The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-06
MACHINE FORCED
IN LINE At LAST
Virginia Democrats Will Hold
No More State Con-
ventons.
PARTY PLATFORM SAYS so
Ring Leaders Put Forth Every
Effort to Beat Wilson
at Norfolk.

IS one very important result OF the
deliberations of the Baltimore con-
vention. mover again will tho Demo
Gratis of Virginia hold a state con-
v~nt.on like that recently held at
Norfolk Preferential primaries win
prevail wherein the viii OF the peo-
pie viii be registered as between can
didntes. making II Impossible for the
vote of state in a national con-
vention to be controlled by two or
three men.
one plank In the new party plat
form reads as follows
I'VE direct tina, tho national com
mittee incorporate in the call for the
next nominating convention a require
ment that all expressions OF prefer
encc for presidential candidates shall
be given and tho selection of dele
gates and. altornates made through a
primary election conducted by -ho
party organization IN each state
arc not provided for by state law
Committeeman who are nercaftcr to
constitute the membership OF the DEM
ocratic National Committee. and whose
election is not provided for by law.
Shall be chosen In each State at such
primary elections and tho service ana
authority OF committeeman however
chosen. shall begin immediately upon
the receipt of their Credentials re-
spectiveiy."
During tho past winter and spring
months an earnest campaign was
wased in Virginia in behalf or tho
candidacy Of Governor Woodrow VII
son for President II WAS directed bv
Richard Evelyn Byrd. Speaker Of the
House OF Delegates who received
many thousands Of letters from all
parts OF the state favoring Wilson.
IInd Plenty Of Money.
No organized effort was put forth
for any other candidate Yet the anti
Wilson movement soon made itself
felt. county mass-mectinrs were tho
scenes Of nights between Wilson and q
force which nobody could place. but
which insisted on uninstrrcted dele
cations to Norfolk Money was at
hand TO be used in defraylns expenses
of preventing tho people exercising
their choice
There was no ap7rooiabic sentiment
at Norfolk for any candidate save Cow
ernor Wilson. and no meetings were
held there except in his behalf. and
vet the subtle influence already spoken
OF vas SO much a; work that Speaker
Byrd could at no time count more than
a minority OF the delegates. SO was
forced to compromise
Even then the organization over
reached itself. for to It's surprise II
found at Baltimore tina, so many Of
the delegates we're for Wilson that II
was impossible To apply the unit rule
for Underwood. although by this
means IT had been hoped 10 force tho
Wilson men to vote against them
selves
VIII Let re ,nic Rule.
II is now part OF the national
Democratic organization that dele
gates shall he elected by States In pri-
maries. so that tho people may know
In advance for whom they Viii vote
In tho Norfolk convention the prin-
ciple Of the presidential preferential
primary was sought 10 bc introduced
in the party platform by former State
Senator Aubrey = strobe Of Amherst
II was defeated by . vote Of about
three to one Now that the Baltimore
meeting has directed the national com
mittee TO embody the primary system
in ito next call for = convention. vir-
ginia rs put In the position Of a state
tagging behind the party rs a whole
ar: putting the brake on the wheels
OF progressivoism