Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-20
The Voice Of the People
irsinin md Democratic National Conventto

Nir4 iniu N Democratic National Convention.
no n" Editor Of The Times. Dispatch
Str-A careful consideration or the ma tie:
VIII shu" that the Legislature now III session
need moi take amy action Whatever in order u
enable tho Democratic pIrty Of this State
bc represented in the national convention "a he
hed IN 81 Io'iIs IN Jun" nnst The resolutions
adopted by The Democratic Convention Bal
tilnore is follows:
"rhe movement towards more popular GOV
'rnn!e" should b" promoted through icgisla-
lion IT. each state whch viii permit the en-
preston az The preference 81 the electors 70"
national candidates - tho presidential rri-
mari"s
We dir.e, tina: the national committee incor-
por.tt" IN The call for thc ncx, nominating con
N"ution a requirement that all expressions Of
preference for presidential candidates shall be
given aud tn" selection OF delegates and alter
mates J." made through primary election con
= Quoted hN III" p1rty organization in each state.
where such oppression AMI election arc not pro-
N.ded !"i by State law. Committeeman who are
hereafter I" constitute thu membership OF the
Democratic National oomiiliti"" and whose cleo
ton Is not provided for by Law, shall he chosen
~ each stat" "i such primary elections, and
the service anI authority Of committeeman.
however chosen shall begin Immediately unon
the receipt Or their credentials respcctively.''
From which, IL wil be seen thai il IL clea,1y
thc dutS Of iii, party Organization in III
stat" I" proNiHc for and I,o;d the primary -
ferr"d TO ia ia" foregoing resolutions in each
state Whcr" .hc holding Of such primaries is
not provided Tor py state law. This Is :rue
~ the stat" ~ Virginia. our primary law re-
i"la onlS to The nomination. OF candidates for
"ti"c, provided for therein Delegates and nj
ictnatcS to purely party convention. and com
itictintn VINO constitute members OF the Dem
"cra tic National Committee officers in
any sens" Of tia" word. aud their nomnat!o on H.;
not provided Tor IN our primary law. See Acts
OF 1914 pH9" IN, section =. from which IL viii
bc sccn mat ,ui primary Law. far 1t :
latrS 10 t'liS subject, IL as follows: This act
shall amply to ,hc nomination of cand idates for
such oiliccS as shall he nor'inaied by a direct
primary aud to no other nominations" Then
the act provides for I'll: nomination OF cand-
dates for states offices fni district Offices.
members of thc House IF Representatives IN
the Consross "f tho United Sntcs and for mem
bcra Of TIL, United States senate and provides
that the constituted authorities OF po,'ti-
cal party for the State at large shall have the
right to Drovidc that thesc nominal ions shnl
he made by q direct primary by other
method 1T is clear that This law does not
proHidc Tor ~" nomination or delegates tn
purely party convention " to members Of par
~ commti""s. nor does il provide any method
Tor obtaining the expression OF tho will Of the
people as 10 their preference for n candida Q
for President
~ Is therefore clear TIM. the present prl-
mary law IN this state make provision what
ever for holding "a primary to select dclcpat.s
10 the Democratic National Convention 10
miit"". and u * equally true that tho primary
law ~ Virginia docs not apply To the aclcc-
'"n ~ amy ~ tho committees 0thor MON
bcrs ~ III" party organization In tho State.
Therefore IL follows that the party orRnni.
Ha'i"n IN tho state must provide for holding
the primary required by the platform of the