Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-12
coNsTrTuTIoN-MAKING

Tho Richmond Dispatch Will not au-
vocate Il convention, because IL Chains
that IL is not a Democratic measure, ho'
having the benefit of the uneduiVocal en-
dorsemcnt Of Democratic state coh'e"
tion.-The Danville Register
II orr state Democratic Convention had
urged the calling OF a constitutional con-
vcntion. we should have yielded our
opinion to that Of our party's representa-
tives. But our State convention. so far
from endorsing the proposition studi-
ously avoided doing so. 1t merely saiu
that the Legislature acted in good faith'
and properly. in submitting the question
N the voters. and then. in effect, leit
each Democrat TO decide for himself
,,botber 10 vote "for" or against a
convention.
We were never better satisfied IMAM
we are now that the Democratic con-
vention acted wisely. While the people
of Virginia are urgent in their demands
for changes in t4.o State Constitution
they are all Eat sea" as TO what those
changes should be. Before we can saiey
undertake to revise our Constitution we
Democrats must first get together and
decide upon the chief changes that we
wish.
West Virginia, which is Republican In
notifies at this time, and Alabama, which
is Democratic, have both abandoned
their purpose Of having constitutional
conventions. and are taking steps to make
the desired changes by the legislative
process. The reason for this is that the
present is not thought to be suitable
time TO secure the services of men who
are highly qualified for the grave and
important work of constitution-makinS'
"The times are out of joint" and we
could not count upon a convention per-
sonnet that would give assurance Of the
framing of a constitution suited to our
requirements for the next quarter of
century. So, rather than take what we
must regard as a great risk, the Dispatch
thinks we would better not vote for
convention on the 9th of May.
In the event that a constitutional con-
vention is not ordered in May. the State
Democratic Convention, which will be
held a few months later, may indicate
what will be the future policy Of the
party The whole subject may be COM
mitted to the Legislature, with the eX-
pressed wish that the wants Of the people
shall be ascertained and embodied into
proper legislative action, or new vote
on calling a constitutional convention
may be insisted upon.
The Dispatch has declared over and
over again that, if political conditions
were normal, instead Of being feverish
and uncertain, as they are. we should
prefer that the work of revising our
state Constitution should be entrusted
TO a constitutional convention, rather
than to the Legislature. But we must
take things as we find them. 1t seems
TO us that we might incur great danger
in ordering constitutional convention
now. Hence. we would rather wait for
further light. Hence, we would rather
wait until public opinion is centered upon
the changes that are needed.
This subject is attracting much atten-
ton. and is being discussed all over the
State. We, therefore, hope that by the
next session of the Legislature the peo-
pie will know better than they do now
what constitutional changes they wish,
and will have so impressed their views
upon members as to leave no doubt that
they win carry out the will of their con-
stituents, as far as it is in their power
to do so.