
iority. The platform was adopt' q
without debate
The platform adopted is as follows
4Tbe delegates of the Democratic
party of Virginia, in Convention as
sembled. reaffirm their allegiance 10
the great cardinal doctrines OF Amer
can Democracy. We hold that all is
vested in the people; that government
waeipstituted for their equal and
common benefit, and that any legls-
lation that operates to enrich some AZ
the expense of O.her classes is funda-
mentally wrong and should have no
Mace in any system Of free govern
ment. The highest duty of govern,
ment is to give equal protection TO all
and special favors to none. 1t IL q
well.deiined Democratic doctrine and
one Leculiarly essential to the well
fare ard happiness of the country
that all matters OF interstate and ma
.ional concern shall be controlled ty
The Federal Government and that ali
matters Of State concern shall De con-
trolled by the State. The Democratic
partv stands for honesty and economy
IN the collection by just, equal laws
OF Only so much of the peoples money
as may be Iequird to defrey the ne
cessary expenses of their government.
The Republican party, i'll its al
miuistl alton of the Federal Govern
IN Mt. has sha melessly trampled upon
md violated every one of these essen
rial principles. We recog aize the ne
cessity fer concentration OF capital 10
ORD 8 -A,tha.t. tlNsy eef III ttO6vf66uUeN WIN
economic laws in developing the re-
sources and promoting the prosperity
of the country, but insist that the
abuses that have become prevalent
ard widespread under Republican
rule shall be remedied by the en-
actment by Congress of conservative
but efficient laws for the just regula-
lion Of the interstate public service
corporations of the country and The
SUPPRESSION IF all unlawful combina-
lions in restraint of trade We
chaIge that the Republican party
has failed to administer existing laws
. ga inst the illegal trusts from which
i, derives its campaign corruption
funds and upon which it, in large
measure, IL dependent for its lease OF
power"
A lepg' by tight WAS ended by the
adoption by the convention oil Il gen
raj primary plan for the nOminatlOo
f All officers from UDited States Seh-
ator down. The method Of voting
e,tofore in the primaries has bteL
v va voce. The plan adopted by the
convention provides for the secret
ballot.
Judge g Fl Ashton of King George,
offered resolution discreditiDg the
primary and declaring it unwise and
UNI ecessary to continue the plan
The resolution was tabled by unahi-
nous vote, Mr. Jones, of the retolu-
lions committee, saying that person
ally he was in favor of the viva voce
syste III, but he did not propose to con
tend for h personal preference and
would accept the secret ballot. Re-
flying 10 questions, Mr.. Jones said
that the primary with the secret bal
lot was to be conducted as the rcgu
lar election, with all the safeguards Of
.he law.
The primary plan gives cities and
counties the right 10 provide what
ever plan may be determined by the
local thorities Mr.. Jones spoke for
an Eour, and when he had concluded
Senator Martin moved the adoption
Of the amendments as reported by
the committees. The motion was ador-
ted, with only three NJ ttive vo'et.
Further than the substitution of the
tCcIet ballot for the viva voce plan,
he original primary plan as drafted
by the cid State committee two YEAR,
and more ago was Ie-enacted or rec
ommended Tor re-enactment by the
convention. n o proposition Was made
ior me jority primaries, nor was any
serious effort to relieve candidates
If the expense of the primaries III de
1t any time.
Thrown From Wagon.