The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-29
HAY CHAMPION
OF PRIMARY PLAN
Declares the People of Virginia
Will Not Willingly Surrender
Their Power.
FLOOD MAY SUCCEED ELLYsON
Daniel Said to Be Stronger Than
Bryan in the State Com
i1littee.
Times Dispatch Bureau.
Munsey Building.
WASHINGTON. y. G., Mnrch IS.

Washington. u. c.. March IS.
Representative Hay always comes to
the front when anybody down Virginia
way says anything in opposition to the
primary plan of making nominations.
and he gets particularly busy when
any suggestion is made looking to its
abolition by the party in Virginia. The
frank declaration of Judge r. r. w.
Duke lin the meeting of the State com
mittee in Richmond that he was OPP
posed to the primary plan caused MIR.
HAY to sit UP and take notice.
Il cannot sympathize with any move
ment looking to doing away with the
primary system of making nomina-
tons he said. II believe the old
system of mass. meetings and conven-
litions was just as cumbersome and Just
as expensive. and. besides, the masses
{of the party did not participate so
generally in making nominations. Fiji
!ty times as many Democrats take part
in nominations in Virginia now as par
iticipat ted when we nominated by the
old convention method.
1t Is Here to Stay.
In addition to talk of abolishins the
Virginia primary being unwise." con
Guided Mr.. Hay. nothing will come of
that the people will never give up
power when once vested with it. That
Is. they will not give 1t up willingly.
II may be taken away from them but
81 is never Voluntarily surrendered
Mr.. Hays advocacy of the primary
method of making nominations has ex-
tended over several years. He was the
author of the provision in the present
primary plan making the primary cleo
tion extend to nominations for Con-
igress.
Mr. Flood and the Chairnansbip.
Reports have arisen from time to
time connecting the name of Repre-
Sentative Flood with the State chair
manship 1t was revived this week.
The rumor was to the effect that Mr.
Ellyson who has been the chairman of
the Democratic Committee of Virginia
for nearly twenty years and mem
her thereof for longer period than
that. would retire. and that Mr.. Flood
would he chosen at the coming State
convention.
81 don't know anything about such
a report" said Mr.. Flood. Certainly
Il YOU may say am not candidate for
the chairmanship'
Bryan nnd Virginia Committee.
Virginia Democrat who attended
the session of the Democratic State
Committee in Richmond and mingled
With the members before and after
;he meeting said to-day he was sur
prised to find so little sentiment In
the committee in favor of the nomina-
ton of Mr.. BRYAN. The gentleman
mentioned is not a member of the
committee.
The subject did not come UP fol
official action he said. but / do moi
believe the Bryan people could have
got majority of the committee If q
poll had been made. I feel absolutely
certain that not one-third of the com
mittee. favors the instructins of the
Virginia delegation to Denver. and
did not find man opposed to send
ing Senator Daniel to the convention
as one of the delegates at large"
Brynn in t;corgin.
The positive statement was made to.
day by a member of Congress from
Georgia that the delegates to Denver
from that State would not be instruct.
ed for Mr.. Bryan or anybody else. He
did not desire to be quoted But Rep
resentative Bell, of that State. who is
the Democratic whip In the House, die
i not hesitate TO declare that the con.
vention in his State should not in
: struct. and declared. furthermore, that
s Mr.. Bryan should not be the nominee
He thinks Charles A. Towne. formerly
member of the United States Senate
from Minnssota, ami later member OF
Congress- from a New York city dis.
trict, would make far stronger can.
ddate 1t is noticeable that the Townt
boom is gaining in strength these pas
.ew days.
MARRIED IIFTY YEARS.