The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-20
HENRY CLAY CLUB
DEMANDS PRIMARY
Convention Is Condemned, in
Fear That Politicians Are
Behind Move.
CANDIDATES ARE HEARD
City Committee Asked by Reso-
ultion to Call Direct
Primary.
CANDIDATES ARE HEARD

BY unanimous vote. the Henry. Clay
CLUB, at its meeting last night,
adopted resolutions condemning The
proposed convention plan Of naming
Democratic cadidutcs for the Admin
istrative Board. y direct primary
WAS demanded from the city Demo
cratic Committee, and the secretary
was ordered to send copy of tho
resolutions to the wards membership
on that committee. so there could be
no mistake as to its position.
Those who spoke on the subject
wero exceedingly IL earnest. I'VE
repudiato any such thing" said one
member. 1T Is merely trick OF the
politicians TO go back 20 tho old
rotten convention days. and to make
deals against the lntercs, of the pco-
pic"
Tuik OF Boltina.
I'VE Will run Independent can
didates ii the city Committee forces
a convention down our throats."
shouted member. Then President
y. Nicholson put the motions ana II
was carried with a whnop. after
Charles Jones had secured the amend
the club feels about it.
.hc resolution rollows:
Resolved, by the Henry-Clar Club.
That we condemn the proposed nlan
Of nom mating the members OF tho
Administrative Board by convention,
and that We demand a direct primary.
Resolved, That We will not be
held. and that the secretary so noti-
fy the members Of tho City Demo
cratic Committee from Clay Ward"
Candidates Take same View.
Preceding this action. several OF
the candidates for tho City Council
had talked in the same vein. This
sentiment was first voiced By Prcsi
Council who said nc had favored
clect'ns the board by the people. and
thought the people should decide and
assume the responsibility for getting
the right men. He spoke against "a
convention, and argued that every
man who has paid MS poll tax should
have n voice in tho selection OF tho
men entrusted with such important
powers. Those who wanted tho CON
vcntlon, in his opinion. were afraid to
trust the people.
NJ undetermined convention meth
DDS should be used said Harry Huber.
but all should be above board In n
direct primary. lie wanted the poo
pie to decide.
Councilman T. Gray iIaddon be-
lievcd the best men could be chosen
IN primary. lie thought the people
capable to electing those who are 10
run their affairs. 1t was up to the
City Committee. nc knew, but IL ne
only had the chance TO express his
opinion ms a member OF the Council
he would do 80.
Call II UndrmocrntIc.
Ordway Fuller. who is a candidate
Tor the Board OF Aldermen added his
voice 10 primary. Any other meth
cd, he said. would be undemocratic
and unprecend ented
Tie politicians arc mack Of this
convention talk he said. "Cnlcss
tho people can vote and choose, il
would lie better to abolish the board,
for otherwise IL viii fan into the
hands of INSCRIPTIONS men,"
l. 4. Pitcher spoke for himself. ana
Henry Farmer for Clarence Scaton
All the candidates told how faithful
~ they would serve the people II
nominated on April 90
Oppose Convention rInn.
- several candidates tor the Common
I,ouncil from Jefferson Ward spoke
last night 10 the voters OF Fairmolmt
ing, Morgan X. Mills. Frank l.. Butler,
George w. Rogers and B Gallagher
being among the speakers Mann r.
rogers. of 2il5 Nenab!c Street. a mem
tee spoke for, John y. Selph. who was
detained at the city Hall at a com
mtttee meeting. Mr. Rogers took oc-
caslon TO express himself as opposed
TO the Martin plan for holding con-
vention to nominate candidates for the
Administrative Board
The Paramount Citizens Association
VIII meet again Monday night, when
certain candidates for the Council may
be Endorsed.