The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-16
POAHEND ORGANIC LAWS
Date Fixed for the Virginia Con-
stitutionai Convention.
Delegates 20 Assemble at Richmond
June II Ncxt-CIOSiBG Debate
Proper course to BE Pursued in
Making the Proposed Changes.

RICHMOND. Va. Feb. l6.-The Constf-
tutional Convention. whose work is to be
a revolution in political methods in Viz
ginia and have a most important bearing
upon its future career. viii assemble here
on June u next This was settled yester-
day by the two branches of the LCgisIat-
urc. As indicated in dispatches, the re
port Of the conference committee on the
Constitutional Convention bills was adopt
ed and The Legislature practically ad-
jcurned- This result was not reached,
however. without debate. That in the
Senate was the most interesting Of all
that has been had on this subject.
Senator Glass. who has taken such an
active par5 in this tight, gave notice that
he zould appeal TO the white people Of
the State on the question Of submitting to
the ignorant negroes the work Of the con
vent.on He challenged Mr. Flood, the
patron Of the bill adopted and the leading
advocate of the principle against which
the speaker conteuded TO meet him on the
hastings. Under the provisions of tie
bin Mr.. Floods convention district VIII
be composed Of Campbell and AppomattoX
bell He notified the Senator from Apo
1rattox that he would De delighted TO go
with him before the white people of his
home county on the proposition that the
Virginia negroes are TO pass upon the &C
tioa Of the Democratic representatives in
The great body which is TO enact the or
ganic law
Mr.. Flood said he would not hesitate 10
B. E.-r-, ,--rv
time CT place and discuss with him this
question
Judge Mann Of NottoWay. made q ring
ing speech in opposition 10 sunni ssion al
all. but if = all. only TO the white people
CT the State ANY other view than tais,
he intiuated, would have puE the Norfolk
convention N q ridiculous PISTON.
The speech Of the session on this
subject. probably was that by MIR Nell
Uaiue. Of Petersburg. This gentleman
was not On his feet I'VE minutes. but he
stripped the whole subject OF ali details
and teChnicaliJies. He showed by quo
tajiou from the present constitution that
the Legislature had no power to- do any
thing IN connection win assembling the
convention except TO provide Tor the elec-
tion o. its delegates. ETe-y other at
tempt 10 interfere with the free and IN
rrammeIed action Of that great lawmak-
ing power. he said, was idle and utterly
u1warranted. The speaker declared hat
in his judgment the convention when il
assembled would laugh at the attempts Of
The legislature. the creature OF It's pow
ers- 10 bind its hands The speech made
g deep impression on the Senate.
In the House Mr. Barclay, of Lexington.
offered = res0lut ION that the leo delegates
10 the convention. although apportiOnei
10 the House districts, should be elected
at large The suggestion was voted down.
Some OF the delegates from the Ninth dis
tricJ stood by the Barclay resolution
These maintained that in that section Of
the State there was some likelihood Of
the Democrats losing many delegates to
the convention unless this plan should be
adopted. The House, however. would not
accept this idea, and il went down as all
other propositions for delegates-a large
have before during the consideration Of
this matter
The closing scene in the preparations
for the convention was the bill passed TO
nj the election law in its applicable 10
the coming election Inc bill passed by
the two houses 50 amended the present
law as 10 make il apply to counties IN
which no party nominations are made. As
ii exists now it exempts from its opera
tiOus in local elections counties in which
no party nominations are made. The cleo
ton for delegates TO the convention oc-
ours on May o. on the same day on which
county officers are elected. Hence il viii
be seen that the amendment adopted was
necessary in order to have the sO-caIled
Australian ballot system in force in this
contest
Senator Dinwiddie. CT Franklin county.
the only Republican in either branch Of
the Virginia Assembly. is inclined to
think that in the counties II which the
negroes are largely in the minority cleo
ton officers would use their discretion in
permitting them 10 vote IN 6 big local
contest. he thinks. the judge Of the cleo
ticn would De apt 10 put the name OF the
negro on the books regardless of his lie
gal qualifications. provided the latter in
tended voting with that officers faction
The two houses passed resolutions that
after o'clock last night no legislation
could be enacted, and that today both
houses viii adjourn sine die.
The bill for the constitutional conYe1-
ton is not yet in shape to be presented
10 the Governor for his signature 1t is
understood that he Will give it his ap-
proyal. although he does not think well
Of it. The Governor has long favored a
constitution formulated by a commission.
CHILD'S CRY PREVENTS CRIME