The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-13
A STATE PLATFORM CONVENTION
DEMANDED.

DEMANDED.
Several important issues are to be
decided by the Democratic State Com
mittec at its meeting here Tonight,
but there is one question possibly not
on the slate that ought to receive the
serious attention of tho supreme Demo-
cratic body in the State. a state plat
form convention is unquestionably de-
nanded by public sentiment. The pur-
pose OF such convention would be
TO formulate platform OF principles.
which would serve as a chart for tho
guidance OF all public servants who
would owe their election to the Demo-
cratic party. With single exception,
every newspaper which has discussed
tho question of such q convention has
thoroughly Endorsed it, 1t is strik-
ing and significant fact that the de-
inand has not been factional--it has
been voiced by all the divisions of
Democracy in Virginia.
If tho quadriennial State Democratic
Convention had performed Its full duty
at Norfolk last May there would not
now he need for i state platform con-
vention. The business of that assem-
blagc was transacted with such haste
that the patchwork sot of declarations
1t adopted mean nothing in so far rs
the state is concerned. Not one of
the vital State issues was considered
by the Norfolk convention.
Let us have convention to do the
convention TO cnunciatc Democratic
principles so that we shall wage our
warfare on something more tangible
than the personalities of our nomi
nees Can the Democratic party go on
demanding that the people OF Virginia
support it without letting them know
what the party stands Cor in the State,
and what it promises in the State? How
much longer will the people endure
campaigns in which the Democratic
party is dumb ms TO it's policies?
Is the great Democratic party OF Nir-
ginia TO remain silent for four more
sears on tine issues that press for i'm
mediate solution? Where stands the
Democratic party ON the legali2ed pri-
mary. compulsory education, the fee
system. tax equalization, economy and
retrenchment in government. convict
labor workmcn's compensation, the
short ballot oyster legislation and the
other issues OF to-day? Is the Demo
cratic party not TO show the Democra-
tic legislator the way wherein he must
walk ana the things that he must do?
There is another phase of the situa-
tion. we'll stated By the Virginia Gaz-
cite in a recent issue:
IT Virginia had a respectable minor
ity parts II would of necessity compel
us 10 Say what We stand for or suffer
defeat We have won year in ana year
out not because We so much deserved
10 win, but rather because there Was
30 one opposing us Parties have no
reason & exist unless they stand for
SomcUinz. Whatever the party has
accomplished has been done through
sheer force OF character and VIII Of a
Few strong men. There has been no
great party sentiment firmly united
Tor reforms. Tbcy have come In spite
of party .pntinenr ana party dcmond,
Out they have come SO slowly as 10 be
almost impcrccptiblc We need force
and aggressiveness and progressive
ness We need new are injected into
our party activities TO mako il the
party Nirilo and strong and OF use to
the peopdc. There is no reason why
virginia should occupy the tail end of
inc list IN educational and other line
OF human cndcaYor
Let us have n Democratic State CON
Ncntion neat summer and send our
party before the people backed by
%omcthing more than the personality
or any man who happens 10 win the
domination Unicss wc do. with chang
ing party lines and changing scnti
lnent, Damocracy, our only Safeguard
nov. Will be swept out Of power In
Virginia.
snail state platform convention be
called? The question is squarely M
u the Democratic State Committee
Tho only body vested win authority
70 order such a convention The Times
trusts that the committee viii con.
sider the matter carefully ana see iii
To accede to pubic Sentiment I'm our
Judgment. this is the wisost thing maj
ihe Democratic State Committee can
possibly do Ut this time