The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-13
COMMITTEE WILL
HARnON|zE PLAN
and PRIMARY Law
Mandatory Resolutions of
the State Convention
Are Referred
WORK IN NINTH
Is GETTING ALONG
Representatives From That
District Bring Roseate
Reports, But Work
is Needed

The task OF narmOnlzfnX the DeIilo-
cratic party primary plan WIFI the
Byrd law will be entrusted to a COM
nittee OF ten members OF the state
central committee. The same COM
mittee will take upon its shoulders
the duty OF investigating the recon-
mendafion OF the last State conven-
ton that the party plan of organiza-
ton as regards city and county COM
mittees be amended SO as to make
the basis OF representation the Demo
cratic vote.
The sub conmittee, which Is to
consist Of one member from each
of the ten congressional districts, Is
to be named by state Chairman Ely
son and he Is to be chairman of 1t.
both Actions Debated.
This action was take1a last night
by the State central committee after
lengthy discussion OF the two manda-
tory resolutions OF the state conven-
ton. in which stubborn opposition
was made 10 the effort to refer the
questions TO subcommittee. and a
determined fight conducted to settle
both matters in the whole committee
without further delay. This matter
disposed of. the committee settled IT.
,Beif tn hearing encouraging reports
from Ninth district members hetok-
ening the defeat Of Slemp and the
redemption OF the district. and sealed
enthusiastic approval OF the outlook
by promises tn aid this storm center
with money. speakers and literature
Senator Claude A. Swanson, State
Chairman Filsscn and Congressman
Hal D. Flood made most encouraging
talks Of conditions az they had found
then, and unhexitatingiy predicted the
vaf <.s5vr,n n ta
and nation since the Confederate war.
Only twenty-three OF the nifty mem
hers were present. and the second
district had no representation.
State Chairman E1iyson called the
meeting to order in the parlors of
Mnrphy's' hotel Mt $50 o'clock. ana
after roll call had Secretary J. ~
Brsnnifftan rsed the two resolutions
adopted by the last State convention
directed to the State central COM
mittee.
The i'lan of Organization.
The first resolution authorizes the
Sts,e committee to amend the sixth
clause OF the party plan OF organixa-
ton relating To county and city conf
lT1ittees Under the present plan
two or more members are chosen
from each district or ward so that the
smallest ward or district has the
same representation as the largest
The convention thought the represen-
tation should be based on the Demo-
cratic vote recorded.
T. J. Downing. of the First district.
opposed any change in the present
plan and moved to table tho restrlu-
tfon ]. r, Whitehead, OF the Tenth
district. objected to such q summary
disposition OF the matter. saying that
- he Inn ha "A
need for the change II would not have
recommended. IL. The committee, he
said. could not afford to ignore It.
Somewhere In the State. II was evil
dent some big district or precinct was
being dominated by one or two small
Ter preclnesx.-.Hs- offered -Feseiu-
ton authorizing the chair TO appoint
COMMITTEES of ten, one from each
opposed to leaving anything to a sub
datton and report its findings TO the
State committee.
Mr. Downing defended his resolution,
declaring the party was faring very
well under the present plan. and there
Was no necessity for change. II any
changes were to be made. using the
FfstiaK strength as q basis of repre-
esntation. II ought to include all OF the
committee embraced in the party plan
Of organization, from the smallest to
the largest He called attention to the
fact that the tinted States senate
was based on the present party plan
and he saw no need for change.
Tried II in pauxjllN,
r. A. James, Of Danville. and others
supported Mr.. Whifeheads substitute
Mr.. James ssid in his county they had
been ignoring the party plan Tor some
time. and had worked on the basis
suggested BY the convention and found