Evening star., 1896-12-26
VIR G INlA POLlTICS
An Election to Determine the Holding Of
Constitutional Convention.
What Representative Otey Say. on the
subtect-GOssip About the Next
Governor and Legislature.

Virginia people are beginning to take A
good deal OF interest in the elections 10 be
held next year, despite the fact that they
are good ways OF. The first of these
elections takes place on the fourth Thurs
day In May. II is a special election 20 de-
termine whether there shall be a consti,u-
uonal convention. At that time eacn voter
Will say whether he is In favor Of a consti-
tutional convention being held. IL a ma
Jority Of the votes is In favor OF a conven.
ton, that means that the constitution of
the state, especially TO suffrage cualif-
cauons, VIII be materially changed II is
oehe'ed that majority of the regular
democrats Of the state are in favor OF this
convention. The large majority of the re-
pubiicans are opposed to ii, and a majority
OF the gold democrats are said 10 ne on
posed 10 IT. On the day fixed Cor this elac-
uoi .r d huniner or the counties throughout
'he state VIII elect county officers
For Governor and Ieut.lature
In November next an election for gov
ernor and members of the ieeislat,.re win
De heid. Ihis election will De full OF inter-
est. A number of candidates for the recu-
lar democratic gubernatorial nomination
are already being talked Of, and several az
them. 1t is said, will make the figb, for IN,
nomination. Among the most prominent
men In the state now mentioned for uon,-
Eauon are Representative w A Homes
representative Otey ex-Mayor Ellyson OF
hichmond and Col. Hoge Tyler who was
strong candidate against Gov O'Ferrau
IN the last nominating convention So far
the race for the United States senatorship
seems to be entirely one sided Senator
Daniel will be the only candidate NM for
ward ny the regular democrats If there il
any opposition to him IL will come from the
repuhIcans or from the republicans and
gold democrats combined The belief of
the regular democrats, however is that tn
the state elections next year the gold DEM
ocrats will stand with their old party asso-
ciates ana VIII enter into no combination
with the republicans. They will il is said
or at least many OF them vote for mem
hers of the legislature who will support
Senator Daniel. State pride and the ties
which SO closely bind the people of the old
commonwealth will induce them to do This.
Representative Otey's Views.
Talking about the election on the cues
ton of the constitutional convention Rep
resentauve otey, who is one of the most
prominent members In Congress from Viz
ginia, said TO a Star reporter:
Il am in favor of the constitutional con-
vention. because it is absolutely necessary.
The present constitution was adopted in
1863, and is known as the Underwood con-
st1tution, sometimes called the offspring OF
the 'black-and-tan' convention of that year
Besides the objectionable features which
still exist in this constitution, there were
disfranchlsing clauses and other objection
able features SO unjust that Gen. Grant d.
rected that vote should be taken sep
arately on these clauses, Virginia then be-
ing district No. /, under military rule.
When submitted to the people these clauses
were defeated, but many Objectionable fea-
lures relating to franchise. public schools.
expenses of the state government, etc.
still left. Those who favor constitutional
convention desire these features eliminated.
Under the present constitution We cannot
have d fair Australian ballot system for
our state elections, being obliged, under the
constitution, to depart from the secrecy OF
the ballot by permitting some one to 90 in
to booths with voters who do not under
stand how to mark their ballots.