Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-27
POLITICIANS AT WAR
Cannot Agree in Virginia Over
Plan for Convention.
PARTY WITHOUT PLATFORM
Alarm Lest Liquor Question Will
Plague Democrats.
CONTEST FOR FEDERAL JOB
Collectorship Of Customs at Newport
News at Stake in an Inter-
esting Controversy.
'pecial Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star
RICHMOND, Va. November &c, 1910
State officials and politicians are en-
gagged in a war of words as to the advis-
ability and desirability of holding a con-
vention of the democratic party to frame
platform. There has been no platform
for the past eight years, save that of the
state convention which met at Roanoke
three years ago.
That condition has been brought about
by reason Of the fact that the primary
system of making nominations has sup
planted the convention idea. When that
was put into vogue it was held up as the
paragon Of perfection, the one thing that
would rid the state of packed conven-
tons and illegal nomination Of candidates,
the doom of the professional politician
That condition did not materialize to the
wishes and desires Of the majority of
the members OF the convention responsible
for the plan. The primary plan was
adopted on motion of Senator Thomas. S.
Martin.
among the men who have spoken on the
proposition at this time. The officehold-
ers, as a rule, are opposed to the conven-
ton. Just who may be responsible for the
II,
have spoken on the matter are for the
most part those who have heretofore been
numbered among the men who were not
at all times in accord with the majority
faction OF the party. The convention idea
is strong, but there are some who are
asking why this sudden outbreak and par
tial change of front on the convention
idea at this time. The impression is that
the liquor question will be a factor in
the next campaign, and there is no dis
putting the fact that both factions of the
party are apprehensive that the issue will
force iself to the front. On the other
hand, the Rev. James Cannon, the head
of the Anti-Saloon League has a secular
paper here which declares that 1t is OPP
posed to the convention, assigning the
reason for opposition to the belief that the
liquor interests will control. The papep
does not hesitate to say that the tenn
perance element will refuse to accept the
dictum Of party on that issue.
Newport News Contest.
Newport News members OF the repub-
lican party are much engrossed In the
contest between ]. E. B. Stuart, the col
lector of customs at that port, and Fred
Reade, the former postmaster, who has
been nominated by the President for the
position, which Mr.. Stuart has held for
some time. M. Reade was charged with
interfering with a case which Mr.. Stuart
had made out against a. man in that city,
charged with some nfraction of the GUS
toms laws. Mr.. Reade was in Norfolk
and discussed the matter with a friend,
and it transpired that the man was
member of the federal grand jury drawn
to consider the case. The offender against
the customs laws was indicted, tried and
acquitted.
The matter of Mr.. Reade's conduct was
reported to the court and investigated.
There was no denial of the charge that
Mr.. Reade had talked with the member of
the grand jury and wanted to see his
friend acquitted, but he did deny that he
knew that his friend was a member of
the grand jury. The commission of MIR.
Reade has not yet arrived. but is thought
to be due about the end of the month. Mr.
he now holds, and had the Endorsement
Of some of the big men of his party, but
Mr.. Reade was the stronger and got the
plum.