Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-06
CONGRESSMAN JONES.
uE rs FoR LLOYD II. SMITH. ESQ.
ron ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
9E OPPOSES CONVENTION IDEA
pis Reasons for This Position
Judge RheE. OF Bristol. Not N Cam
did"te for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ship-Othcr Notes.

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. April 5.-tspe-
r'al) Representative w. \. Jones. OF the
FIRST District who has been absent for
some time. owing TO the illness OF his
plfe. returned few days ago especially
TO record his vote against the Dngley
tariff bin ] had quite q talk with him on
general subjects and. incidentally. Vlr-
g.nia state politics. His name HIS been
quito prominently mentioned I'm con-
rection with the gubernatorial nomina-
aon. and IL IS generally conceded that had
ne authorized its use he would have
had formidable following throughout
the state. and especially in the eastern
part Of 81.
lie did not wish TO be interviewed upon
this subject. but / feel at liberty to say
that his chief interest In the personnel Of
lhe next Democratic state ticket centres
Ga the attorney generalship. Discuss
.ne this subject he said that the Demo
gratis o. his section Of the State felt that
their claims upon the party had been
long ignored in the makeup OF the
State tickets, but that 1t would not now.
he thought be regarded as unreasonable
by their Democratic brethren in other
sections. IL they insisted upon being ac-
corded one Of the places upon the ticket
20 be nominated this summer.
In addition to his claim that It hal
been many years since a Democratic
nominee had been taken from tho Tide
water portion of the State. Mr.. Jones
:lted the fact that the FaW5t District had
given % larger Democratic majority at
.he last election than any other. and that
nearly one-fourth Of the entire Demo
cratic majority in the State had been
given I'm his district. For these reasons.
De- believes that IL Eastern Virginia pre-
tents d. candidate 90 whom no exception
,an De taken on the score Of party
service qualification. or character. the
convention Will concede the business, as
Nell as the political wisdom, of placing
ais. name upon the ticket.
LLOYD r. SMITH. ESQ.
AS SIS quite well known. Mr.. Jones is
ID earnest advocate OF the nomination of
M Lloyd r.. Smith, of northumberland
county. for The attorney generalship.
Ie said. ia speaking Of Mr. Smith. that
his nomination would add strength TO any
ticket that could be named; that whilst
De had never been candidate for any
political office he had taken an active
and leading part in every State and
national campaign for the past two de-
cades. ana was regarded throughout the
Ilcwatcr section as a speaker of great
force and ability.
Besides having been a member OF the
State Central Committee he has been
The chairman of his party in the First
District Tor number Of years. continued
Mr Jones and it was under his superb
leadership and unsurpassed management
that the Democratic majoriues i'm that
district had steadily been increased. After
having practised for years az the same
bars with Mr. Smith, he said that he felt
no hesitanCy I'm saying that he regarded
him as one of the most accomplished and
hest equipped lawyers with whom he had
ever come IN contact, and that i'm legal
learning and ability he measured fully
lp 20 the high requirements Of the attOr
uey-goneralship; and being IN perfect ac-
cord with his party on all public ques
lions. be thought he would make an ideal
candidate. geographical and political
reasons being given due consideration
When asked as 10 the war record of /
SIR. smith. he said that although but a
youth when the war closed, il was 10 his
everlasting honor that he rode at the
side u the peerless StOnewall jackson
MS tLlEttl courier on lA4dA AtAtAu4
May evening at the Wilderness. and that
She same volley that struck down the
idol of the Confederacy left his boy
courier horscless."
THE CONVENTION QUESTION.
i asked Mr.. Jones what he thought of
the proposition for a constitutional con-
veuti0n. and he replied that after long
and careful consideration of that sub
ject be had come 10 the conclusion that
10 would be a mistake TO call such u con-
venti0n. The Democratic party. and
press. be said. were divided as to the
propriety and desirability Of holding the |
convention. and inasmuch as the party
had declined TO take any position IN re- |
gard TO this most important question. he 1
thought Democrats were making "a mis- /
take when they agitated the subject
There was great diversity of opinion /
too. he said. among the advocates Of /
convention as 20 the objects to be attain /
"a thereby. Some desired TO change our /
judiciary system and reform our county /.
organization. whilst the paramount /
object with others was TO provide !
for an educational qualification, and thus /
restrict the suffrage. He had no doubt /
le said. that our judicial and county sys- /
TENS could be improved upon, but every /
thing that q constitutional convention /
could do I'm this regard could be equally /
far more economically accomplished !
through amendments TO be submitted by |
the Legislature in the manner provided /
for in the present Constitution.
RESTRICTING THE SUFFRAGE
As 20 restricting the suffrage. Mr. Jones 1
said he was opposed TO any educational /
qualification as a prerequisite to the right /
20 vote. He regarded educational, as /
Nell as property tests, OF the right to /
vote as un-Democratic, and. besides, said /
ie any advantage which might accrue 20 4
he Democratic party by the adoption of /
IN educational qualification would be OF /
b most temporary character, and sooner |
Or later would bring disaster upon the 4
,arty Most OF the young negroes in his
lection be said could read and write,
md they constituted the most disOrderly. /
nprovident, and Objectionable element OF
heir race The older members Of that
ace were by far the most law-abidng
ma conservative and entertained more
friendly feelings for the white people.
and they were. generally speaking, en-
irely without education, and would be
y the main the only negroes who would
% affected by the adoption Of an educa-
donal test.
There were many reasons, he said, why
Be was opposed TO "a convention. but these
Eere. I'm his opinion. sufficient to justify
ais position Many Of the most substan-
ial and best citizens Of his section. men
Hho had fought the battles Of the Con
.8eracy. and who had been answering
20 their support OF the Democratic party,
would have this most deeply cherished and
most wisely exercised right taken from
. ,.af staNf fi.4fi a