The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-05-30
STEAM ROLLER NOT
NEEDED AT MEETING

NORFOLK, VA Special.-There
was never an occasion for the use of
the uch-heralded and much discuss
ed steam roller in the Norfolk State
Democratic Convention. In the first
place, the men who know politics in
virginia were certain of their ground
sometime before the date for the body
TO meet. The result of any test of
strength would not have been twenty
votes out of the way had there been
occasion to size up the situation and
give a forecast
That there was no fight was due
TO the good judgment shown by Mr..
X. Il. Byrd and the other gentlemen
who were managing the campaign for
Mr.. Wilson. They had gotten a peep
at a roll call. and they saw at a
glance that to force the fighting would
40 Just two things. which they did
not want to see DONE They were
game TO the core; but they had fine
Judgment. excellent discretion and
positively refused to be a party to any
thing that would accomplish what
they wanted--the getting of votes for
wilson. They saw there was no
chance for an instructed delegation.
They decided to desist in that.
me one regret of the convention IL
that the Strobe resolution, which has
many supporters. was presented as an
amendment to the report of the COM
mittee on resolutions, which had
made no reference to the matter
That was the one discordant note and
produced q roll call which was moth
ing more nor less than test OF
strength. But the majority did not
propose to rest under any imputation
that they were afraid to vote on the
matter, ana there was the resulting
roll call and the foredoomed defeat.
Convention Conciliatory.
That a spirit of Cancellation was
manifest Is seen by the action In Civ
ing the Wilson people at least six
delegates. That is all that they can
cast in the national convention at Bal
timore. Had there been a contest
they would have lost many, IL not ali.
of these. The majority did not want
q convention. IL wanted peace. 1t
had the votes to do just as it pleased.
Let 5 no one imagine that Mr.. Byrd
sort He is not the surrendering cali
doggsd. resourceful., Courageous. His
what might occur. and urged him to
accept what was. in their opinion, best
io all hands concerned He is a popu-
not unreasonable, He repealed the
idea OF being called a gutter. And
those who know him know that he Is
not OF that type. Not Dtcky Byrd as
his friends call him.
Mr.: Byrd thought the matter over
tenants The proposition to allow the
delegates to be chosen without apv
contest was agreed to. and the Wilson
FORCES were given proportiona+a
showing in the delegates at large.
The majority wanted no estrange-
ment-they wanted peace and harmony.
The majority yielded to Mr. Byrd's
claims in many instances merely for
the sake Of peace. The majority was
magnanimous. and could afford to be
considerable.
There was some who wanted TO have
the matter fought out and the coun-
ties go on record. but the test vote in
the Strobe matter served to conyfnca
many that the action OF Mr.. Byrd was
correct. that 1t was sensible and that
the steam roller" will not be used In
Virginia, there being no occasion for
any employment of heavy machinery
to operate the politics of the State.
Moreover, there were many persons
who expressed the conviction last night
that had there been a proposition to
abandon the primary plan in every re-
specific make 1t optional in the cities
and counties for local officers-it would
have been concurred In by a decisive
majority. DR.. Thomas H. Barnes. of
Nansemond one of the Oldest Demo-
Gratis in the State, was outspoken in
his opposition to the primary. a po-
sition he has always taken And he
was not alone by any means.