The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-01
CONVENTION TO
|ND0RsE BRYAN
RESCUE PRIMARY
Friends of Nebraskan Will be
inControl, But Instructions
Are Not Likely; Review
of the Situation.
ny @. A. BoYcE.


Gtate convention in Roanoke less than
two weeks off, and with large ma
jority of the deIegates already elected,
IL is no very difficult task now to
forecast some of the more important
results of the gathering. about which
there have been so much discussion
and speculation recently
Two things are very clearly indicated
by the preliminary skirmishes in va
lious counties and cities-that the con-
yention will be pro- Bryan body, and
that it Will vote to maintain the pri-
mary principle of nominating candi-
dates for office, from United States
Senator down--a system at present in
operation. but under attack. whether
the convention will instruct for the
Nebraska candidate is quite another
cues ton. and will depend very largely
upon the movements of the anti
Bryan contingent. If the fight is forced,
resolution to instruct will undoubt-
edly prevail but IL the issue is not
sharply raised the precedent of send
ing an uninstructed delegation Will
very likely be followed.
In any event, a resolution indorsins
the candidacy of Mr.. Bryan Will be
embodied in the platform. as there ID
now no reasonable doubt that MS
friends will be in complete control OF
The situation--a prediction based upon
!. careful study of the results of the
yarious county and city conventions
and primaries which have elected dele
gates UP to this time.
Harmony In Sight.
At one time there was prospect OIL an
rrIy fight over the matter OF lhstruc
tions. but 1t is not generally believed
nov that a clash will come. On tHe
other hand. there are strong lndica-
tions that the leaders OF the opfosi..s
factions will get together prior TO tne
sson,hlinc of the convention and Will
nan ont a harmony plan which VIII
Nc satisfactory to all.
IL NAV be stated with practlcai Ger
taintv that the following VIII consul
tute the big four" to the Denver con-
vention:
uou. John w. Daniel, Campbell
county.
Hon. Thoma. $. Martin, Albcmarle
county.
Hon. Claude a. Swanson, PittsylVnnin
county.
tIon. y uocc Tyler, Pulaski county.
Much talk OF a fight on Senator Dan
Eel was heard some time ago. but 1t
would be so entirely unlike Virginia
Democratic convention not to make
him delegate at large that no serious
fears were ever entertained that he
would be defeated, even If the fight
were made. 1t is a settled fact that
If Senator Daniel does not go to Den
Yer 1t Will be because he does not
care to go. and he will have to tell the
convention this in advance if he wishes
80 prevent his election.
The field has been cleared for cx-
Governor Tyler. and he is as good AZ
elected already. The names of Con
gressmen Flood and Hay were men
tened in connection with the fourth
mace. but they have both declared
strongly in favor of Major Tyler.
Kelley aud Williams.
1t is still doubtful who will be cleo
tors at large Just now it looks as II
Hon. S. L. Kelley. of this city, will
be one of them. Judge Sam w. Will
liams, of Wythe. is an active candi-
date for the other place, and he lays
Gpecial claim TO it on the ground that
che Southwestern section of the Stat.
nhould have representation on the
ticket Judge Williams is a candidate
for attorney general next year, enc
nm dictatorship is always considered
desirable in view of such a contin-
gency.
As 10 the primary the fight is plain
j. over. the people of the State in the
preliminary local meetings having de-
termined by an Overwhelming major
lily TO maintain the system which was
1naugurafed after so many years OF
struggle. The principle bitterly
fought in its incipiency, has become an
established tenet of Democratic faith
snd instead of having as its defenders
only Jones and Montague and a few
others who wrote it in the party law
Daniel, Byrd, Swanson, Hay, Flood ant
rlany others will come to its rescue II
its enemies can muster enough strength
TO make any real fight on its at Roam.
oke. The present plan may be mate
rally amended. and in the View o.
strong party men it should be amend
ed: but it may be SIT down thus far il
advance of the meeting of the con
vention that it vii! not be abolished
Much Orntory Expected.
Inasmuch as this will be the frs
State convention held by the Demo
cratic clans since 1904, enthusiasm /
expected to reach a high pitch an
much oratory is anticipated. The con
vention will meet in the Academy o
Music, where in 1907 Tyler, Echols an
Montague We're nominated and II prom
ises to last the greater part of tw
days.
The actual work of the body coul
probably be disposed of in half til;
time, but there disposition to Il
the meeting drift into an old-fashione
party love feast, and to afford the POI
ular orators all the time they may d.
sire to fire the hearts of the delegat
with their eloquence.
The State Democratic Committee W!
meet in the City Circuit Court room
Roanoke on the evening Of Wednesda
June 10th.
This session will be for the purpo
of selecting the temporary officers +
H.. .g..1