Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1900-12-07
CON KENTI0N PROBLEMS.
Some Great Questions for ITS
Consideration.
Roanoke rimcs.l

tiht hh~ Deen seen Cnero In many
years. Nearly every business con-
Germ will have it's representative on
hand to plead with those who will
frame the.Dew organic law to keep
out of it any provision that would
tend to cripple Legitimate corpora
tions. The Office holders will be well
represented, for the matter of reduc-
ing the number of public positions is
one that is going to attract much
attention. Many who have no direct
personal interests in the work of the
body will attel to listen to the
debates for many of the braniest
men in the State will sit in the con
vention.
No one can safely forecast what
abe convention will do, but there are
three or four subjects of grave im-
portance that will have to be dealt
with. The first of these is the CUES
ton of suffrage. The Democratic
policy is TO require a voteu to be
able to read aud write, but to
disfranc hise no person who had
right to vote before the Underwood
constitution went into effect, nor the
descendants of any such person.
This provision would enable any il
hterate white person to continue to
exercise the right of suffrage. 1t is
not expected, as a matter of course,
that the convention will be anything
like unanimous in its action in this
matter, but 1t is quite certain that
the new organic law will disfranchise
large number Of ignorant colored
people who have hitherto been quail
fed voters.
The convention will, it is believed
be very conservative in dealing with
corporate interests. There is no dis.
position manifested to take any steps
that would enable the legislature to
pass laws that would tend to hurt
business interest. The new organic
law will, it Is generally believed, be
such "A one as to encourage outsiders
to come into this State and invest
their money without fear of legisla-
t'on that would be harmful to their
interests. At the same time, the
convention will seek to guard and
protect the rights Of labor.
The separation of the school taxes
raif by the two races will be a subject
that will attract much attention, and
1t Il likely to bring out the most ex-
citing debates with the exception,
perhaps, Of those on the suffrage
question. Many of the Democratic
leaders have long advocated applying
all the school taxes paid by the
whites to the education of the white
children. Yet there are prominent
men in the pan ty who are unalterably
opposed to this proposition. On
the one hand it Is contended that the
whites ought not to spend money to
make Republican votes, while the
other faction insists that the educa
ton of the negro makes hin a better
ca lzen. 1t is argued that those who
C unit the nameless crime are in
nearly every instant the most ignorant
Of their race.
ust what may be done as to re-
dNc,ng the number of offices no one
go. IL in advance. This will be a
s''lous consideration to the delega. es
Here is no doubt, however. that the
offices will be largely reduced with a
view TO cutting down expenses. There
VIII not be TO many judges, and
those who preside over the courts
viii, no doubt, as the result of the
reduction receive larger salaries. 1t
Is quite likely that the Offices of the
treasurer and sheriff will be combined
and there Is much talk of having only
one commemorative attorney for
each senatorial district, or for dis
tricts to be arranged by the conven-
ton.
There will be many men OF promi
hence in the convention. Some of
those spoken of are Senators Daniel
and Martin, harry st. George Tuck.
or, John Goode, VIM. Z. Cameron.
Chas. NJ. Blackford, Judge James
Keith, Eppa Hunton, Jr., Walton
Moore, Chas. V. Merridth, A. p. |