The Washington herald., 1908-05-04
LOYAL TO DANIEL
Virginia Democracy viii
Send Senator to Denver.
DELEGATES NOT INSTRUCTED
LynChburE Leader Says He is Not
Yet "Bryanized," and Supporters
VIII Brook No Attempt 90 Pledge
Him to Nebraskan-State COnyen-
tion sseets in Roanoke in June.

Special to The Washington Herald
Richmond, Va, May 5.-When the State
Democratic convention meets in Roanoke
in June to send Representatives to the
national convention at Denver, and TO
determine such other matters as may
properly come before the regularly con-
stituted authority of the party in Virginia
at its quadrennial gathering, delegates
and electors-at-large viii be chosen. as
follows:
Deiegates-at-lsrge-J W Daniel, Of
Lynchburg: Thomas S. Martin. Of Abe
marie; Claude A. Swanson, of Pittsylva-
MIA, and R. Tate Irvine, Of Wise, or James
Hay. Of MADISON.
Electogs-at-lsFge-S Samuel i. Kelly, Of
Richmond city. and Samuel ". Williams,
OF Wythe
There are those. Of course. who do not
want Senator Daniel 70 go 10 the con-
vention at Denver. for the reason that.
although acceptable to the organization
in other respects. he has iterated and re-
iterated his determination not 10 be
''bridled or branded" for William J. Bryan
in advance; but he will 20 in any event,
and the chances are that # the extreme
Bryan people insist upon forcing the issue,
he viii go without Instructions
Says He Is Not Bryanfzed.
Senator Daniels latest utteraaee on the
subject 1t, Il have not yet been Bryan
ized - and, coming from such a man as
Daniel on the very eve OF the State CON
vention, the declaration is significant.
Democratic people in Virginia know wei
what it means
A number Of Bryan people say that if
the choice was put squareiy before the
people Of the State between Bryan and
Daniel. Bryan would wiz hands down:
but this prediction does rot conform with
the popular record Of the senior Senator,
who aas never been known TO uncover
before any Zoe, and who has never met
defeat either IN OF out OF his party. in
Virginia, save when he and his followers
were overwhelmed by the Readjusters.
back in the SOS.
The Richmond delegation to the Roa-
noke convention IS uninstructed. and.
though there have been few public ex-
pressions on the part of the members.
many Of the more prominent among them
are known to be on the side of Daniel.
If the extreme Bryan advocates under
take to knife the Virginia leader and
deliver him, bound, into the hands Of
pronounced political enemy. Foremost
among these are w Waller Moore. OF
Lee ward Samuel I. Kelley. of Nadi-
son. and Walter g. Duke. Of Henry. II
is understood that Alfred B. Williams
and q number OF other members Of the
lf-ir aaf -
the Daniel side If there Is any alignment
Would Nominate Daniel.
Kelly declares be is against all instruc-
tions AT Roanoke, unless hey are Daniel
instructions-that is 10 say, he favors
iusuuctIng the delegation for Daniel for
President, if the senior Senator shall de-
sire such a course; but he viii oppose
al other instructions.
HI Montague and Roscoe c. Nelson
have been discussed I'm connection with
the position OF elector for the Third dis
trict but the mention of these annles in
the presence OF a group on the inside"
brought the unexpected criticism, They
won't do: they don't speak the language
Of the tribe" 1t is not known whom
the tribe will put up. but It is apparent
men, although Montague's friends win
present his name
A number of prominent Richmond men
are mentioned as probable candidates for
the Denver convention from the Third
district Among them are Charles B.
Cook. Of Henrico: Alfred B. Williams,
Of Richmond City; W II. Sands. and W.
Waller Moore. Of Richmond.
F7YrT rf,oro mill bo ,1o-g than rHn more
election Of delegates, altenates, and
electors at the Roanoke convention.
Judge r. T. W Duke, Of Charlottesville.
who is a candidate for governor; Hon.
John Whitehead. OF Norfolk: Or. Thomas
H Barnes. Of Nansemond; Col. A n
Bowman. Of Salem. and others have de
clared their bitter opposition to the pres
ent primary system, and have indicated
their purpose to Join hands with all who
will undertake to break it down.
Does Away with Conventions.
Perhaps the strongest argument that
has been advanced in favor Of abolish
ing the present system of nominating
Democratic candidates for office in Vir-
ginia is that the new method practically
does away with county, district. and
State conventions thus deprivng the
party in subsequent campaigns of that
inspiring enthusiasm which results from
an Old-faehioned Democratic rally Much
of the talk 70 the effect that the system
Is cumbersome and costly emanates from
its enemies, many Of whom, it is alleged
by the other side, have steadily and per-
s.stently sought to load it with handi-
caps and to render it unpopular with the
people at large
Time was when the party convention,
especially among the Southern people.
was almost a tenet Of Democratic faith.
but the system finally began to be
abused.
Judging from the present outlook. the
primary system will not be abolished by
the Roanoke convention; for if Bowman
and Whitehead and Duke and Barnes
come forward to assau it, they will be
met by Hay and Glass and Byrd and
Flood. and perhaps also by Daniel and
Swanson. who VIII. according to indica-
tions have behind them an overwhelm-
ing sentiment in favor of maintaining
the system
OF course, there Is going to be a good
deal Of gubernatOrial talk and work at
the convention The gathering Will be
in Henry c. Stuart's country, and it
would be strange if the partisans of the
southwest candidate did not make use Of
it. They VIII almost certainly call upon
him for a speech II he shows his face
in the big theateT where the convention
win meet, and he win very likely be
there. So will Judge William Hodges
Mann, of Nottaway. and Hon. Harry st.
George Tucker, of Staunton. who are also
candidates, and, Of course, t1ey, too, viii
be asked to make addresses.
Sues Automobile Agent.
Special to The Washington Herald
Staunton. Va, May S.-John A. Harman
has just filed suit here against ]. J.