Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-22
Warm Debate on Question Of Call
Ing Constitutional Convention
wicKHAM AMENDMENTS
Ito Pleads FOR Fairness in Matter OF
Ballot for tho pcopis-Mr. RUNS
ford Sound. n Note or wnrning-9
sen"so Passes scaboard Air Lines
Charter Bili-Conroronce Commit.
tco on Lnna Grabbers Bill.
Especial to virglnian- Pilot.l

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Richmond. Va. Feb. 2t.-The Joint
resolution providing for submitting to
the people on the fourth Thursday i'm
May next the question of calling n COM
stitutional convention came UP in the
Senate as the special order to- day. Mr..
Barksdale's pure elections bill being
again side-tracked.
The subject, as had been expected n;
developed a most interesting debate.
and an attempt was made to amend
the resolution.
THE FIRST MOVE.
The first move came from Senator
WicKham, who offered an amendment
providing for the placing on the BALI
lots the words against convention" as g
well as for convention" He said the /
resolution as offered by Senator Flood I
made provision for printing the words
against convention" on the ballot
The white people of the State OF Vir-8
ginia, he said loved fair play and ife
there should be a convention held unders
vote MS provided for in the bill there
would have to be explanations down
the corridors of time. 1t was argued,
that person opposed to the convention
could strike out the words for conven-g
tion." But tile law would not ba
printed on the ballotsy The white peo-
of unfair dealing 4:
MIR. FLOOD REPLIES.
Mr.. Flood replied to MT. twickhams inss
an emphatic and somewhat vehement
speech. He said if there was anything
unfair In the bill 1t was to meet an un-
fair provision in a constitution forced
upon the people by a crowd of negroes
led py. gang of carpet bagyer5. Ho /,
did not believe. however, that the most
critical mind could find anything unfair
In the bill. Should MFR, Nyickham,s 4
amendment be adopted every person
who votes votes for or against the con-
vcntion. If voter should not take the
trouble to mark his ballot at all hissi
vote would be counted against the con-
vention. This was not fair to the people,
who wanted to adopt new constitu-4s
ton. Under the bill in it's present
pie matter to strike out the words for
convention" 81
MORE OPPOSITION
Senator Tyler made an eloquent adj
dress against the proposed amendment
contending that the original was fairer
to the voters than the substitute
A TRICK.
Senator Munford was opposed to the
provision in the bill placed there by the
not afford to provide any method for
taking the vote that was calculated to-
arouse even 4 Snspicion= Of q scheme to
trick the voters. X:
While Mr.. Munford was speaking he 4
was Interrupted by Mr. JVlckham. Who
reminded the Senate that the measure \
approved by the Democratic caucus
made provision for u vote for andS
against the convention.
Mr. AIunford said 1t was useless fore
any Ole TO say that the Democratic
party was absolutely secure. In 1896 the i
Democratic majority dropped from &c.,
00o 10 less than 10000. Many OF the
strongest white counties went Republic
can. In the face OF this the Senate I
should be careful to do no act that
could be used as ammunition by thels
Democratic adversary. ~
Senator Lupton addressed the Senate
in favor OF the amendment adopted bY17
the committee. He denied that the peo-sS
pie OF the lower Valley wantvl the cons
vention for the purpose of disfranchis4 !
ing any voters. He declared that inS
Fredericksburg county the elections
were just as fair as 1t was possible to 4
make them. Every person qualified to
vote was permitted to do so, and every
vote was counted as cast. ls
Senator Barksdale spoke In favor OF
the Wickham amendment, and took oc-
casion to pay tribute to the Democ-E.
racy OF his county. He characterized
the committees amendment as n trick
to deceive the voters. sk
Senator Flood resented such a chars4
acteriZation of the measure, and said
Mr. Barksdale had voted for the amend-g'
ment In the committee.
Mr. Barksdale said he had done so
to keep the committee from reporting
an infinitely worse amendment, which
was one to require the voter opposed /
Continued on Page g. 3
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