Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-30
When to Vote Oh the Convention.


When to Vote Oh the Convention.
FRANKLIN. VA. January a. 1894.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
The Dispatch processes 10 be- and be-
hevc Is, In favor OF constitutional con-
vention, but Is not In favor OF the Legis-
lature az this session taking any action
IN the matter. saying editorially on the
10Th instant that we should first have
campaign Of education on the subject.
VIII the Dispatch please inform the
pubic how we are TO have campaign
Of education" on the subject until the
Legislature lays the subject before the
people in the manner prescribed by the
present Constitution? VIII the press and
people OF the State agitate and discuss
question for two years when the ques-
ton is not before them for considerat ton?
think not. The question Is at present
being agitated all over the State because
there is a probability that the Legisla-
ture at this session will provide for sub
hitting IL TO the people But let this
Legislature fail so TO provide and the
question will die out, even in the columns
Of the Dispatch, until another meeting
of the Legislature.
think that time for a campaign OF
education should be allowed, and that
next May. the time fxed. as ] understand
IT, by Mr.. Withers's bill. is too soon 10
submit the question TO the people. par
ticularly as there is no election In the
State at that time except for municipal
officers Next November would also PROB
ably be too soon, and besides II would
not be well 10 submit such State ques-
ton at an election OF Federal OHcetS'
But surely from now until the eiecuoh
Of county officers throughout the Std'e
in May, 1898. is long enough, ana that
would be III and proper time TO supiiiit
It,
That we need constitutional conVeh-
ton TO make changes in the laws soNVi"
ing suffrage, to provide for FEWER elec
t,ons. &C. Is almost universally conceded
by the press Of the State, and TO delay
about having II is useless and dangerous.
Even II the Legislature acts no" VIC
cannot have the convention uhuei W.
wears. and IL IT does not act no" ~ WIZ
be over four years. The next session VI
the Legislature will be in 1870 w. IL "O,,i,
Is taken then the question wouio ha,uis
be submitted TO the people before ." s
1907. Then IL the convention Is calieu ioi'
oi,hor that Legislature would have 10
meet In extra session to provide LOT eie0-
ton of delegates to the convention, ets''
or tho session of 1928 would have 10 90
e. Then allowing time for the e'ec'io" y.
,ha DELEGATES and the assembling oil the
convention. and we would not posSiaDn1SS
have the convention before iale III i''o'
Who can tell what power. hliiilicai ~
the best interests Of virginia may -
control Of the State government at 'ha'
time? ,,,,,.o,d Com
s,,,u,,on Let us act now while the Demo
cratic marty. the political ana sociai ,aI-
,,a,ion of the South. has almost uIiuis
,n,ted control OF the state. IL hl'eeh
,r,,n,the teaching, In addition TO what has
already been said. IS not a long enous"
"camnaign OF education" for our Peop,,,
then il will be useless to Try u '."o"
them on this subject. They are "o' ."
dull as that - p,pKER
Yours truly. D. -
The Dlspatch is In favor OF conVen-
tion. We should like TO see II asseh'Oie
90 soon as possible. In our judgment
,bars is work for 1t to do which cannot
10 so we'll done by submitting amend
nents piecemeal to the people, ou' VIC
want 10 make no mistake. we want
10 feel reasonably sure when the Vo'e''
are called upon to say convention UT
"no convention" that they VIII say coh-
ya,t,on" So far as our influence counts
we wish to lead our forces 10 triumph
not TO uncertain victory or positive ue-
feat. While the people Of Tidewater anu
Southside Virginia are prepared 10 'o'e
NOW for a convention we cannot 81!
that we are quite 80 certain as 10 so''ie
,,ber sections Of the State. When the
cuestion Is submitted the Democratic par
n
be practically unanimous In favor Oh
convention.
All the probabilities point TO an extra
session OF the General Assembly sooh III ,
fer the elections of this fall. Az those
elections the voters are to pass upon the
nronosed amendment to the Constitution
allowing the General Assembly TO pass
laws for the trial of petty larceny cases
without the Intervention or a jury II
seems certain that this amendment VIII
be adopted, and IL so new laws shouio
be enacted at once. To let the present
laws continue In force for another year
after It Is possible to repeal them wouid
ba 70 impose an enormous useless expense
upon the public treasury. Fifty thousand
dollars or more could be saved by thus
holding an extra session. If that extra
session be held 1t would afford the very
opportunity We wish to lesislate on the
subject of submitting the convention ques-
ton to popular vote.
The Dispatch is in thorough sympathy
with the patient and long-suiferlng people
Of Tjdewater and Southside Virginia, and
would like TO be instrumental In bringing
them relief at once; but 1t might be dan
gerous TO force fight just now Wheh
the fight is fought we must win. To win
we must have our party pronounced IN
favor OF the convention, and to accomplish
this we shall have to convince the Demo-
Gratis of every section OF Virginia that
a convention is a necessity; that 1t VIII
be of permanent benefit to the Common
wealth, and that every dollar spent on IL
will be money well invested. And SO we
counsel patience and WORK.