The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-11

enough alone" When the motion was
tost, Mr.. Jeffry Montague cut in with
j direct motion to reconsider, lie
was ruled out. but he promptly APP
pealed from the decision OF the chair.
Within twenty minutes, however Mr..
Montague was officially squelched.
Mr.. Saunders endeavored TO convince
his colle9 cues that their action had
been approved by three out of every
four voters In his ward---Clay--bu Mr..
Stanley Tyler declared that five out
of every SIX voters IN his ward--1fenry
were dvnouncing It, and that three
out OF every FIVE citizens all of whom
were loyal Democrats, would refuse TO
20 into the primary. Speakers on the
minority. or nti-double- pledge side,
generally sustained Mr.. Tyler's point.
Made Plea for Expedicncy.
Mr.. Thomasson began by saying that
he wanted to ask for suspension OF
the rules to offer motion by which
the pledge could be amended. u think
we have reached stage he said
"where this can be done. / do not mean
TO say that the committee was wrong
In adopting a standard of Democracy
for political party. we are right,
but at this time we can consider eX-
pedency. Peculiar conditions surround
ed the making of the plan. Heretofore
the plan was made before the candi-
dates entered. No contract'ial rela
lions exist between the, committee and
any candidates.
.The plan can be changed by modth-
cation. but no burden can be placed
upon 1t. 1 advocated it before, but /
know that good Democrats VIII he hurt
bv It, | cannot mention their names,
but they are loyal. They have voted
the straight ticket. The candidates toI
whom / refer do not want to be de-
feated by reason of this November
pledge. They do not want to have
their names taken from the ticket. for
they might then be regarded by some
as mugwunps. j know that they are
not mugwumps. 1t is not a question
ask for reconsideration because Of eN-
pediency.''
other Lawyer Opposed 1t.
Mr. j. B. Welsh. who was associated
with Mr.. Thomasson in the litigation,
opposed any change, claiming thas
It would he inexpedient II do not
think we can change the plan now"
he said without delaying the primary. |
1t Is not practicable or possible TO pre- |
pare the ballots in time If there is any
alteration The committee having
gone on record 1t occupies peculiar
position in the eyes of the public" Mr. |
Welsh said if 1t had not been for the
newspapers trying TO make somebody |
prominent all this fuss would not have |
been heard.
Mr.. Walter G. Duke, who originally |
voted against the pledge was not In |
favor of striking 1T out at this time. |
He said that many of the ballots had |
been printed, others We're in the forms |
and It would be impossible to change |
them before Tuesday ''Moreovet, it |
is now a question of principle" he add
ed. THE courts have sustained us and |
the committee would place itself in an
unenviable light If 1t should recede |
from q position which is unquestion-
ably right
Thomasson's motion saying that he |
also was prepared to make it. The |
committee has been sustained" he said, |
'but 1T is in a position to be magnani
NOUS"
Vote Right or Get Out.
Somewhere in Holy Writ" declared !
Mr.. j. NJ n. Allen, I'VE are told that |
man cannot serve God and mammon. |
If there are any Democrats in Rich
mond who are not with us they are |
against us. Then the sooner they get !
out the better. If we have any mem
hers on this committee who will not !
take the pledge they ought to get up
and resign Nobody resigned
There were demands for ruling by
Chairman Doherty. He held that the
rules could be suspended by two
thirds vote TO hear motion to re-
consider
Taking up remark made BY an >
other speaker, Mr.. Thomasson said |
that in pressing his motion he meant |
no reflection on the chairman Then
he explained that his idea was to have |
two pledges. Il am not making the |
appeal for one candidate" he said, "but |
for all of the candidates. We are the |
victors and there is always the privi- |
lege of being magnanimous when it |
can be done without violating principle. |
I believe / was right before when / |
voted for the plan, but we are CON |
fronted by conditions which we never
faced before
Declaring that an amended plan
would create better feeling and bring