The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-13
Bryan and Owen to ADJ
dress Democrats at
City Auditorium.
MANY TO ATTEND
TWO-DAY SESSION
Advancement of Progressive
Measures in Virginia Given by
President Pollard as Impor-
tant Work of Meeting-All
Democrats Invited
to Take Part.

| John Garland Pollard, president of
the Virginia Progressive Democratic
League, issued yesterday call for a
general meeting to be held in Rich
mohd on February 2I and IS. at which
Secretary of State William Jennings
bryan and United States Senator Rob-
ert L. owen, OF Oklahoma, will be tho
principal speakers. All Democrats who
arc interested In 'the advancement OF
progressive measures In Virginia" are
invited to attend. While the program
1 has not been completed, it is announced
tnat the opening session will be held
at the City Auditorium on the evening
OF February %, when Senator Owen
VIII speak on Initiative and Referep-
dum. The organization meeting will
ne heid the following morning, and
secretary Bryan will speak at night on
| progressive Democracy"
Members of the league said ves,er
uny that they expected an attendance
OF from 1000 to 1,50o. Invitations have
aiready been sent to Congressmen
Montasue. Glass and Jones. 1t is gem
orally understood that at n ree.-nt
Nhite House conference, Mr.. Pollard
ana others discussed with the Presi-
uent some OF the objects for which tho
icaGue VIII stand In virginia WhiIa
.h the city Secretary Bryan will ad-
ess less ,ne Joint session OF the General
4 i'hNii6 Open invited nv bR
Two branches yesterday lie viii hn
entertained at the Executive Mansion
ny the Governor and Mrs Stuart .n,s
on February IS he Will be the e,,ast
OF John Shelton Williams, ComptroIler
OF the Currency
President PolInr,i's Gail.
me cail for the meeting addressaa
ITO the Democrats of yirrinio ~,
signed by President Pollard and Henrv
u Ellis, secretary treasurer, follows:
In pursuance of resolution passed
at conference recently held I'm Rich
momd' this address is hereby issued
calling all Democrats who are inter-
ested in the advancement of progress
sive measures I'm Virginia to meet in
Richmond February 81 ana rs for tho
purpose of forming a permanent or
| ganzation
those joining in this call stand NAV
be briefly summarized as follows:
we believe in the Initiative and ref
erendum as means of maintaining
truly representative government. IT
our representatives know that lie thew
| fail to enact measures desired by ths
people. the people themselves can enact
such measures, the representatives VIII
become more truly representative and
1t will rarely be necessary for the peo-
pie to resort to direct egislation And
IL our representatives know that meas
ures adopted by them may, through
referendum. DE vetoed by the people
measures will rarely be adopted detri-
mental TO the best interests of the peo-
pie. In short, the initiative and refer-
endum is. IN the language of Wood
row Wilson. 'thc gun behind the door"
TO be used In cases OF emergency.
The Constitution Of Virginia not only
provides for the Impeachment OF judges
but also for their recall or removal by
the same body which selects them. we
believe that the same principles should
be applied to all officials who provo
unworthy of public trust and that they
should be subject TO recall by the samo
authorities which select or appoint
chem. In business transactions men
who find themselves deceived In the
selection OF employees or servants may
discharge them. There is no good rea-
son why the public. when deceived.
should have to remain deceived for q
term OF years. The public have as much
right to correct their mistakes as have
individuals
Approved by the President
These principles are not now and
untried. They have the sanction of
years of experience both In American
lCommonwealths and abroad. They are
approved by Woodrow Wilson, a life
long student OF governmental science
and man who cannot longer be call
cd theorist. but has by his wise and
efficient administration OF the affairs OF
practical statesman OF the highest
type.
Section 20 OF the Constitution of Vir-
ginia requires the General Assembly
to provide for the correction OF illegal
!, or fraudulent registration. and Sec
tion SO provides that the General Az
sembly shall enact such laws as may
secure regularity and purity in primary
and general elections. The fact thar
these provisions OF our Constitution
have been In force nearly twelve years
and no adequate laws passed In pur-
suance thereof, justines us In the dec
laratton that the General Assembly oe
Virginia has unreasonably delayed
obedience to the mandates of the Con-
stltution. We point out that our pres-
ent election laws are vitally defective
in the following respects:
l. No punishment is provided for GER
tain classes OF election frauds, whila
In other cases ,wilful and deiiberate
fraud is classed as a misdemeanor, for
which ia prescribed the lightest pun
ishmcnt known to our penal laws. We
believe that wilful and deliberate fraud
In elections is treason to the State, and
should be punishable as a felony.
2. Although section 20 or the Con-
stitutfon above referred to requires the
enactment of measures for the correc-
tion of illegal and fraudulent regis
tration, anu although man denied
registration may have redress In the
courts. yet registrar may improper-
Is fill the books with the names OF
illegal voters, and the courts have no
jurisdiction TO purge the books.
| 8. Tho, law does not require election,
officials to preserve and account for
the unused ballots. tho preservation OF
which would afford an additional ops
portunity for testing tho accuracy and
l honesty OF the election. but on tila