The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-18
REPUBLICANS DECIDE
TO PUT UP FULL SLATE
Executive Committee OF Virginia G..
o. =. Declines Congressman
SlcHnp's Resignation.
OUTLINE OF PLATFORM.
Pirates Il Enormous Expenditures
OF state Government. Burdensome
Tax System, and For More Officers
tn BE Elected.
by GEORGE H. MANNING.

Washington, d. c.. Feb. 1.-THE
Virginia Republican state executive
| committee. which met here today for
| the purpose of making an effort to
| arouse the Virginia @. O. r. from its
| lethargy. unanim ously agreed that the
Republicans should put a ticket in the
| field this fall to oppose every candi-
date nominated by the Democrats
! from the governor down.
! IT will be remembered that four
years ago the Republicans. with no
! patronage pie in sight, failed to
| nominate candidate to oppose
| Henry G. Stuart, and the other part
! Of the Democratic ticket and were
made the target for considerable
/ criticism.
J Democrats in Washington claimed
today that II was more for the pur-
! pose of avoiding recurrence of this
criticism than with any firm inten-
ton OF making a real campaign OF
| hope OF any success.
The executive committee has de-
cided to nominate a slate this year.
The committee stayed in session
about three hours In Congressman
slemp's ONCE at the capital. but did
not engage In discussion OF candi-
hates, Mr.. Slemp. chairman of the
committee, said.
Slemp Tenders Resignation.
Congressman slemp, as predicted i'm
these dispatches, offered the commit
tee his resignation. saying II was
probable his congressional duties will
keep him in Washington a consider
able time this spring and summer
and that some man who can be down
In the state constantly may be better
able TO handle the campaign.
The committee declined 70 accent
his resignation. and at Mr.. Slemps
request a subcommittee was appoint
ed to select a vice-Chairman who
shall be in charge OF the conference
in the absence of tie chairman.
The chairman was directed to ap-
point a committee 70 draft an appeal
to the voters OF virginia. which,
among other things. Mr.. Slemp said,
would involve the following subjects:
(1I To secure relief from the en-
ormous expenditures OF the state gov
ernHaent
90 To make equitable the present
burdensome tax systems.
90 Legislation to secure a fair
legislative apportionment in the
state.
a. Provisions to secure decent
elections In the state with minority |
representation having their own
clerks Of election and registrars.
t6) The election of greater num- !
Der of state and county officers by
the people, particularly the circuit |
Judges, the county school superinten- |
dents, and the corporation commits !
Eioners, all OF which are now simply
parts of a political machine.
(s) A number OF measures along
humanitarian lines in accordance
with the progressive tendencies of the
day.
t7r The abolition OF the poll taxi
prerequisites to voting.
The personnel OF the committee to
draft the appeal, and the sub-com-
mittee to select the vice chairman
were not announced today.
No announcement was forthcoming
regarding the date of the next meet
ing of the committee or the date for
the holding of meetings to select the
candidates which the G. O.. r. pro-
poses to put up,
The greatest secrecy was observed
regarding all the proceedings at the
meeting.