Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-09-12

VentlOn movement anu Undertakes W ic-
move the objections Of men of his party to
the movement. He says in the editorial:
ave cannot understand how any mao,
after reading the deliverance of the Nor
folk convention on the question of consli-
tutional revision, can doubt the position
of the Democratic party"
Mr.. Glass then quotes the resolution by
which the convention endorsed the action
of the General Assembly in submitting to
the vote of the people the, question Of
calling convention. After declaring
that the resolution "plainly aud unmis
takably committed the Democracy to tie
support Of the convention movement, he
proceeded to remove the objections of
those who might be hostile to the move
ment on account of fear that the new
constitution might deprive some white
men of the right to vote and that it might
not be submitted to the people for ratifica'
ton or rejection. He said
"The second resolution on the subject
is calculated to remove an objection which
restrained some Democrats from endOrs'
ing the movement"
Mr., Glass then quotes the resolution
which states "that when such constitution
shall have been framed it shall be sub.
mitted to the people for ratification or
rejection, and proceeds to define the mean
ing of referendum clause by saying:
"Another objection was removed by the
declaration of the convention in favor OF
submitting the new constitution to the
popular vote for ratification or rejection.
We all know what is the plain meaning
of the words popular Vote MIR. Glass,
however, is already undertaking to prove
that they mean a restricted electorate or
white electorate, and he is, therefore, Ill
corrigible in political casuistry and English
construction. In the future it will be well
for the people of Virginia to enquire
whether the pledges of the Democracy are
to be construed by the well settled rules
of construction or whether they are to be
explained away by the Glass Rules of
political conscience and English con-
struction.
Webster and all photographers say that
popular vote means vote of the common
people or vote of the people in general.
Mr.. Glass will say that it means vote Of
the 80. called best people and restricted
vote.
The effort of Mr.. Glass to strengthen his
position in favor of submitting the new
constitution to a restricted electorate and
to Justify his construction Of the true
meaning of the submission resolution by
what the convention of182930 directed, is
ike drowning man catching at straws.
What the convention of 1929 80 did was
the very converse of what this convention
proposes to do by the new constitution.
The constitution of 1S29-'90 extended the
right of suffrage, instead Of contracting it.
Those who had previously voted as well az
those who were enfranchised by the ex-
tension of the right of suffrage were "the
good people of Virginia, who voted at the
election for the adoption Of that constiIu-
ton Now, it is proposed that only a part
of those who have been exercising the
right of suffrage shall vote to enfranchise
themselves, while another large portion OF
the electorate will not have the privilege CT
saying whether they shall continue the
exercise of a heretofore constitutional
right and contest the authority of another
part of the electorate to appropriate the
right of suffrage to itself. The Constitu-
ton of 1929. 80 expanded the constitution
of 1901 proposes to contract.