Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1900-12-05
LEGISLATURE
AND
CONTENTION

eff we could order it SO, we would
have the Legs ure abstain from all
zen Ia, Ie islation at its coming extra
session. But we haven't that power,
and those who have it-to-wit, the
members will hardly agree to tie their
own hands. This may not be salts
factory view to take, but it is the one
found d upon the probabilities of the
case.
"The act OF Assembly making pro-
vision r aid to disabled veterans and
inMge widows Of veterans quite
surely vii have to be amended, and a
fur Der app opriation voted to carry 1t
Mt thus beginning will be made.
Neyer,ne tss, a strong public opinion
against raising the food-gates entirely
cannot but have some effect. If we
cannot hope 10 gain all we wish, let's
work to gain all we can. In this case
wha the pubic prays to be delivered
from is another thousand-page volume
of the Ac,s CT Assembly. Nor do We
think the constitutional convention will
accept the suggestion made, that it
should meet, organize, and deal with
the suffrage question, aud then git
out
eff the Virginia Democrats do not
wish thoroughly to revise and amend
the Underwood Constitution they are
the veriest humbugs that have been
seen in American politics this half
century. For thirty years we have
denounced theUnderwood Consultation.
Ali that time we have said we should
like t, get our hands upon it. Now
We have that opportunity, yet some say
that the convention should do as little
as possible and quickly adjoarnl In
the first place, the convention is not
gciug to do any such thing. In the
second place, if it were to dodge its
duty in that way, it would surprise and
mortlfv the people so that the Q would
Immediately be a new movement for
rev convention.
"The convention he's been ordere
for :he express purpose of revising and
amending the State Constitution, 1t
will have to go through every chapter,
section and line. What it does not
approve it must amend or strike out.
What is lacking it must supply, 1t
d es no follow that members are ex-
pected rip and slash right and left
through the Constitution No; not
that, but it will be their duty to weigh
eac provision of the Constitution and
carefully consider whether it can be
improved or not.
"The convention movement was
movement of the people rather THAI OF
the leaders, and the people ere still
bshiud it"
We hea tily endorse the above edito-
rial which we clip from the Riehmond
Dispatch Of November 27th. While
we oppose the call for the extra ses
sion of the Legislature on the ground
of the great expense to the Common
wealth, and, regarding 1t as the most
vital question which the citizens Of this
State have had to deal with since the
war, we believed then, and do so now,
that nothing would have been lost by
allowing this matter to remain over to
be dealt with by the incoming General
Assembly of 1901, The question of
constitutional revision, or what is better.
tie framing OF a nav Constitution
outright, is one of great MON ent to
the people Of this State without re gard
to politics. We have lived tor nearly
thlftv-two years under an instrument
which was framed and fastened upon
us by aleus, and not made or adopted
by the free will of natives to the manor
borT. We think that it is the duty Ct
the Legislature to place the machinery
in motion for the holding of the con-
ven,ion, md then adjourn. We are
opposed 10 taking up general .egisla-
ton