Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-30
NECESSITY FOR A CONVENTION
MORE APPARENT.

The necessity for holding Demo
crstic state convention for the pur-i
pose of formulating party platform
and taking steps toward perfectine
the primary plan Is growing more and
more apparent every day. II there
we're chance that the general assem-
bly, would be called together this win
ter in extra session to enact pri
mary Law. the advocates Of ccnven-l
ton might AFFORD 10 rest on their CARA
for the present, pending the ntcome
Of the movement in favor of an extra
session. But the prospects for a spe'
cial session are very slim, indeed.
Governor Mann already has publicly
annoupced thai he has no intention
Of calling the assembly together. and
since the leaders of the Democratic
organization" very evidently are cp-
posed to the plan. 1t is hardly reason
able to suppose that the governor VIII
change his mind or that suhiciens
number Of the legislators themselves
will agree 10 sign call.
Therefore every Democrat who Isl
Interested In having the primary pro
tected when the voters Of the psrts
come TO select Two United States SER
aators next year should join in the
convention movement. UnlesstN Ian
...~, *h;, u.;,tar nronor safe
guards can be thrown about the prisl
mary only in enc way. and that IL
by holding a convention. The State
Democratic committee. dominated en-
tirely by the leaders who will pre-
vent the holding of an extra session
Of the legislature. and who. no docbt,
are secretly doing ali in their power
right now 10 block the convention
movement. will do nothing toward per
fecting the party plan. Year in and
year cut this committee has failed ia
its duty in this regard and there is
no reason TO suppose that II will act
now. Representatives chosen by the
Democratic voters. meeting in conven-.
ton. can. however, take the matter out
OF the hands OF the committee ana
adopt an effective primary plan them
selves =
II is announced that Attorney Cen
eral Williams viii take the recently
dectSed Norfolk case to the Virginia
Supreme Court. in an effort 10 have
reversed the ruling Of Judge Hanckel
that the section of the code designed
TO make the general election laws ap-
plica,ic TO primary elections Is uncon-
stitutionsl. on the strength Of that
announcement the cry is going up.
Wal; for ;he decision Of the Scpreme
Court This. more than any other
oGe thing. will serve to hinder the
efforts OF those who are cBdesvorins
TO have the legislature called together
Noecoyer. q vill hsvc Its effect to-
ward oricting the cIsmSr FOR q cen
ventscn. Add most OF those rbo are
usins The attorney generals announce
meni 90 bring sbort these results very
probably are sEpreneiy confident tina,
In the end the supreme Corrt VIII
custaia the opinion OF Judge Hanckei.
This PAPER has not hcsrd the sound
ness Of The Norfolk courts ruiizg
questioned by any lawyer whose
opinion Is worth While
Democrats csrRot AFFORD to ~sit fer
this Supreme Court railing. We vsni
. acw primary plan Jus. A. soon A.
II L possible 20 get y. rnIess the
present situation Is changed. pefforn.
sners similar 20 those enacted IN the
scso1d dis;rirt this summer yin dss'
grace the senzfcrisi pf.msry nex'
year, and i u entirely possible that
the viii Of the majority Ct she Demo
-.raff. sof~~. sin - a..I4vr~frr