The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-01
Movement For Advanced Ideas
In Politics and Government
Draws Democrats to First
Convention.
Pollard Placed At
Head of League
Claims For Reforms Presented
Are Emphasized by Senator
Strobe, Delegate White and
Lewis II. Machen-Commit-
tees to Complete Work.

tees to Complete Work.
Led by speakers prominent in the
State political world who raped al
legged political domination of Virginia
and the system by which the legisla-
ture Is forced to attempt enactment of
laws during a brief session once in
two years, delegates to the Virginia
Progressive Democratic League con-
vention yesterday effected an organ
iaatlon with John Garland Pollard.
president and Henry G. Ellis of Ash
land, secretary and treasurer; adopted
resolutions stating the position Of the
league on pertinent political ques-
lions such as initiative and refer
endum. the fee system. preferential
primaries child and female labor laws
and workingman compensation
measures.
The morning session Of the conven-
ton was entirely devoted 10 the
speeches Of former senator Aubrey T..
STROBE. Of Amherst. and Delegate
Hugh White. of Rock bridge,
At the afternoon meeting Lewis II.
Machen, of Alexandria. was the only
speaker and his address was followed
by the business session. at which the
organization was formed reports OF
the committees ON resolutions, organi-
zafion and credentials were heard and
the motion To have these commit
tees stand as committee which
would see to the thorough organ'za-
ston ~ the ieag1ae I'm every section al
the State in preparation for a state
wide convention. which is TO he held
at the call Of the Chairman. X. w
Peatross, Of the present convention
Emphasize Reform Claims.
THE report of the committee on Gre
ientials showed that every city and
county in Virginia had responded to
the call to the couclave of progressive
Democrats. but that this response had
been in greatly varying numbers. II
showed that five hundred delegates
had arrived In the city Friday night
TO attend the session and others had
been coming here during the day
Each of the three speakers who adj
dressed the convention preliminary to
the business session emphasized the
claims for needed reform. but as
fs5fmer Senator Strobe expressed II.
The purpose of the league Is not re-
helIion hut revolution" In explana~
ton Of the remarks which he was
about to make. he said When we
undertake to perfect another organ
i2ation within an already existing or
gan'vation II is only far 70 the rank
and tile of The party to ley know the
conditions which iu-tifE the Progress
s!ve league The remainder OF his
speech was devoted to tracing the eS-
istence of these conditions from the
time Thomas s. Martin was elected 10
-, 90 1.
present day. In opening his remarks
along this line the speaker said;
Twenty years of more ago there
was a gross miscarriage of popular
sentiment and from that time to this
the mandate OF the people has no,
been executed by their chosen repre-
sentatives.
IA reason for the Progressive league
is that there has grown up among
the people the idea that when they
wanted certain principle written In
the statute book their last resort Is
not the people. but in their represent
atives The masses should no, sub
NIT 10 government which brings
them cringing 10 the feet of their ser
wants." the speaker shouted.
Mr.. STROBE said that with the in
!fiative and referendum Virginia
would today have an anti-fee bill. bet
Ter tax laws and lesahzed primary
measure. and he also called attention
10 the influences which he said pre-
vented the people of this State ex-
pressing their choice for president oi
the United States at the Baltimore
convention.
Assails Machine Control.
Delegate Hugh White did not pro-
long his speech with flowery language
or evasive sentences. He dove into
rather violent assault against cor
poratc power and machine control and
did not mince words in declaring that
In the general, ASSEMBLE. which ~ now
in session, there are influences OPP
Grating to prevent the enactment OF
laws demanded by the people,
1.-THE rule of the people has been
destroyed and the policy of our gov-
eminent is being dictated by fabulous
wealth, corporate and personal inter-
ests working through the political
bosses gum shoeing about the Hobbies
of our legislative halls" he said.
Lewis MaeiaeH- Introduced al
the afternoon session by Chairman r.
W. Peatross. Of Norfolk. He stated
that his attendance upon several SEES
sions OF the legislature had taught him
many things concerning the methods
used in the committees to kill meas
ures, many OF which had been intro
duced In legislature after legislature
only to be sent to the committees and
back and forth between the houses
and the senat until the last day OF the
session was reached and the biz mas
ticated in the Jaws Of the last few
hours idany OF these bills provided
for enactmehts which were Included
In the report of the committee on
resolutions and, he said would have
been Law long ere this time had there