The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-31
CORPORATIONS AND THE PEOPLE.
rne stanton News says

Tho stanton News says:
..v,-n rerret very much to see display
;r,,..ience with the Constitutional
Convention. and a disposition to discremt
q. ,,ae SIC work 1t is thoushtiessness
w,,l, MANY people. who have not consia-
ered tho infinite detail work ana sluuS
40, -,,,s. be devoted to the questions At
t.s1,o and a lack of information as 10
.,,n t;mc consumed by like bodies pre-
yio,,sly in this and other States. IL mus
No remembered that the Work OF Soh-
eti.utiona! Convention is not 10 oe .oit
narcd with the work of a LeElslature'
tbo,,rr We see an inclination to Go this'
our rood friend The Dispatch, repeatedly
nra;sing the Legislature and disparasii's
the convention by contrast
Some members Of the constitutional
Convention believe that the recent at
tempt to rush through the Lesls'd.u'o
IN appropriation of s3oo,ooo Tor pensions
was made with view to popuiarizlhS
the Legislature and making a certain
element of the people side with That oooE
&c ,~afust the Constitutional Conven-
.ion. There is certainly no love lost pc
tween these two bodies and the editor
of the Staunton News IS not the Only
man who firmly believes that stuoleo
effort is making from certain quarters
tn discredit the work of the Constitution
a! Conventions We have also heard 1t
animated that there is an clement In tue
Constitutional Convention itself "ho
would be very glad to see the whole
work of the convention go by default.
,,-;fl 10 1rpnment our
Stanton contemporary says:
1T has been plain for some time 10
those in close touch with the convention
that corporate infiuence-inside and out
side the convention will prevent, if pos
sible. any action looking toward q rea-
sonable and proper supervision OF cor
pcrations within this State, and the ad-
iustment of taxation with reference TO
them OF, a prope: basis. The course OF The
Dispatch. TO which We referred above.
seems to be directed, since its recent
change Of ownership. toward defeating
any action looking toward corporate con-
troll
The Times is as much opposed as any
to the adoption of measures by the en-
stitutional Convention. which will tend to
retard progress in this State. We be-
lieve in corporations and believe that
they are the greatest factors in modern
development. The report of the Com
mittee on Corporations does not meet
with our approval, 1t seems to US to be
both unwise and crude anG its adoption
would be positively injurious to the whole
State with no compensatory advantages,
yet it has not been adopted and We do
not believe It will be.
But The Times believes that corpora
tions should be regulated by law, because
they are the creatures of law and If not
regulated, they are very apt to become
arrogant and to disregard the interests
of the public. More than all, The Times
81 opposed to corporate domination Of
the Constitutional Convention. This con-
vention was called in the interest of the
whole people and the members of the
convention should keep that fact we'll In
view. We want to see Constitution Tor
the State OF Virginia IN the interest Of
the State OF Virginia and not in the in
tercs.. Of this class or that We hold,
witt the sgners Of the Declaration of
Jndepe cdence, these truths to be self
evident: that all men are created equal;
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain inalienable rights; that
among these are life liberty and the
pursuit of happiness; that TO secure these
rights, governments are instituted among
men. deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed We want to
see Constitution for the State of Vir-
ginia. which shall rest upon these great
principles for u fouIsdatio and we have
an abiding faith that there are enough
patriotic men in the Constitutional Con-
vention to give the people such a Consti-
tuition
The whole case may be briefly summed
up: We grievously need a new Constitu-
ton which will provide the means Toy
securing clean and honest politics. We
have elected the best men in the Com
monwealth to make this Constitution.
They are here doing the work faithfully,
conscientiously and cautiously. They are
entitled to the support of all good citi-
Esns who wish an honest and fair govern
ssent for this State. j this convention
Tails in its purpose 1.-The SOW that was
washed Will return to her wallow and
the dog to his ronlit-'' For our part We
shall give this convention all the aid and
comfort in our power in the performance
OF its great task and trust they will take
:Aeir time and no. be hurried by those who
want them to stumble and fail down
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A NOVEL PROPOSITION.
A .nncini from, Columbia S C. SAYS