The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-12-07
To Frame Constitution hy..WhIch Negroes
viii Be Distrauchlssd.
GOV. TYLER IN FAVOR OF MOVEMENT.
He Says That Ills Charged Thai Votes Are Bought
and Sod in Virginia Like 0hsr Commodities.
Statement as 10 Truss.

Richmond, Va, Dec. The most sig
nificant measure offered at the opening
OF the Virginia Legislature yesterday
was that proposing TO call constitu-
tional convention. The bill provides
for submitting 10 the voters OF the
state In May, 1901, the question OF as
sembling "A constitutional convention.
The primary object of tnis body is 10
eliminate the negro vote. The import
ance, AZ not the absolute necessity, OF
doing this is now conceded by the aDlest
and most conservative Democratic
leaders In Virginia.
rwo years ago the most violent OPP
ponents OF convention were the
friends OF the railroads and other cor
porations by whom the dominant party
in Virginia were never forgotten when
campaigns were to be fought The
representatives, OF these see now that
sentiment is rapidly crystalliZng In IA =
vor OF convention and that il VIII
be useless % throw any further obsta-
Cles In it's way.
GOV. Tyler, in his message also
recommends the calling OF such body,
or radically amending the constitution
by other means. The most significant
recommendation. and one which is like
iy to have an important bearing upon
this subject. is that in which the eXecu-
tive says IL is charged that votes are
bought and sold in Virginia like other
commodities. The governors sugges-
tions on this point Will only tend 10
arouse the sentiment in favor of re-
stricting the suffrage in Virginia.
Mr.. Patterson OF Richmond proposes,
ne says, to introduce in the House a
bill along the line foreshadowed here.
The object of the bill" said Mr.. Pat
M "A nf no. ip-
norant, illiterate negro vote. | think it
viii be great thing for our state to
get rid of that vote as far as possible
in a Legitimate way. Such a measure
will enable us 10 divide on economic
measures, and discuss questions other
than white supremacy. because then
in my opinion, white supremacy would
be assured" ~
In the course OF his message. Gov.
Tyler says in regard TO trusts: Char
tered companies are the creatures of
the state Legislatures. They get their
rights TO exist fro msuch bodies as your
own. while at the same time the chan
nsls of their operations and the ex-
penditure Of their energies are marked
out for them by your hands. You have
the power, not only to create such or
ganizations yourself, but also to regu-
late the way in which the corporations
created by other state Legislatures
shall conduct their business in the state
OF Virginia.
Il would suggest that YOU enact laws
for the violation of which penalties
be attached in clear terms. Among
these criminal acts | would place the
use OF money. by contribution or other
wise. in elections or primaries: falls, re-
turns OF taxable values. the publishing
OF false financial Statements by officers
or the directors illegal combina tions TO
oppress weak competitor and drive
him from business. These strike mo as
being practical suggestio ions and n they
VIII not solve the so-called trust aues-
tion, they viii az least put wholesome
restraints upon them"