The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-16
City Com mittee w i'll
Meet N ext Week to
Consider Proposition.
KEEZELL FAVORS
EARLY MEETING
Senator from Rockingham Thinks
This Is Most Auspicious Time
for Convention-Bland Mas
sic Agrees-Proposal to
Have Gathering in
August.

In formal letter to City Chairman
Miles NJ. Martin, Committeeman Will
liam NJ. Myers, of Lee Ward, yester-
day launched the campaign for State
Democratic Convention. to be held in
the near future. to formulate a party
platform on State issues This COM
munication requests Major Martin to
call meeting of the City Committee
some day next week, for the purpose
of acting on resolution to be pro-
posed by Captain Myers, asking Hon.
j. Taylor Ellyson. chairman. and the
| State Democratic Committee TO call
a convention to declare the party policy
on matters OF Importance to the State"
Following his receipt of the letter.
Major Martin announced that he would
call the meeting of the committee for
some evening next week, probably on
Thursday Thanksgiving Day.. but
that he was not positive as to the
ments to consult.
Great Interest.
Little that has happened in local
political circles In recent times has
aroused more general interest than the
publication in The Times-Dispatch on
Monday of the proposition for State
convention. To judge from the ex-
pressions, the proposal meets with gen
eral favor. This is true not only of
Richmonders. but those from elsewhere
In State have given the plan hearty
Endorsement.
Emphatic approval of convention to
formulate a platform was given in
Richmond last night by State Senator
George 3. Keezell, of Rockingham. one
of the foremost figures in Virginia af-
fairs. and by former Senator Bland
Massie. OF Nelson.
II know of no more propitious time
TO hold convention" said Senator
Keezeli. We have had no meeting
or the Democrats of Virginia to declare
the party's purposes an State tssaes
since former Governor Montague was
nominated In 1eo1-ten years from the
time Of his proposed gathering. AS a
In the Legislature on matters which
should have commanded united effort
Should BE Early.
"I hope the convention will be held,
and that 1t VIII be early in the year
not later than May /, at the very out
side. The time should be chosen in
advance OF any nominations for the
Legislature, so that all Democratic
candidates may stand on the platform
adopted by their party Then we
would see Democrats coming to the
next Legislature committed by the SUI
preme, party power-the people by tneiy
representaives-to certain policies. to
which as Democrats they must ad-
here.
There is no fear of hurting the
party" continued Senator keezell
Democratic principles are on top now
The country is coming to us. and no
body dants to be driven out and no.
body will go out voluntarily. 1t would
be difficult indeed to run anybody out
of the party at this juncture.
1.-The delegates should be fairly
elected. should be instructed by their
home people. and should go to the
convention prepared to map out plat
form on all State issues"
Senator Keezell, to whose mind re-
form in tax matters is very dear.
doubtless desires to see the party. de-
clare itself on such issues.
Massie Also Favorable.
Senator Massie expressed sinilar
opinions. He wants to see a convcn-
ton. Have 1t by all means" he said
1T is what the Democratic party needs
and should have had before. Preserve
the primary for nominations of candi-
dates, and have conventions to adopt
platforms"
"A suggestion came yesterday regard
ing the convention which may be con-
sidered by those who favor It. It is
that when the State Committee meets
in the spring to call senatorial prt-
mary, 1t also call convention to adopt
a PLATFORM to meet ten or fifteen or
twenty days after the August primary
and to which delegates shall be elected
in that primary. The idea in this is
that the convention would not be mixed
with senatorial matters, in which 1t
could beframed upon which the Senat or
elect in national Issues, as we'll as
asptrants for the Legislature on State
issues, would stand.
To the objection that by the latter
part OF August many of the Democratic
candidates for the Legislature will
have been nominated, the answer is
that these nominations might as well
be deferred until the party has outlined
Its views, and that in any case the can
didates could defer their declaration
of principles until the convention has
,spokes.
]. Date n Question.
AS will be seen. this proposition
does not accord with the views OF Sem
ator Keezell and Senator Massie, who
.prefer an early meeting. A conven-
tion In January has been suggested.
and the idea seems to be meeting
with favor. Perhaps the question Of
a date VIII be considered at the maet-
ing of the City Committee next week.
Discussion Of q place has also been
had, although those who are backing
the movement are Indifferent as to
where the convention shall be held,
Lynchburg and charlo ottesville, as cen-
trail points, have been named, although,
OF course, many Of the locl people
would be glad to see 1t come to Rich
mond. 81
Should the City Committee see At to
adopt the resolution which Captaiil
Myers VIII offer.ait will doubtless take
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