Evening star., 1900-04-11
TO BE MADE PARTY ISSUE
QUESTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL CON-
vENTIoN IN VIRGINIA.
once Holders a Rule Will Oppose
the Measure-what fs
Involved.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

cPeNlsi toFrespohuence OF Inc Evening star
RICHMOND. Va. April 10. 1907.
The question that is attracting the most
attention in Virginia politics now is The
proposed constitutional convention. Few
of the democratic leaders have committed
themselves Senators Daniel and Martin.
most OF the representatives and Governor
Tyler have no. spoken.
The caucus Of the democratic members
OF the general assembly decided TO make
this party issue The bill providing for
submitting to the voters on the fourth Ned
nesday in next May the question of calling
a convention 10 amend the constitution
Passed the legislature by strict party
vote. but the caucus, OF course. has no right
to bind the voters
IT was due largely to the fact that tho
vote is to be taken upon this proposition
that the state democratic convention was
called TO meet early as May 3. II will
assemble in Norfolk. This body is en-
pected to decide whether or not the consti-
tCtional convention shall be made party
issue. II is apparent already that IL will
indorse the action Of the democratic caucus
dozen or more counties have already
elected delegates, and the most OF them
have approved of the convention scheme.
The others have remained silent.
Next Legislature to Arrange Details.
Should the people in May vote to order
Ahc lue ltSlSldluTc, II seems
now, will not be called to meet in extra ses-
sion to make arrangements for holding it.
1t is generally thought that It would be
unwise and impolitic to deal with the de-
tails of the convention in a presidential
election year. 1t is very likely that ii Will
be left to the general assembly to be elected
next year to provide for the holding of tho
convention, that is, the fixing of the time,
place of meeting and the apportionment of
the state for delegates. No mater what
the action of the democrats at Norfolk
may be, II is exceeding doubtful that tho
convention will be ordered
The county and the city officials, as a rule.
are working hard to defeat the movement.
They have a personal interest in the mat.
ter. One of the arguments advanced IN
favor of a change Of the organic law is thar
there are too many office holders. 1t ID
pretty well understood in advance that II
a constitutional convention is held many
of the county officials will be dispensed
with. There will be fewer judge. the posi-
tons of sheriff and treasurer will be CONS
bined, the state Will be apporuoned into
districts and instead OF there being a COM
monwealth's attorney for every county ah6
city one Will be elected in each district
All of this being we'll understood In advance
many officials who fear they will be leg1s-
lated out Of office are actively at work in
fighting the convention scheme.
Argument for the Convention.
The principal argument advanced in IA.
vor of the convention is that the organic
law should be SO changed as to restrict
suffrage. There is no concealmsnt of the
fact that in some parts Of the state Ques-
tionable methods have had to bs rssorted to
in order to keep colored men from being
elected to offlce. A change In the constitT-
ton. it is argued, would make these prac-
tices complained Of unnecessary, as a large
number Of negroes would be disfrsnchised.
On the other hand. some of the democrats
say that any provision that would make ap
illiterate negro ineligible to vote would dis.
qualify a large number of white democrats
in the mountain regions Of the state.
The situation, to say the least is such
to perplex the party leaders, and there
is no great surprise expressed over their
failure to rapidly go into print in approval
of the convention scheme.