The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-06

| The Virginia Progressive Democratic
| league was organized in Richmond
last night at a meeting of prominent
citizens at Murphy's hotel.
Progressive" Democrats from
various sections of Virginia gathered
/ here for their first convention and
| promulgated definite program of
activity, after first having settled upon
| declaration of principles.
! Standing out as measures for which
they will work are those of the
| initiative, referendum and the re-
call.
amendment to the State constitution
liz required to reserve to the people
Of the Co'nmanwesrh these rights
and that the power they give should
! extend to all officers, magistrates or
other servants of the people. except
| judges.
Declares For Reforms.
1t declared for reform OF general
election laws so as to render fraud
at the polls impossible; prevent pay
! ing by others of poll taxes for voters
names; the appointing Of judges and
clerks CT election under the laws gov
erning general elections instead of by
party committees; the placing OF cleo
ton contests in the courts instead OF
in the hands OF party committees
! prohibiting judges and clerks Of cleo
ton from using influence at the polls
for or against any candidate or meas
ure at primary elections: making all
sessions of legislative committees and
party caucuses open to public and
/ press and advocating that every vote
taken by committees shall be recorded
and reported to the house of dele
gates. 1t declared also for the re-
/ organization of the Democratic party
and declaring for open primaries as
soon as effective primary laws can be
enacted; for preferential presidential
/ primaries; legislation correcting the
! evils Of the fee system, and the cleo
ton Of corporation commissioners by
/ the people.
| Pollard Made President
Officers were elected by the vir-
ginai Progressive Democratic league
and letters from prominent Demo-
Gratis in Virginia who could not be
present, endorsing the movement,
were read.
The newly formed league made John
| Garland Pollard. who soon becomes at
| torney- general, president. and left to
| him the power to name other officers
/ and members OF the executive COM
mittee Henry G.. Ellis, OF Ashland,
/ was elected secretary and treasurer.
| Letters in support favoring the
principles of the newly organised
league were read to the convention
| g.
| gresham w. A. Jones. of the First
Virginia district; p. D. Camp. of Surry
county Pembroke Petit, of Louisa
county, and numerous others.
Progressives Present.
Among those who were in atten-
dance at the convention are Howard G.
Miller. OF Norton. newspaper man
of Wise county; r. w. Shultice. of the
| Citizens party of Norfolk: A. E. Strobe.
former State senator from Amherst
county; John T. Williams. III. OF
Northampton county. $. s. Wilkins. OF
Northampton county: w. w. Woodward,
of Elizabeth City county: Charles r.
Hughes, of Clarke county; NJ. G. Hol-
man. of Fiuvanna county. r. l.. Cor
don. Jr. OF Louisa: Charles N. Gravatt,
/ State senator of Caroline: J. E. Heath.
| OF Norfolk county; J. II. Hargrave. Jr.,
! OF Pittsylvania: Ailin d. Jones, of
Newport News; +. s. McCandish of
Fairfax county: Charles v. Meredith.
: of Richmond Charlie, -MuG!er,-
Newport News: Louis II. Machen. OF
Alexandria. who was a candidate for
: lieutenant governor In the recent State
primary: DIR. b. b. Bagby. OF King
/ William county: J. w. Chinn. Jr., OF
Richmond county; J. NJ. Quarles, of
Augusta; Lieutenant C. p. Shaw, of
Norfolk: j. w. Bodwen. of Accomac:
r. r. Robertson, of Northampton; r.
III. Willis, State senator from Roanoke
/ L. Stone of Newport News; r. S. ALI
worth. of Northampton. member Of the
State Democratic committee; r. s, Bar
bour, of Halifax county; C. c. Berk-
| ley, Commemorative attorney Of New
| por News; George Bryan. OF Richmnd;
A. B. Carney, J. M. Curtis. member of
State Democratic committee. of New
port News; r. r. l. wilkins, of
Southampton county: T. J. Downey, Of
Lancaster; H. q. Ellisn OF Hanover;