The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-27
GOSSIP ABOUT
THE CONVENTION.
Will Get Down to Business After
Recess.
TO PUSH THE SUFFRAGE.
Should the Convention Not Complete Its
Work by December LIST it may Have
TO Vacate for the
Legislature.

The protracted session Of the ConSttu-1
tional Convention has caused inconsld-.
crate criticism on the outside. The word
inconsiderate grants the absence OF de-
lhoerate intention to wrong the members
OF the convention or impugn their mo
tives. 1t is not surprising that those I'M
versed in the methods and unacqua1nteo
with the complicated machinery of a de-
Lucrative body should misjudge Inc
cause Of it's apparent inactivity
There was never yet a Legislative body
assembled that was not criticised by
many for wasting time. This criticism,
when not made from Interior motives.
partisan. pecuniary or enviouS political
rivalry, springs from lack Of acquaint-
ance with the basic principle that all
wise legislation on general subjects is
evolved not made to order like a new
suit Of clothes.
crossroads statesman, an erudite
scholar, a. successful business man, with
no legislative experience, can easily write
communications condemning parliament
tary assemblies for frittering away time,
for doing this or not doing that. From
their view point the ship of State needs
only favorable breezes and calm seas to
swiftly ride into port. They see the e1te-.
rior. Down in the bowels of the vessel
are grimy men by the score, whose skill,
labor and lintiring vigilance alone make
it possible for the machinery and thous-
ands of other unseen appointments of the
craft to so adapt themselves that progress
can be made in fair weather and retro
erosion avoided in foul; unseen rocks
and shoals denoted and escaped; the fu-
~ Of the tempest provided for, and the
helm to port" patiently and toisomely
awaited to be sounded at last
And all this must be done while the
breezes kiss the sails and the sky is
clear and no breakers seem ahead to
those who do not go down into the deep.
The safe mariner n,istrusts the sea when,
like g sweet snid. it sleeps and inocu-
lates him with a sense of peace and rest,
and innocence.
KNOWS ITS PERIL
The wise lawmaker knows the periis
of his vocation, and cannot with safety
to himself or justice to his people order
helm to port for any proposed law until
the pilot of experience assures him that
no hidden rocks or treacherous reefs arc
ahead.
The Constitutional Convention of vir-r
ginia ought to move slowly An ava
lanche destroys everything because of its
speed, for an iceberg is equally powerful.
yet carries safely the unfclt incumbrance
of a continent.
In the political world there is no great
er force, power or uncontrolled authority
than that vested in constitution builders.
Blessed are the people Of Virginia that
those to whom is committed this awful
human attribute of divine supremacy
have shown a proper conception OF the
serious responsibility Of their commission.
With patience. though, through trials,
they will yet rejoice as they see their
i 81, tn
bar.
Sessions May Conflict.
While some think that the meeting OF
the Legislature during the session OF the
convention will give rise to no compli-
cation or friction, there are others who
are apprehensivc. 1t is often said by
some members that the proper thing for
the Legislature to do would be to meet,
organize and take u recess until after
che convention shall have completed its
work This expression is based on the
idea that any new law the Legislature
may adopt might be, in the light of COM
pleted constitutional action. perfunctoTy.
It is also predicated ON the assumption |
that one hundred and forty members OF
the Legislature will have the same con-
ception of the sovereign prerogativeS OF
the delegates Of the convention, as they
have Indirectly clothed themselves with
a prominent State Senator was talk
ing on. this line to convention member
last Friday. Among other things, he
said that the Legislature cou.u not be eX-
pected to abdicate in favor of any BODY |
that had based so much of its proposed
reforms on the presumption that the Cen
eral Assemblies of Virginia. had been a
curse to the people of the State and not |
only deserved to be circumscribed IN Its
powers, but prohibited from even assemb- |
ling together except once in four years. |
The distinguished hold-over Senator was |
little hot and was talking to a promi- |
nent advocate of the Quadrennial Ses- !
sion resolution and the plan which mas |
been adopted to restrict the Legislature !
in certain classes of special and local |
bills.
HOUSE. OF REPRESENTATIVES,
After he left, the member of the con- |
vention was speaking to another OF the
indecent and the conversation turned to !
the House of Representatives at Wash |
ington. Coming down nearer home, ne |
gave examples of this friction having |
morehtan once caused a deadlock IN
the General Assembly of Virginia. lie
cited as a recent illustrations the action I
OF the lay members of the Episcopal
Convention of the United States at San
Francisco, overriding the action OF the
House of Bishops and the clergy i'll |
adopting Il stringent anti-dlvorce canon |
for the church. He said he did not look |
for any friction whatever between the /
and the Legislature. lie was
alive to the instructive feeling OF MEM
bers, who. representing Immediate COM
and fresh from the people,
thought they We're nearer and more au-
to speak for them than mem
GERS of a body representing a concrete