Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-23
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

Y
yesterday by Mr.. Ayers, chairman oil
the committee. The main features are
the authorization Of loan Of q quarter
of a million 10 enlarge and improve the
sanitary condition OF the State peniten-
tiary and the authorizing OF the State
board to expend the next revenues to
supply space and ventilation necessary
to maintain q healthy condition In the
prison.
The convention took up again the
education report and plunged into
warm debate over the division oil the
school fund between the races. Mr..
Watson, OF Nottowsy, made speech
10 favor OF allowing practically divis'
ion OF the local school fund between the
races.
The question came up on the section
OF the report of the committee on
education, OF which Rev. DR.. Nc
II Rsiue Is chairman, empowering eacn
school district to levy. collect ana ois-
burse, as it may see fit, special tax OF
not more than 80 cents on the SlOO for
the purpose Of maintaining such
schools as may be deemed necessary,
provided that the primary schools shall
have been maintained for four months.
A section OF the new constitution,
adopted by the convention Thursday,
expressly provides that the State taxes
should be devoted exclusively for all
Ichildren alike for the support OF
primary schools. and that no part OF
the local taxes could be used for higoe
schools. or could be used In the dis
erection Of the local boards, until the
primary schools had been held for OF
least four months 10 year.
Mr.. Eggleston urged an amendment
so that trustees could establish euch
schools as they thought the general
welfare required. and to give the local
authorities unconditional power OF dis
bursting the school money.
Mr.. Ayers advocated the amendment
offered by Mr.. Eggle'ton. Public
schools should afford facilities for child
rem to learn how to equip themselves
for teaching without having to 90 to
some expensive normal or training
school.
Chairman McIlwsine said be had ex-
pected some such complaint from the
Southwest. OF all sections OF the State
its proportion of illteracy was the
greatest, and it needed primary schools
Mr.. Flood advocated the Eggleston
amendment, and said 1t was not fsil
for the white people OF one section oil
the State to bear forever the burden Of
educating negroes to the deprivation oil
their own children.
Mr.. Pollard moved to strike out four
months and insert FIVE months.
Mr.. Meredith strongly supported Mr.
Eggleston's amendment. He asked Mr.
Keezsll II he or Major Anderson would
be willing to tax themselves 81 whet
rs cents OF it had to be given to the son
of his colorei cook, and only 20 cents
went to educate his own daughter.
Mr.. Pollard, OF the committee, op
posed the amendment OF Mr.. EggIes
ton. He said 1t simply meant that thu
means for the education OF the negroes
should be allowed TO be Withdrawn and
their schools abandoned. He said he
believed the negroes OF Virginia pro
duced 20 per cent. OF the wealth OF th'
State, and should be entitled to thai
much, at least, 10 proportionate educa
ton for their children.
Mr.. Glass said the practical effect o.
the amendment would be to deprive the
negroes OF the facilities for education
He declared that this convention coult
not afford to thus defy the public senti
ment OF the day. II we do not give tn,
negroes a primary education that vii
be useful to them, northern fanatics
will give them an education that viii
be as dangerous to them az TO az. a
guarantee Of four months education Il
them is not only just, but is generou
provision.
Mr.. Watson said the advocates OF tb'
ERRleston amendment spoke his senti
ments, but the report OF the committed
would receive his vote, because 1t wa
the best he could get.
Toe sentiment expressed by Mr.
Glass was the same kind OF sentimen
that wrote "Uncle Toms Cabin" tina
caused the burning al the stake OF ne
eroes, and that dined Booker Washing
ton In the White House. he, for one
was not averse to defyipg this kind o
treatment. He then entered into al
,, elaborate argument in support OF hi
! contention, that IL was cruel to give thu
|, negro a literary education, showing
that wherever he went to pureue hl
advanced calling the door ofprefermen
was shut in his face.
Mr.. Flood offered to amend b.
placing the proviso at the end OF tn
. first paragraph OF section z, referrinl
to State schools. The amendment
five months 10 place of four month
offered by Mr.. Pollard was rejected.
Mr.. Eggleston withdrew his amend
ment 10 favor Of the one offered by Mr
Flood. The committee arose withou
taking a vote.
A poll tax of 81 or 81 90 and sl5
property qualification may ultimstel!
be agreed upon as the prerequisite Il
voting under the new constitution. l
now looks very much as though th
fQht between those who favor the IN
Outstanding clause and those who op
pose it so bitterly will eliminate In sucl
a compromise. This was indicated b.
the scene that followed the close OF Mr.
Braxton's argument for his plan befor
the suffrage conference last night. II
his speech he dwelt at length upon tn
understanding clause, and declared tina
the people OF Virginia did not want
saddIed upon them. B, Jones, of KIM
and Queen, asked the Stanton delegate
II be would agree to accept poll tax o
81 with straight property qualification
o. $3.50.