The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-09-24
CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION
NOW IN SESSION AT THE STATE
CAPITAL.
Many Important Measures introduced.
The Proceedings from Day
to Day.
ANOTHER SENSATIONAL DAY.
a Newspapers Criticism Of the Pre-
siding Officer Of the Convention

dlcate Governor Eyars. president OF the con-
ventior. from the charge Of wilfully misstat-
ing the vote on resolution Monday last,
= and there was another sensational session in
consequence. Things were lively from start
to tlnisn. and particularly when Senator TILL
man made one Of his hottest speeches, point
ing bis finger at Editor Gonzales, who was
on the floor Of the hall until the vote had
been taken and the amended Patterson reso-
luton had been passed bya vote Of 1913 to 2S
1t was matter Of great public interest and
the galleries were filed with spectators from
the time the days proceedings were opened
until the hcai vote was taken about3 o'clock
in the afternoon. Aside from this matter
there was 70 other feature Of the days ses-
sion, though great many ordinances and
resolutions Of more OF less importance we're
presented near the close OF the days ses-
sios.
Mr.. Patterson presented a substitute for
his resolution introduced yesterday. which
concluded as follows
s:Resolved, First that said editorial state
ment is unsupported by facts. Senator Irby
having announced upon the floor Of the con-
vention that the announcement OF said vote
by the president wc-s correct, and as SAD
editorial is refe :tion upon the honesty and
integrity Of the :esident OF this convention,
and an insult to this body, be it
''Resolred, Second that the convention
desires to express its entire confidence IN the
integrity, honesty and fairness of our presi-
dent, the Hon. John Gary Evans, and we do
hereby declare the statement in the aforesaid
editorial TO bc unsustsined by the facts and
untrue.
''Rssolved, Third, That We consider the
editorial in question an abuse Of the privilege
granted to the press in admitting its mem
bers to the floor Of the convention
Mr. Patterson made quite a speech on the
resolution, saying it was rebuke thar they
owed 70 tho people to make. Tney. rs a
convention, had right to revoke the pfiv-
ileces granted the press and could punish
for coStempt. but this he refrained from
urging because he did not wish the writer
of the defamatory article to appear as
nartvr Let it not go on the world that
they sustained the charges made against their
president he called upon them to -renuke
the SANDER.
Col. Aidrich offered the,-followiRg as an
amendment to Mr.. Patterson's resolutions to
-~hs substituted tor the third resolution:
That tts9e Said newspaper, the State, has
abused the privileges allowed to the press
by this convention. and that Tor the oalancs
Of the session its Representatives be denied
admission to the floor Of the convention. and
that the sergeart-at arms be charged with
the enforcement Of resolution.
Col. Aldrich in his speech said they all
knew that the elevating influence exercised
on society by the press was gone. They all
knew that in the morning when they saw
something in paper OF q sensational! aRo
defumatory nature they never even bothered
themselves to find out if it was true or not.
Anv honest man. particularly their president,
could afford not 10 notice it at ali. his I'M
pulse would have been not to notice it at all.
The paper had abused the privilege given 1t
and the cnly legitimate thing for them to do
was to cut of that privilege. that the con
vention had given it. The representatives, 81
the press were granted the privilege 10 SIT
there ard report the proceedings Of tn" cor
veutiqu for the benefit Of the !ubllc ano lor
their orrn ffnancia! advancement, so long az
thcv behaved themselves. When the nrivii-
eses We're abused the only thing the conven-
tion could do was to put them cut.
A strong speech was made by Ex-Governor
Sheppard against the Patterson resolution.
in Which he stated that Col. Aldrich's resolu
ton should not be adopted. because the re
OF the paper on the aoor had de-
rneaned himself as a gentleman and fur
nished fair and full reports. He had no OBJ
lection to re-afirmins mis- confidence in the
president and thought it we'll.
MANY speeches were made Oh both sides.
some taking the position that il stating that
the second vote bore out what 1t was claimed
the first vote was. it was requiring them to
swear what they knew was not true,
although the president h2G been honestly
mistaken in announcing it. Many were op-
posed to the convention taking any notice
Of it. Mr. Adrich's resolution was tabled.
Senator Tillman made one Of his hottest
speeches. drawing the factional lines, and
saying that it was not personal matter.
where you could 50 frail a man with stick.
Pointing to Editor Gonzales But such
things are beneath the dignity Of that gen
tlernan over there. who has dished out more
hell-fre and dainnation in this State than
has come from any mouth save mine Mr..
Gonzales smiled and bowed ironically. Fac
tional feeling was there; it was cropping out
on all sides. He jumped tn Conservative
members. Governor Sheppard later resent
ed the motives imputed to himself and other
Conservatives.
4 viva voice vote was finally taken. Till
man demanded the roll call. The Patterson
resolution was adopted 10y a vote OF 1913 to
%, some ten or twenty members having their
reasons for their votes spread on the journal.
Later lUlNaQ GpOioSILcu ~ t1lO COASSI "a
tive members for the language he had used
in regard to their motives. saying that their
arguments had appeared specious to him.
During the day a petition was received
from the State ". c. T. O., asking the con-
vention to raise the age OF consent from l0tc
13 years.
Mr. Kiugh. ofAhbeville, offered thefollow-
ing: That the General Assembly shall make
ample provision for the maintenance Of pub
lie roads and shall levy annually capita
ton tax not exceeding one dollar and fifty
cents on each person liable to road duty and
also a tax on vehicles which shal be kept
and used exclusively for the construction
. and repair Of the public roads IN the county
sS&sEhe-ein such tax is collected. PROVIDED,
sshat any persons so taxed shall n1Te tne
|ssssssS,ht to commute his capltar1cn ROAD tax
ssEh work on publts roads.
:sssr 6. P. McKagen offered the following:
at no Senator or Representative during
SssSsk kern for which be shall have been elected
:sl be appointed or elected to any c!Tl Of
sssss@ of profit or trust under the State.
J. C. OTIS offered the following: THAT
gang shall be established IN every
s$ycunty IL the State; provided, That tbs
gssectioo shall not preren: two or more coGH-
ties from consolidating their respective
chain gangs.
Mr.. j. c. Otis offered the following: "Thst
the Legislature shall have the right to license
.!:e carving OF concealed weapons under
such regulations as may be prescribed sy
law"
N?. Otis also offered the following: FeTbss
no minor cr person under twenty-ooe yeas
Of age snail be required to perform Soss SS