Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-17


Tho attendance at the Roanoke Demo
eratic conference, called TO consider the
constitutional convention question, was
mot large. We never supposed that 1t
would be. The conference had no offices
to dispose Of. ana to people generally
constitutional convention seems long
way OF. inasmuch as the General Assem-
bly, would probably submit the question
OF convention or no convention to the
popular vote and then walt the result OF
that vote before apportioning delegates
to the various counties ana cities. But
10 far a We can see, the Roanoke confer
ence made no mistakes; its counsels
were wisely guided. and the conclusion
reached II that the General Assembly
should be allowed to choose Its own
time for putting the constitutional con-
yention question to the vote Of the peo-
pie. This IL the policy that the Dis
patch has all along advocated. and we
are, of course, gratined that 1t should
have been adopted by the conference.
The conference will have the effect OF
drawing general attention to the convex
lion question. Henceforth 1t will be one
Of the foremost matters OF State policy
20 receive the consideration OF Virgini-
AIS. When the sentiment In our party
shall have become thoroughly developed
In favor of q convention, then the Cen
eral Assembly will be justified In submit
ting the question to the decision Of the
voters. To rush pell-mell into such an
election might defeat the scheme. The
belief Of the conference was that the re-
suits of the land assessments now being
made would attract the attention OF the
Taxpayers and force them to consider
whether 1t would not be better to call
convention and reduce our State and
county expenses than to attempt to In
crease the tax-rate. We should not De
ut all surprised to. find our party in Vir-
ginia well-nigh unit on the convention
question before this year Is at an end.
Moreover we are Of the opinion that
those who are strongest in favor OF the
maintenance OF State credit will be the
strongest advocates of the convention.
The demand for a State convention
seems steadily growing. The tax-pay-
ers want a. more economical government
II possible. they would like to improve
the suffrage article Of our Constitution.
Indeed they are sick and tired Of the I'm
derwood Constitution. Many OF them
are of the opinion that the worst con-
vention possible to be assembled In Vir-
ginia would be better convention than
that which was presided over by Under
scod, and of which DR.. Bayne. Lewis
Lindsey, Charles H. Porter, James IL.
Plat, and others Of that ilk were In
auential members. But for our part
we should expect the membership Of any
convention called now to be as respecta-
BILE and intelligent as that Of any con-
vention that we have held since 1880.
There would be rivalry between the
counties and cities TO see which could
elect the best and wisest men as dele
gates to the convention. 1t would be-
come q matter Of State pride: of city
and county pride.
by the way, We suppose that the con-
ventIom would be composed Of enc hun
bred MEMBERSHIP number Of members
In the House Of Delegates-and II so It
would be q smaller body than our con.
ventions have usually been. This would
count favorably In the cost. Our readers
know that some Of the opponents Of the
convention make great ado about what
o convention would cost. these same per-
sons being willing to continue govern
mental expenses that are vastly larger
any year than the conventions expenses
would be altogether. A convention OF
one hundred members sitting one hun
dred days and paid per diem of S each
would cost but $4,000 for members per
diem But say that the grand total OF
per diem. mileage. printing. reporting
clerks. etc., would foot UP $4,000 This
would be but trifiing amount In COM
parison to what might be saved by ju'
diclous action on the part Of the con-
vention. The economies which conven-
ton might institute ought to pay Its ex.
penses In one year.
However. the Roanoke conference WISE
BY commits the whole question t. the
. Legislature The Legislature win know
the peoples win and will do II. The
Legislature will know when the Demo
crats OF Virginia are sufficiently united
on this question to justify II In putting
the convention question to the popular
vote. We must move cautiously. Those
who want, to defeat the convention ere
those Who should want to press the Quss-
ton headlong; those who are In favor Of
= eonvsntlon arr those who should de-
mAnd prudence and foresight and that
rir<ning Of public opinion which will
make defeat impossible. Z