The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-25
MAKE TIL; BILL, CLEAR.

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Whether there shall be constitutional
convention or whether there shall not be
is a question upon which all men may
fairly differ But whether the fundamen-
tai law shall be observed in determining
whether there shall or chall not be one
is a matter upon which there can be no
division at all.
The constitution of the State provides,
in its twelfth article, as fellows:
LAT the general election to be held in
the year 1855, and in each twentieth year
thereafter, and also at such time as the
General Assembly may by law provide,
the question Shall there be conven-
ton to revise the constitution-and amend
the same?' shall be decided by the cleo
tors qualified to vote for members of the
General Assembly, sc.
The proceedings in the Senate on Thurs
day last are thus reported in the news
papers:
At l o'clock the Senate took UP the
constitutional convention resolution, the
debate recurring upon motion made by
Mr.. Wickham just prior to adjournment
Wednesday, that the vote by Which the
bill had been ordered to its ensrossment
be reconsdered.
Mr.. Watkins and Mr.. Opie spoke briefly.
The former thought that it would be an
easy matter for the two sides TO get to-
gethcr He wished the vote to be recon-
sidered IN order that an amendment might
be offered which would be satisfactory
to all concerned.
The motion to reconsider the vote pre-
vailed. and then Judge Mann offered an
amendment providing that the ballot used
should contain at the head the name of
the county or city and date of the cleo
ton. Then there should be blank space
Of not less than bne inch at the bottom
on which should be the line, For a Con-
stitutional Convention
In speaking to his amendment, Judge
Mann said his chief reason for wishing a
constitutional convention was to secure
perfectly fair election in Virginia. He
thought his amendment would accomplish
the purpose.
There was some debate on the proposed
amendment, and then Mr.. Keezell pro-
posed to amend by requiring that the
words. For Constitutional Convention"
should be printed on the ballots on which
are the names of candidates for county
or municipal offices, the line to be at
least one inch below any other printing
On the ballot.
The amendment was adopted without
opposition. Mr.. Barksdale moved the
pending question: It was ordered. and the
vote on the substitute resulted as follows:
Ayes-Senators Barksdale Bruce, Clay
tor. Donohoe. Eggleston. Flood. Glass.
Cold Hartley. Johnston, LeCato, Lup-
ton, LYLE Mann. McIlwaine, Opie, Stands.
ST. Clair Tate. Tyler. Walker. Wallace
and Watkins-23.
Noes-Senators Cogbill, Dinwiddie, Eos
ter James. Jeffcies. Keezell. Massie. Nor
r!s. N1unford, Steele and Wickham-11.
The vote was 23 ayes to II noes.
Now, it is plain that the constitution
intends that the question shall be dis
tinctly put to the people, "Shall there be
a convention to revise the const itution
and amend the same?" while the bill
will require each person who casts one
for a constitutional convention unless he
crosses out the words For a Constitu-
tional Convention which, under the
mysteries and subtletics of the Walton
words, instead of the distinct choice the
constitution intends each voter to have,
whether there shall or shall not be
convention, many are to be coerced into
misled as to what they are voting for.
The General Assembly will hardly carry
out the spirit OF the constitution in pass
Ing the bill in this form
The Legislature should follow the terms
of the constitution.