The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-07-04
CONSTITUTIONAL
''''"''''' CONVENTION.
Doings Of and Sayings IN and About the
Great Virginia Body

The Legislative Committee decided To
recommend that no man who holds a
city or county office shall he eligible to
membership in the Legislature.
The Republican members are standing
close together. IL has been noted that
upon nearly every question that has
come up they have voted ~ unit.
This causes the Democratic members
To think that the Republicans of the
State will vote solidly against the rati-
fcation of the constitution when it ~
submitted to the people.
The committee on retrenchment seem
to thirk it would be n good plan to
begin retrenchment of expenses ut the
top and lop off something from the
governors salary of $1,000 annually,
making it $1,000. The committee also
think of ab0lishing the Office of lieutenant
governor, which pays n modest com
pensatiOn. something ike 5000 n year,
and also the office of second auditor.
The suffrage question. despite the heat,
il the subject of uppermost interest.
President GOode and other leaders do
not think it possible for the committee
having charge Of that matter To make
even partial report within the next I'D
days. Thus far but third OF the -
members of the committee have been
heard from. Chairman Daniel began
with the youngest member and will
continue on up until all of the committee
have been heard. After the expression
of these views the work of examining
all of the propositions submitted will
begin. and il will take some time.
1t was not expected that there would
he the slightest opposition To having the
convention declare the constitution OF
the United States the supreme law OF the
land. Everybody recognizes the Federal
constitution az supreme to the constitu-
ton of the State. and it went without
saying that it was so.
But il is more than likely that the Com
mittee on the Preamble and Bill of Rights
of the constitution will recommend that
the section reciting this fact will report
in favor of striking out the sections
which recite this fact.
Mr.. X. Lindsay Gordon, member from
louisa, appeared before the committee
and made speeches in favor of having
the committee report the section referred
TO.
But the committee refused to recede
from it's former action, although it is un-
derstood that its action is not final.
The question of promulgating the
suffrage question Of the new Constitu-
ton il the leading topic among the
members of that body. There is n
strong sentiment among influential dele
gates in favor of tbs proposition. TX
Congressman J. b. Richmond, of Scott.
made bold speech, in which he warned
the committee against the disiranchse-
ment of the whites. IF you do this,
said he. You will never regret it but
once. and that will he on the day of
election MIR. Lindsay favored pro
claiming the suffrage section<lle wanted
all the negroes possible DISTINGUISHED
and as few whites a. possible. Mr.
Watson. of Nottoway, boldly declared
in favor of the limitation of the negro
vote. He was opposed TO either a
property or poll tax qualification.
Either of these. he claimed, would lose
half of the white votes OF his section The
convention will hereafter have q stand
ing committee of ! / on agriculture.
new resolution on suffrage has been
| nrepared. ID has been suggested by
| some very wise lawyers that the great
| bulk of the negro vote might be dis
| franchised on geographical grounds.
| That is to say, that persons born IN
certain counties or their descendants
should not be entitled TO vote or to hold
office. This is an original proposition,
/ said the member who has written the
resolution. "but the more il is considered
/ the more il commends itself To my mind.
/ We might say in our organic law that
people born in Asia and Nrica and
/ GO, sain islands OF the sea and the descen-
dants of such persons should not he
permitted to vote In this way we
could get rid of the negro, Chinese,
Japanese. and Filipino vote and ! see
nothing in the Federal Constitution to
prevent Ms from adopting such pro
| vision. OF course, some whites, so me
glo-Saxons, il you please, would he
/ DISTINGUISHED, but the number would be
small and we would get rid OF most
undesirable vote.
| MEASURES INTRODUCED.
Mr.. Pedigo, Republican, offered a
measure providing party emblems on
tickets for the guidance OF the unletter
ed.
To provide for working and repairing
public roads by taxation; TO prevent
sale ofliquor within two miles of country
schoOIhOuses. To require persons offer
ing to vote to show that they are o
good character. To regulate. the suffrage
recurring poll tax of 50 and property
qualification. but exempting soldiers anC
sailors. The proposition to strike Tho
word christian" out OF the Bill %
Rights has attracted attention. Thu
sentiment of the leaders in the conyen
ton IL to retain 1t.
That Section Is OF the Bill Of Rights
be amended by striking out the word
Christian" so that the section should
read az follows: Is. That religion OF
the duty which we owe to our Creator,
and the manner of discharging It, can Ii
directed only by reason ana not Dy
force or violence, and, therefore. all men
are equally entitled to the free exercise ol
religion according TO the dictates o
conscience, and that it IS the mutual
| duty of all to practice iorbearance, love
and charity tOw0-d each other" Thai
provision shall be made by general laws
whereby counties, cities and towns may
be authorized to aid and encourage the
establishment of manufactures AND
other enterprises of public utility othel
than railroads within the limits OF saic
counties, cities and towns exemptine
all property used for such purposes iron
local taxation for a period not Longer
than-years. BY MIR. Dunaway, o
Notwithstanding the appropria
ton by the State of public funds TO any
institution not controlled by the State.
Don't Let Them Suffer.
Often children are tortured with itching
and burning eczema and other skin dis
eases. but Bucklen's Arnica Salve heali