The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-25
IN THE FIELD
OF POLITICS
Constitutional Convention is the All
Absorbing Topic.
FOR A RAILROAD COMMISSION.
Leaders Say One Should Be Created.
Convention May Last Six Months.
Boaz and Massey May Come
from Automatic,
FOR A RAILROAD COMMISSION.

The coming constitutional convention
lis the all-absorDins topic in political
circles, and party leaders are busy talk
ing about what the body will probably
do.
Most Of them agree that there should
be a Railroad Commission created for
the State, and that its Numbers should
be chosen by the people.
A Tidewater Democrat of considerable
note shares this opinion. and SO expressed
it to a friend, while in the city a few
DAYS ago. He said the commission should
be composed of five members, and that
they should represent, as far as poflsible,
the different interests in the State He
thought the railroads and the people
should : have their interests property
looked after, and that the commission
should be so distributed as to carry out
this idea. He was of opinion also that
the members should fbe chosen for term
of four years, and that q portion of them
should be elected every two years, SO as
to prevent comb nations.
Democratic leaders who are interest
ing themselves in the work of the coming
Constitutional Convention say that
proposition will be made in that body to
consolidate the spring and fall elections
in Virginia and PROBABLY to hold the cleo
ton for the State Legislature at the same
time the congressman are elected. Un-
der the present arrangement, there is an
important election in Nirginn every fall
and often in the spring. when other
States that have equally as many Of
fcers as Virginia only have elections
biennially. Those who favor this reform
saw there is too much politics IN Virginia
and that Il constant agitation of public
matters tends toward the disturbance OF
business and that there is no good reason
Oh,
when it would at the same time save
money to the State.
MAY LAST SIX MONTHS.
Many prominent convention advocates
express the opinion that the body which
will meet in Richmond next summer to
frame a new organic law for the State
will DE in session at least six months.
They point out the intricate work of
changing the Constitution of great Com
monwealth, and say that never before
were there so many important changes
to be made as will come before the BODY
soon to be chosen.
From present indications the time for
campaign in favor of the adoption of the
Constitution will be very short If 1t is
to be submitted to the people at the fail
election Of 1901
1t is said that the Democrats of Abe
marie and the city OF Charlottesville will
most likely choose Hon. William II. Boaz
and "Parson'' John E. Massey to repre-
sent them in the Constitution Convention,
provided they shall be entitled to two
members under the apportionment.
Mr.. Boaz has served a long time in the
House of Delegates, and is now the chair
man Of the House Committee on Finance.
He and '.Parson' Massie led the fight for
the Convention in Albemarle, and are said
to be the choceaof a large majority of the
voters. It is understood that Mr.. Boaz will
make no canvass, but that his friends ali
over the county are pressing him for the
place. The same is true of Mr.. Massey.
FIGHT FOR STATE OFFICES.
The great fight for the Democratic nom
ination for Governor before the State
Convention next summer is beginning to
warm up all along the lines.
1t promises to be one of the most in
teresting and complicated which has been
fought out in the State for many years.
1t looks as if Acknowledgement Montague
and Congressman Swanson will be the
leaders on the first ballot, but whether
either will be able to reach the plum in the
early stages of the battle is the question,
and in their future to do SO VIII lie the
hope of the other aspirants. The friends
of Colonel R. c. Marshall, OF Portsmouth,
are resenting the suggestion in certain
quarters, that he is running in the inter
est of another candidate and say that he
is in the fight to win and will refuse to
make any alliance whatever with any
other aspirant for the Office. The strug-
gle is going to get warm as it progresses.
Information comes from Lexington that
the friends of Major E. H. Barclay win
insist upon his being a candidate for the
Democratic nomination for Lieutenant
Gnvernor hefOra the State Conven tiOn next
year.