Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-12-02
CONVENTION VS.. NO CoNvENTIoa

Ihe 0&utuie heRfeker - against tEs
convention, which fact strengthens th,
suspicious Of the yirginian- Pilot. Nov
If the VIRGINIA CITIZEN backs up th,
Register the evidence will be coRclc
sive that the Organization" 10 agains
the convention. whatever be its rsaso,
for being so. Southside Sentinel.
We have no comment on the
foregoing tiattering allusion to
us other than to say our last Issue
found itself in mighty good com,
pany on the convention PROPOSE.
ton. Our editorial against hold.
ing a State convention next year
was written as far back as Tues.
day of last week, before we had
seen much on the subject or had
conversed with q soul. We had
had, or have had, not a word on
the subject with or from any OF
the so called Organization" Dis
missing the above, with thanks
to our anti Organization" friend
for giving undue credit to our
premonition and our influence in
the organization, we will elab-
crate on our views as to the con-
vention subject.
We have as yet seen no good
reason advanced for holding one
save and alone the admirable
feature of elbow touching. We
have already had an election and
many primaries this year. There
will be even more of them next
year. The year following there
will he primaries and an election
and a State convention by regu-
lar decree. Why have a special
one in six months when in
eighteen months a convention
will be thrust upon us? The
party was never in better con-
dition. Why not let weR
enough alone? Are we to be
thrust into turmoil because q few
disgruntled politicians and their
friendly papers are on the "out-
side looking i'm? They have
nothing TO lose 10y a disturbance
or upheaval, and much to gain,
possibly. To breed discord now
IN "a triumphant party would be
asinine-and very much like
some factions in the Democratic
ranks, but the people will be the
losers; delegates will pay their
own expenses, and the city oil
Richmond will reap the shekels.
Ne are not opposed to her doing
this when there is good reason,
but seriously object to trumping
up reasons, running mad over
convention cleaning and gath
erings.
The Organization" would not
fear a convention in the sense
impugned. The 'organtion''-
which is the Democratic party
and leaders--would control IL
Someone would launch a prop,
osition to endorse Martin and
Swanson-to be plain-as L.
s. Senator's, and it would carry
with a whoop. Then the thuo
would come for the agitators
The advocates of a primar,
wanted a primary only in hope
of controlling things. Failing
that, they now want a new deal
back to the old convention plan
The people are, in'large part, dis
gusted with the primary, anC
prefer the. convention, but the,
are unwilling to give two deal
to a losing crowd, having to b,
troubled with many election.
and IL convention in the bargain
But that is not all. Let tn,
new convention agitators remem
Der what is likely to happen at 6
convention. Among other thing.
1t might be, that
The convention will decide tC
submit TO the voters whether OF
not to abolish primaries;
The convention will decide for
or against a prohibition move.
ment;
The convention will face the
fncome-tax proposition;
The convention will be called
upon to cancel the Davis Shoe
contract, from which the State
Row derives $75, 900 profit, as
against a former deGcit of $780,
600 which taxpayers had to
annually make good
In tact, any old proposition
could be injected, and would have
to receive consideration. Many
would go away sore, because their
pet theme was not promoted, or
their. darling candidate got left.
The party is now victorious and
None but a; sore-head
or an enemy could wish it other
wise. TO wish for a convention
gould mean diseord,y certainly a
ess solid front to present to the
common foe.
AS We said last week-"With
malice towards none, we can see
nothing for the party at large to
gain, and since then have seen
40 good reason advanced for
alllng a convention. As the
'arty leaders and the State COM
nittee are level-headed and pa
riotic men, We do not expect to |
zee a movement that will bring
Nothing but evil out of good.