Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-05-22
ROANOKE CONFERENCE.
The Question of Holding State Constitu-
tiOnal Convention.

Ihe question of Holding state Const1tu-
tionaI Convention.
Especial Dispatch to the Baltimore Sum-
ROANOKE, VA, May 15.-The con-
ference of democrats held here to day
to consider the question of holding a
constitutional convention was attend
ed by number of representative men.
Mr.. Charles |. Stewart, OF the local
committee, called the meeting to order
at 3 P. NJ. in the old Opera House. w.
o. Hardaway, of Roanoke, was pre-
sented as temporary chairman, and r.
p. Barham, of Petersburg, temporary
secretary Mayor S. E. Jones de-
| livered an address of welcome and
United States Senator Daniel made
the principal speech OF the day, strong
ly advocating the convention, but adj
vising against recommending any
special time, preferring that this be
left to the Legislature.
The committee on permanent organi-
cation reported Immediately after the
conclusion of Senator Daniels speech.
X. q. Murray, of the Norfolk Land
mark, was made chairman, and l.. s.
Mayre, of Lynchburg, secretary.
The conference adjourned and met
again at the Ponce de Leon Hotel at
$50 P. NJ, when Capt. w. w. Berkeley,
of the committee GU resolutions, pre-
scented the following, which was unani-
mously adopted:
| "ReSolUed, The conference of demo
Gratis informally held a meeting in
! Roanoke to consider the question of
constitutional convention respect
fully submit to their fellow citizens
that in their opinion the time is now
at hand when the people of this State
must contemplate change in their
constitution or an increase of taxes
The reassessment of lands and personal
property will undoubtedly disclose a
large reduction in values, and with
existing charges upon the public
treasury, the present tax rate will in
all likelihood prove insufficient to sus-
tain the public credit, our educational
and elemosynary institutions and a
reasonable provision for our wounded
and disabled soldiers, and enable us to
bear at the same time the usual ex-
penses which are alike impossible to
foresee or avoid. The people have
long borne with the Underwood con-
stitution not because they liked it,
but because they were weary with
agitation and had many other issues
to deal with, and now that it must
come in conflict with their necessities
and is likely to result in increasing
their burdens, we deem it wise and
expedient to recommend a convention
that will thoroughly revise that crude
and unfit instrument under which we
live and give us a constitution adapted
to the condition of our State and the
necessity of its people. 1t has been
nearly half century since the people
of Virginia had the benefit of a con
stitutional convention composed of
wise and substantial citizens who were
identified with them by every tie of
interest, and more than half of that
time we have lived under the consti-
tuition framed by aliens and out of
keeping with our changed and revolu-
tionized affairs. We are not lacking
In true and wise men who are capable
of graphing with all the problems we
have to deal with and we have all con-
fidence that the people would CON-
mand and would make sure of their
services. Unless we take time by the
forelock and anticipate the difficulties
which confront US, it is Obvious that
these difficulties will be enlarged and
multiplied. And for these and other
reasons we declare ourselves in favor
of constitutional convention and
recommend that the General Assembly
will submit the question of holding
such a convention to the people just
as soon as in its judgment it may be
lexpediently done, all surroundings
considered.
The conference then adjourned sine
die.