Evening star., 1901-06-14
Good Results Expected Of Virginia
Constitutional Convention.
MANY AGAINST DISFRANCHISEMENT
Probability of Change in Election
of u. S. Senators.
THE GUBERNATORIAL FIGHT
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

convention now sitting in Richmond is
of the abIest bodies of the kind that
ever assembled in this state. 1t is almost
impossible at this time to forecast any re-
suits of Importance from the body as the
convention has not yet got down to real
business. Judging from the personnel of
the body however. it is safe to say that
the work of the convention will be gratify-
Ing to the state of Virginia.
The correspondent of The Star today as
certained that one of the most important
subjects to come up before the body will
be the question of electing United States
Senators by a direct vote of the people.
The sentiment In this state for such a
method dates back to about two years ago,
when the May convention was held in this
city. as result of desire on the part of
large number Of patriotic citizens who
beiieNvd that this was the solution of a
problem which had long agitated the politi-
cal elements in Virginia. and which when
once solved. would bring about a marked
Improvement in the condition Of affairs in
Virginia 1t Is a notable fact that men
who took conspicuous part in this move
mtnt are today among the recognized lead
ers in the constitutional convention now as
sembed. When the MAY convention met
there were many who were inclined to
throw cold water on the movement. The
opposition was composed chiefly of party
politicians who had for years had things
to suit themselves and did not wish the
balance Of power to go out of their hands
Same Men In Two Conventions.
When a casual observer walks into the
convention hall today he notes the fact
that the men who took the lead in the May
convention are today the recognized leaders
Of the constitutional convention. John
Goode was one of the leading spirits in the
May convention. He is the permanent
president Of the constitutional convention.
nS
took conspicuous part in the May con-
UHtion. IS president pro tenn. of the con-
sJitutiOnal convention They are classed
among the ablest men in the state Others
who took active part in the May convention
movement and who are enumerated among
the leading lights Of the convention are:
Eppa Hunton, jr., of Warrentou; r. Wal
ton Moore Of Fairfax: c. V. Meredith of
Richmond Well-known citizens who sym
Pathized with the May convention move
ment are Firginius Newton of Richmond.
president of the First National Bank and
/ George d. Wise. who for number of years
represented the third metropolitan dis
trict Of Virginia in Congress. Mr.. Newton
led the ticket among the five members of
the convention from Richmond, and Mr..
Wise ran nearly up to the top. Mr.. Wise
Is strong anti-disfranchisementm man. Be-
fore he was elected to the convention he
stated openly that he opposed the dis
franchisement of the negro vote in Vir-
ginia. and declared that if such measure
was introduced in Virginia he would take
the floor in the convention and lead the
fight against It. He argued against it on
the ground that It was a bad movement
and against the spirit and progress of the
state.
Mr.. Newton was an original gold man
and declined to support Bryan for the pres
tdeucy- He is one of the ablest business
men and most astute ffnanciers In the
tire body.
II Is a weH-known fact that there is in
the convention a strong sentiment against
the disfranchisement of the negro in Vir-
ginla- Many Of the most influential men,
bers of the convention favor a property
qualification, and few Of them. so far as
can be learned. are in favor of the whole
sale disfranchisement method.
The GubernatoriaI Fight
While the constitutional convention and
the work before II are widely discussed now
In political circles, the interest in the gu
bernatorial fight keeps up to a lively pitch
II Is an almost generally conceded thing
that Attorney General Montague will go in
the convention IN Norfolk with sufficient
strength to get the nomination on the first
ballot. He Is steadily gaining and will
make another squirt during the next two
. days, when 123 delegates to the convention
will be chosen. The Swanson people charg-
ed that at the meeting held in Caroline
last Monday snap Judgment was used
against them This charge has been the
inspiration Of a number of spicy cornuuni-
cations on the subject. In several of these
publication il is stated that the meeting
was overwhelmingly for Montague The
Swanson people wanted precinct meetings
but as II was understood throughout the
county that the meetings should be held at
particular time, the democratic commit
tee ordered mass meetings. The Swanson
people kicked against this and threatened
To- carry the controversy up higher
Today and tomorrow 1913 delegates will
be elected to the convention II will he a
field day in Virginia politics. On TODAY and
rnTnOrrnW Roanoke and rlf
nine counties will elect delegates The
counties are Sussex. Isle of Wight Roa-
noke. Nottaway, Clarke. Mecklenburg,
Mont tgomery and Russell. Roanoke county
with nine delegates. is expected to go for
Montague, and also Isle of Wight, which
has twelve delegates. Sussex. with seven
delegates. Will probably go for Swanson
Charlottesville city is close, though the
Montague people are claiming the seven
delegates from that city. Nottoway, with
Z eleven delegates, will probably go for Mon
tague. while Clarke with eleven delegates
Is probably divided between Montague and
Echols. II is probable that the latter may
capture them all. Roanoke city which is
hot-bed Of politics will probably go for
Montague. though 1t is generally conceded
that he will have nO walk over there The
recent deal between the Swanson and Ech-
OILS people there. and which has attracted
widespread comment in the politics of the
state. will probably help Montague in his
fght for that delegation. Roanoke has
eighteen delegates. Mecklenburg with sew
enteen delegates. will go for Montague ac-
cording to reliable predictions Montgom-
cry county. which has eleven delegates
will probably be divided. The fight will
be close there Russell which has twenty
delegates. will probably go for Swanson.
Montague's Probable Strength.
Out Of the I23 delegates to be elected to-
day and tomorrow the Montague people
WILL according TO the attorney generals
friends. capture 100 delegates Montague
is gaining steadily. and even some of Swan
sons friends practically admit now that
unless something unexpected drops in the
near future the representative is beaten
out of his boots Mr.. T. G. Pitcher of
Fauauier who Is a pronounced Swanson
supporter. recently remarked that there
was a graveyard smell about the Chatham
mans chances for governor.
There will be a number of contests to be
decided by the convention in Norfolk.