Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-11-20
lCommunicatedJ
Norfoik's Representatives In the
constitutional Convention.
TO the Editor of the Virginian-Pilot:


10 the Editor of the Virginian- Pilot:
The future of the city OF Norfolk is in
in ,.y respects inseparably connected
with mat OF Virginia at large Each
municipality is but an arm of the State
government, deriving all it's powers
from the Legislature of the State and
dependent upon that body for the an
thority IL eXercises-its charter can be
wei salu TO be merely held at the will
E ~ sie Htate. Just as the municipality
10 dependent upon the LIE. islaf hre. so
IN turn. the Legislature is in manv re,
spects restrained and controlled by a
sun hlgher power, viz: the will of the
peopie as expressed in the CONSTITUTIONS
OF the state. Thus it will be seen that
.ne CONSTITUTION of a State is all-im-
portant not only to the Legislatura
one of the highest arms of the govern
Ineht. put also to each subordinate and
local branch which draws its life blood
from the same Constitution through tbc
legislature as an intermediary. The
constitution of a State Is It's organic
AVA written instrument arreed
upon by the people of a State nc 10
aDsoiute rule of action and decision for
all departments and officers of the pov-
erhinent-and It's Importance to each
locaiity OF a State Is unmeas,,rea b1e
T.. is impossible TO set forth in an arti-
Gle or this character what II meops to
the City of Norfolk-what II shall CON
tam In respect to the rate of taxatIon
III respect to the form OF munfcinaI
government, in respect to the powers n
city snail possess. in respect to the ex-
erclse of the right of suffrage. in re-
Spect TO the authority OF a municipal
legislature the City Councils and ali
It's other officers and In respect to hun
ureus OF other matters-too many for
notice here. But enough is plain TO
snow that Norfolk Is vitality interested
IN the coming Constitutional Conyen-
ton to be held in Virginia so much
Interested Indeed that her citizens
should see to 1t that she exercise q
large measure of influence therein.
Whether this influence shall be had
depends upon the character and calibre
OF the men the city sends as her rem
rcsen'atives thereto. They should be
men or character, sense and integrity.
conservative and yet progressive. learn
ed and yet practical, possessed Of ex
perlence in the every day affairs of life
and yet active to n degree not found
among men of advanced age: and
above all men In whom implicit re-
lance may be placed to see the right
and do it. 1t Is fair to presume that n 9
many persons possessing these reoui-
sites can be found In Norfolk as in
other cities of its population in the
State. One such out Of that number
the writer wishes to suggest for con-
Sideration by our citizens and with
that end In view he names Mr. John
II. Jenkins. He possesses to the full
all the qualifications set forth above.
and as one of Norfolk's delegates to
the Constitutional Convention he would
reflect not only credit upon himself.
but also exercise that high degree of
influence In its councils that is never
accorded the mere mouth-piece of polit-
ical cliques or tho representatives of
mere private interests. IIe Is n native
of this city and his unsullied character
guarantees his faithfulness to the in
terests of Norfolk and her citizens. and
IT can be we'll said that her citizens can
make no mistake in thus honoring
themselves and one whose life has been
spent in their midst CIVIS