The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-14
PARTY LEADERS
DESIRE PLATFORM
Effort Il Making for Dem.
ocratic Convention
in Spring.
CLAIM PARTY
HAS NO POLICY
Ruling Desired on Income Tax
and Other Public Questions
for Guidance Of Democratic
Candidates for Legislature
During Coming Cam
paign.

Appreciating what they regard as
the crying necessity for some kind OF
platform upon which Democratic can
didates for office in Virginia can stand
large element among the party lead
ers In Richmond and in other parts OF
the State has begun movement for a
state convention, to be held during
the spring Of 1911. 1t is understood
that certain active Democrats OF this
city were prepared to offer set OF
resolutions to this effect at a recent
meeting Of the City Democratic Com
lmittee. hut were deferred from doing
so for fear that such action might
complicate the existing contests for
seats in Congress.
The talk is now that from many
different sources will come petitions
to the State Committee asking that
body to call a convention, to meet In
be selected by IT. for the purpose OF de-
fining the position of the party on all
public questions. The platform there
adopted would be expected to be the
law OF the party. and to be accepted
as such by all candidates for the Cen
eral Assembly before the primaries
and the general election of next year.
Platform Unknown.
TO all intents and purposes said a
leading Democrat Of Richmond. talking
of this subject, nobody knows what
the Virginia Democracy stands for. We
have no conventions nowadays. save
one every four years to elect delegates
to the National Convention. When that
time comes the party candidates for
Congress beseech the body not to ex-
press itself with clarity on State Is
sues, since it would complicate their
and embarrass the efforts to
carry Virginia for the party candidate
for PRESIDENT
There is no doubt that this sort OF
feeling has been growing for some
time. Matters came UP before the
at Its last session which
are universally made subjects of de-
clarations in party platforms. Yet
there was no criterion, according to
those now asking for convention. By
which members of the Assembly might
be guided. II the Democracy of Ntr-
ginia had taken any stand on the mat
ters at Issue. they could not find 1t out.
So they voted as they pleased, or as
=
gard for the good OF the State as a
whole, or perhaps in direct conflict
with the principles of the party, adopt
ed so many years ago that they had
been forgotten.
Will Ask Committee.
Whether or not the movement has
its origin off1ciany In the City Com
mittee. 1t Is reasonably certain that
1t will material.ze in some form. and
that the state Committee will be
called upon either to take favorable
action or to reject the appeal.
This demand comes from several
sources, embracing men who are In
terested IN one matter or another. One
of the strongest forces in its favor is
the support of the men who believe the
Democratic party Of Virginia. in con-
vention assembled, should put itself
on record as indorsing the party prin-
ciple Of an income tax Those who take
the position indicated pay Speaker
Richard Evelyn Byrd the compliment
of saying that it was his personal
force and qualities of leadership which
vote in the House of Dele
gates last winter against the ratifi.
cation of the proposed amendment to
the Constitution of the United States
n this regard.
They call to witness the action Of
the Senate in voting to ratify the
even after there was no
hope that the House would act ac-
,ordingly, as an evidence that body.
not led by Mr.. Byrd, would take action
which accorded with the national party
platforms. Those who make such an
assertion may, of course, be mistaken
Ia their views that the people OF yir-
sinia as q whole are largely In favor
If an income tax, but they assert. that
his is SO with considerable yigor and
confidence.
Prohibition Question.
Again there is desire on the part
# some leaders to get an expression
rom the party OH the subject Of State
vide prohibition as opposed to local
option on the liquor question. It is
Lrgued that. In view OF the attitude OF
he Anti Saloon League of Virginia,
he Legislature may again be called
lpon to vote on the submission to the
'r of bill; calling for a public cleo
ion on the subject. The argument is
hat the Democrats of the state,
hroukh a convention OF delegates
elected by them, should declare tho
,arty position on this subject. 1t is;
Must 1t is further said, to have local
subjected to criticism from
ne side or another when the supreme
,arty power might relieve them hy
aging down the party law--the will
il the majority.
Another reason for the convention is
he primary matter. "We have this
rimary business SO mixed up said
ne OF the agitators for a convention,
that we don't know whether we are
omins or COINS"
The last State convention instructed
nc party authorities to formulate and
resent to the Legislature a bill legal
ing primaries In Virginia, The State
ommittee through a subcommittee.
beyed this mandate, hut the Legisla-
ire failed to pass the bill. The sentt-
lent whiol, rules appears to he that |
10 Democrats, should once for all take
stand on rhis question and either
boltsh primaries entirely or lesalize
lem. Again. the majority would rule.
Only three questions are here men-
~ -.TffOnfin,ied m yNhjrd Page ~ -71'i