The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-22
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE !
DEFENDS NOMINATION
Declares It Had Rnt One Name Be
fore IL and Acted In Con-
formity to Law.
SITUATION AS THEY SEE TT
Did Not Have Time To Hold Primary,
Executive Committee Declares. and
Was Essential That Committee Take
ActfoD-Precesien Fnyors Ii.

The executive committee Of the
City Democratic Committee on yes
.terday issued the following state
ment:
To the Democratic Voters OF the
City of Richmond:
In The interest of the Democratic
party. and in support of the party
organization. the City Democratic
Committee feels that 1T should calmly
and dispassionately Law before every
Democrat the following, so that he
may avoid Inadvertently ;njuring his
party by hasty or ill-considered ac-
ton on his part
Since the DAYS of reconstruction
Me members of the Democratic party
| nave stood together like a solid pha-
flank, and whenever Democrat had
broken away from the fold or the
party. because of difference OF opin-
ion, interest, or otherwise 1t has all
ways caused feeling of regret among
all consistent Democrats.
Political parties are necessary In a.
popular form of government, and
parties cannot exist successfully with
out party orga nization The Demo-
cratic party, in its conventions. has
created its city and county commit
tees. and has placed the responsibility
upon them to see that nominees are
selected to represent the party in
every general election. This is gen
orally done by means OF a party pri-i
mary. but where the primary cav
not he held by reason of insufficiency
of time. the right to name the can.
didate is delegated TO the party com
mittee.
During a period Of forty years or
more ttiera has an
sion on which the Democratic party
was not represented in the general
election by a previously ed
candidate. and the party organi2a-
ton has never permitted rival Demo-
cratic candidates In n general cleo
ton. Any argument that il is not
necessary that there be only one DEM
ocratic candidate In TIE ensuing gen
eral election would apply equally as
welt to any or all general elections
and not TO safeguard party interests.
in this particular would be to set
very dangerous precedent.
After .ae death of the late lamented
and beloved Commonwealth's at
torney, there were four or more names
mentioned as arowed candidates for
this office, and, under the law. the
Judge OF the Hastings Court. on &c
tober 4. 1915, ordered an election to-
ton on November 2. 1915. This dill
not give a sufficient time for Il pri-t
mary to be called under the primary
statute. which required n sixtydayi
notice; therefore the responsibility of
naming a nominee for the party fell
upon the City Committee.
The Virginia Legislature declared
in it's primary law. section I: Each
party shall have the power to pro-
In far hai
nomination of its candidates, and the
Nomination and election of 1t cam
didates for office in case Of any va
cancy.
Invited to Present Names
In fairness to each Of the avowed
Democratic candidates whose friends
had been importuning the members
of tsle committee for the support Of
their candidate for this nomination,
| as well as to any other Democrat who
might wish to offer himself for this
nomination. they were invited to pre-
sent their names to the committee
In response to tais invitation the
committee received from Mr.. T. Gray
Haddon notification of his candida cy.
for the nomination at the hands of
the committee. and he agreed to abide
/ by the action of the party organiza
| ton. No other names were present
| fronted with this situation, what po-
sition should it have taken as the rep
resentatives of the party? The COM
mittee not only took the proper
course under all the circumstances,
but under the election laws. the only
course left open to 1t. a2d 1t would
have been recreant to its duty ana un-
faithful to its party obligations ii Il
had acted in any other manner.
When the committee nominated Mr.
Haddon it named a man who is a good
citizen, a consistent Democrat, one
who Is fully qualified for the office.
and one who Is recognized as an able
member OF the bar
1t had been stated In the news
papers that some members OF The
committee had said that any one who
voted against the nominee of the
Democratic party could not vote in
next years party primary. If any
such statement has been made by any
member, it was wholly unauthorized
The City Democratic Committee had
never taken any action looking to-
ward disbarring any Democrat from
participation In any party primary.
but appeals solely to the loyalty of
all Democrats TO support the party
nominees
Accords With Precedent.
The action OF the City Committee
was In accordance with many prece-
dents When the Honorable John s
HARDWOOD died, after having been
nominated in the primary. there was
insufficient time to call another pri-
mary, and the committee named the
Honorable James b. Cannon, as it's
nominee. When the Honorable y. T..
- l.