The Washington herald., 1909-04-08
srecial to rhs wa.hineton Hernld.

Special 70 The Washington Herald
Richmond, Va. April There will be
no State convention 10 frame platform
for the Democratic party in the present
gubernatorial campaign. This announce
meut was made to-day to a Washington
Herald correspondent by a party leader
who IS an inside" member Of the Demo
cratic state organization
When asked for a statement on the
convention proposition. which has been
agitating the people Of the State for the
past two weeks, this man said:
There will be no Stste convention 1t
is rather curious that the rank primary
advocates. who a few years ago opposed
all manner OF conventions. are now
calling for a convention. BY this they
tacitly admit that Judge Mann is a win
ner for the gubernatorial nomination. and
It looks TO me ike they are trying TO tie
his hands or probably promulgste some
thing which viii handicap him. They
first hOwled about minority governor
when they thought there would be three
in the race. but this has died out since
Stuart withdrew and left Tucker and
Mann 10 night il out
Says Tucker Cannot Win.
q do not think that Mr.. Tucker can
possibly get over S5 per cent Of the votes
in the state From what I hear he is
only running to prepare for the race four
years hence. His astute friends, I be-
lieve. think that way. too"
This man declares that Richmond and
Norfolk should not be taken as an index
IS to the sentiment in the State. 'As
Richmond goes. so don't go the State, -
he tersely said.
This leader says that Judge Mann VIII
carry every Congressional district eN-
cept the Tenth. The Second and Eighth
are the only ones, outside the Tenth.
which are in doubt
Information reaching here from Wash
ington is that the party leaders there
are against the primary, substantating
what this leader has said. The fear
that the convention would declare for
Statewide prohibition is said TO have
operated against IL.
All for Local Option.
Persons who are advocating the con-
vention do not hold 10 this view. They
assert that the Anti-Saloon League has
oficialy gone on record as favoring 10
cal option. the Democratic organization
leaders favor local option, both Of the
candidates for governor favor local op-
uon. and practically there is no organized
element in the State to fight for the
principle Of prohibition, should IL be
made an issue in electing the delegates
10 the convention.
@The way 1 look at IT," said this con-
vention advocate. in presenting the side
OF his friends on this Issue, is II the
voters in the Democratic party favor pro-
hibition. they should have an opportu-
nifty 10 express themselves. If they want
il. they should have II, and Il they do
not want il, they should have an oppor-
tunity TO say so, and thus remove the
temperance question from Virginia poll
tics for at least the next four years.
Making Republicans.
81 do not consider it wise movement
for the party leaders TO array themselves
against a movement 10 give the Demo
cratic voters an opportunity 20 express
themselves on live issues The voters are
responsible in the end and not the peo-
pie Such action. in my mind. is making
Republicans IN Virginia, and not helping
the Democratic party
This person also declared that it is
doubtful In his mind whether the major
fly Of the rank and file Of the Demo
cratic vote favors Statewide prohibition.
He pointed out that the local option cleo
tions have all been very close. and the
men who voted wet are the men who
are in the habit Of going 10 the polls
every time an election Of any kind is
hold