Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-10-05
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

The convention has the right of
way-its work we hope will stand
fora generation-and everything else
should be put aside for it.
Yet-yet-what's the use of hold
ing convention unless it is to be
composed of men who heartily favor
the retrenchment and reforms pro-
posed Richmond Dispatch.
Congress put the South in charge
of the carpet-baggers, and it con-
fesses now that it committed the
crime of the century, and blundercd,
to its own shame. 1t is time to fetch
out the Constitution" that it NAV
be 'purged" of the amendments. y
alt will hurt?" OF course. it will.
When the official comes with soap,
sand, scrubbing-br brush, deordorizing
huids, to remove nuisance from the
records of republic, kingdom, or
church, 1t is not a ''picnic" to the
authors of the offensive ''re solved"
Justice, health, self-respect, demands
the lustration. Cautery is the only
cure for persistent swelliDgs of pus..
Richmond Christian AdCocate.
There is much premature burning of
powder in regard to the mode of fixing
representation in the proposed Cousti
tutional Convention. In our opinion,
next to General Johnsous suggestion of
calling in outsiders to make the laws
which they will not have TO live under.
The most preposterous proposition is TO
elect delegates by congressional districts.
NO better plan occurs to US now than the
acceptance of the House of Delegates as
a basis of representation. That will do
justice 10 all sections and will provide a
convention neither too large nor too
small-7he Petersburg Inter. AppeaL.
The man who can propose better
basis than the House basis is vet to
be heard from. But rs supplemental
to that basis, we find many very
thoughtful men who would like to see
some delegates elected from the
State at large-say, five, seven, or
nine. or some mum Der other than ten.
which would too readily fit into the
Congressional district grooves. But
to have delegates at large we should
have to have Democratic State con-
vention irst.-Richmond Dispatch.
In commenting upon an editorial
in the fredericksburg Free Lance
about the attitude of prominent pol
Itlcians in this District towards the
Convention matter the Newport News
Telegram has this to say:
III the conclusions reached by our con-
temporary are correct the Democrats of
the section referred TO should revise
themselves and get into harmony with
the Democratic party of the State. In
tue meantime we see no reason why the
office trust" adherepts should be allow
ed TO punish the men who were favorable
TO the Constitutional convention. IL has
been shown beyond cavil that an over.
whelming majority of Democratic voters
favor the convention. These voters
should stand up for their champions and
save them from punishment a; the hands
of disgruntled and self-seeking politi.
clans who are afraid of losing sinecures
through the action of the convention"
And the Charlottesville Progress
expresses similar thought.
'Since the Democratic party has de-
clared overwhelmingly In favor of Con-
convention, it is rather a dam
gerous game TO attempt to punish those
Democrats who favored such conyen.
ton and who earnestly supported the
measure. The least said and done along
this line the better for the Democratic
party"
Unless the control of the conven.
ton De put into the hands of its rec
ognjzed friends its work will be not
only disappointment, but the cause
of vast popular indignation. The
Democratic party has put its hands
to the pillow and it must not look back.
Dispatch.