Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-06
DEMOCRATIC CH|EFTh|Ns
TO HOLD BIG POWW0N|
Conference Of Organization Leaders
49, of Virginia To BE Held in
Washington.
WILL DECIDE ON CONVENTION
Lne-Up in Support of Various Can
didates for State Offices May Also
Be Detcrmincd-Will Bring Out
Candidate for Attorney General.

Democratic ChlcftaiHS of tho orEani-
cation wing OF the party in Virginia. il
became known yesterday. will hold a
war council in Washington next week
to take stock OF the state political sit
uation. and If possible. to clear up tho
muddled state of affairs that exists
with respect Ia oncoming contests for
some of tho major Offices.
No engraved invitations are being
sent out summouinc delegates to next
weeks conference. IT il 10 bo Il meet
ing of the inner circle OF the Virginia
Democratic organization. staged in
Washington for convenience. To it
will come All tho Virginia members of
Congress. except tourressmcu Jones.
Glass, Montague and Sicmp. Tho
three nrst-namcd belong to tho anti
machine faction. while MIR. Slemp is
Virginias lone Republican Congress
man
At this meeting, il is understood.
the machine leaders will decide whcth-
or or not II Will line up tho orc,ui-
cation in support OF any ono OF inc
several so-called maChiue candidates
who arc in tho field for separate stat.
offices, or whether IL Will declare Tor
an open race,
QUESTION or t0SNENTION
MUST III DETERMINED
AfHcFE the Important lldIl'TS l1al
will come before The conference for
decision will he the question Of tho
proposed State convention. Al Roa-
noke last June. the delegates voted for
a resolution which called for a con
vention to be held prior 10 June |,
1917, for tho purpose % drawing up
platform on state issues. ON the adj
liability of following tho suggestion
OF the Roanoke convention thorc has
arisen marked division or opinion.
Anti-ma chine leaders arc openly OPP
posed TO the idea. and many leaders "t
the opposite faction SOC little use in
holding "A convention which will hav"
nothing to do.
Those who have given thought - tho
convention idea. HAY" practically
reached the conclusion that it would
be impracticahle L. hold a meeting ON
the basis Of representation that OH
tained at Roanoke. Such - scheme
would mean 900 or NOR" delegates and
the expense Of holding such a meeting
would he forbiddinr. In some quarters
It has been suggested that tho state
Democratic Committee fix basis of
representation which Will result H. tho
selection of one or two delegates from
each county and city, thus reducing the
convention attendance in not more than
$50 or 900.
PRESENTS NEW PROBLEM
The race for Acknowledgement will
loom largo on tho program Of next
weeks war council. ms Viii also tn"
contests for Lieutenant -t;ovcrnor and
Treasure For tho first office the ma
chine has not yet decided upon "A can
didate. Hugh a. White. Of Lexington.
Of the anti-machinc faction, for the
present holds the field alone. OF late.
I.nlt Nt,tl r 40
oomac, has come u bc looked upon as
the probable choice OF the organization
for this Office. but Mr.. Mapp has re-
manned discreetly silent declining To
affirm or deny the report. IL Is be-
lieved that before the war council nd-
journs 1T will come Ia u definite I'M
dcrStandinc as 10 the organizations
standard bearer in this contest
THE lieutenant govcrnorship presents
a problem. Both Martin Williams and
former State Senator Frank Il Euch
anan are organization men. and II they
both run, an antl-machinc candidate
may carry of thc prize. The problem
consists in inducing one ot tho two To
retire from the race. leaving L. the
other the united support If the or
Ganization.
With respect 10 Ihc contests for tho
Offices OF Treasurer and Secretary Of
the Commemorative. there are similar
problems. TT or. .iiorr Organization
men are in'.ths- field for both Offices.
Lnon the war cotincil's decision may
depend also the extent 10 which the
organization VIII throw It's united sup
por, TO any ono of the several candi-
dates, announced or about To II" AN
nounced for tho office 90 state Supcrin-
tendent OF Public Instruction There
liz talk now Of opposition to tommis-
sioner koiner, of tho Department OF
Agriculture. In the person Of Delegate
Page. of Aihcmarl. Th"s" and other
things Will give the organization chief
tains food for discussion.