The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-16

ROANOKE. VA. May l5.-Special.-
While the attendance at the conference
here to-day was not as large as some
OF the leaders expected. those here were
satisfied with the results Of the days
work After the arrival of the visitors
consultations were held, which resulted
in change Of the programme ii being
decided that il was not best to enter into
an elaborate discussion Of the changes in
the constitution which arc desirable, ana
hence the work OF the meeting Was cut
short.
The principle gIooehes were Hade by W.
O. Hardnway. Senator Daniel ana Mayor
Jones The resolutions which were aaopl-
cd. while conservative and not as strohs
as some desired are generally consiuerou
satisfactory They were unanimously
adopted without much debate and were
signed by AN tine members Of the com
nittee. including Senator John w. Daniel
anE NETTING oALLiD TO oED'h.
The meeting was called To order by
CHARLES l stewart. a member Of the Local
committee. who read the circular thal
had been sont out when the movement
was first started. lie then announced
Mr.. w. .. HardaWay, Of this city, tempo
rary chairman, and Mr. r. J. Barham'
of :he Petersburg lndex-Appcal' as tenn
porary secretary.
Mir Hardaway. i'm taking the chair
said that IL was the original intention
u have small meeting of representative
men ln "a hotel parlor, but later u was
decided 10 hold II at the Opera-house'
A small movement might nave peen
laughed at. but 10 could not be lahshed
down. lt makes no difference what posi-
ton may De taken. the movement Tor inc
reform of the constitution has been start
cd in this Commonwealth. and IL VIII 20
on and ou and ON.
The Democratic party VIII not submit
md the people of Virginia VIII not SUD
init to- any stiiing of this great question.
The Democrats were asked TO come 10
Roanoke. and the committee ala not eN-
pect as many TO come as did.
lie referred TO the coal strike I'm South
west Virginia and said the fact that
the Governor is forced TO send troops
TO qucn riotous miners possibly results
from bad legislation. The common people
would not submit much longer to the
Underwood shame
IL there is any olium attached TO this
movement" he continued, 81 am willing
90 bear it. ] was born in the blacklist
county in the State where people under
stood what negro rule meant, and IN
iSe7 N man in Amelia county had en-
dOrscd the Underwood Constitution ne
would nave httu osliatlstd.
IRE UNDERWOOD CONVENTION.
lie had heard that convention donomi-
mated as the greatest aggregation Of buzz
yards that had over cursed the world.
Those scallawagcrs and carpet -haggers
had fastened ON this state the most
damnabie and outrageous organic law
that had ever hurdeucd free people.
lie did not object TO the present Consti-
tuition because It was framed by aliens
and negroes. but because of us many
inquitics. which Doe enumerated al length.
The speaker referred 10 North Carolina.
which is a little larger than Virginia. yet
in that State twenty judges are doing
the work done boy l26 Judges in Virginia.
North Carolina has twenty Common
wealth attorneys, who accomplish what
III do in Virginia. Prior 10 the war
there We're mo- county treasurers. bat now
these officers are. vampire like, sucking
the life out of the state.
These aliens and carpet -haegors made
this organic law 90 perpetuate their
power. but the people rose I'm their might
and shook them on lie culOgzcd The
Democratic party as the party Of Jefier-
son. OF Jackson. of Monroe, and OF John
". Daniel This latter sentence evoked
great applause.
Mr.. Hardaway spoke at length on the
judiciary system. ana lbs evils ana said
"You. as an individual have no more
control of thc selection of a Judge 10
try you for your property or your life
than a hull-frog. The legislative. the
judicial. and the executive branches OF
The government should Doe entirely sepa-
rate and distinct"
He favored the election OF Judges and
such officers hy the people. other states
did this. and why not Virginia? There
IS no party that can control the state
but the Democratic party but she must
be right
lie believed that the good seed had been
sown that.would ultimately have the de-
sired effect.
At the conclusion OF his address. Mr..
Hardaway announced the following com
mttce ON permanent organizations b.
y. Bell Hon. Peter J. Otey. Captain NJ.
NJ Rogers. Charles J. Stewart. A. B
Claytor. aud Thomas W. Miller.
lie then introduced Mayor S. r. Jones.
who made an address of welcome
rHs MAYORS ADDasS
Mayor Jones addressed the conference
as follows
1t is beautiful custom TO recognize
the presence OF honored guests by
formal and friendly greeting. So. to-
day I'm the name OF the citizens OF ROa-
noke. / tender you a most hearty wei
come.
II Is no, my purpose I'm this brief ad-
dress or welcome. 10 map out or indi-
cate 20 you the policy OF this conference.
Solomon has said, There is wisdom IN
multitude OF counsel" and after a fun
and free exchange OF opinions on the
organic law OF our State. and some OF the
needed changes In our antiquated consti-
tuition should the Democratic party rec
ognize and acknowledge the necessity OF
the revision IN The constitution. and the
changes that are deemed advisable, then
the object OF this conference viii have
heen more than accomplished.
n Is said. "RevO'uuOns never 40 back
ward" and IL can be truthfully said that
srnts h. true of social. political and rehg-
ions reforms. and every reform move
nent in all the world; from the writing
- xt.~odotus 10 the Parkhurst bubble