The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-15
VIRGINIA d MlCRAcy
NAMES own CANDIDATES
States Congressional Delegation Re-
scnts Report Printed Here of
Council to Decide on Candidates.
TOO BUSY If HAD INCLINATION
Congressman Watson Says In His
Three Years Service He Has Never
So Much as Heard of Any Such
Conference Being Contemplated.
tBy GEORGE II. MANNING,

Washington. d. G.. Jan. l4.--Care-
full inquiry made among ne members
of the Virginia delegation in Wash
ington belonging to what is sometimes
termed the organization" faction has
failed to disclose any trace of war
council to be held this or next week,
according to an article published by
the Richmond Times Dispatch about a
week ago
On the contrary Senators Martin and
Swanson and Congressman Flood,
Watson, Carlin, Saunders, Holland and
Harrison, whom the Times Dispatch
article said were to meet and decide
on the State candidates for office the
organization would back. emphatically
deny that there was ever any intention
of holding such war council"
The product of vivid and willing
Imagination" was the way Congress
man Floyd characterized the article,
saying he had never heard Of such a
meeting being called. and is inclined to
believe no such meeting will be called.
'oaH, why. tDeTe nOtNlUH
70 1t at ALL" said Senator Swanson.
The Virginia people can look after
elections for their own State offices
without any help from US"
Article Creates Resentment
Ine article in the Times-D Dispatch
which aroused resentment in Wash
ineton stated that all the members of
the Virginia delegation except Con-
gressmen Glass. Montague and Jones.
who compose the so-calied an.i-or-
ganization faction would attend war
council' to clear up the muddled state
of affairs existing with respect to COM
ing contests for the State Offices
The Nirginians here whom the ar.
tfcie referred to consider IL an attempt
to create the impression that all State
off1ce elections are dictated from
Washington by the Organization.
There has never been condition like
this, they say, and such a condition
does not exist now
NO invitation has been extended to
me 10 attend any conference of Eir-
g!nia Democrats at Washington con-
gressional or otherwise" said Con-
gresham Watson when asked regard
ing the report, II never heard. Of the
proposal until saw ii mentioned in one
Of the. Richmond newspapers ara
for the report. and have heard ahso-
iutely no mention OF ii here
Never Heard Of Such Conference,
We are keenly alive. OF course. TO
what concerns the welfare of the DENT
ocratic party in Virginia. and I take
II that as individual members OF the
party all OF us have our preference as
to candidates for state offices. But In
the three years have been here as
Congressman ! have never heard Of
any conference among the congress
sional Representatives. here in behalf
Of any candidate for State office In
Virginia.
The Dem ocrat- OF Virginia are
amply able to conduct their party af-
fairs and all that any Democratic Rep
resentative here can ask In to be admit
ted to party councils at home when he
can he OF service to his party.
There has been absolutely no dis
cu%sion OF the State convention here
The fact Is that the public business in
Congress at the short session Is 80
pressing. that the Virginia Represents.
lives have found too little tirne to even
consider state issues at home"