The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-23
MAY BE POLL TAX
AND PROPERTY
(Ccrtinued from First Psge.)

He thought by excluding the possibili-
ty of negroes holding Office theworst dan
ger Of negro suffrage would be removed
for he would cease to have political as
pirations and would recognize the fact
that he was Of an inferior and not a
nominant race.
Judge Ingram: do you not think this
prohibition would give color to the charge
that the grandfather clause discrimi-
mated against the negro and to that ex-
tent would affect its constitutionaIity?
Mr.. Braxton: 7 think not
Judge Green. You said last night that
teachers were officers. Would not your
provision prohibit negroes from teach
ing school?"
Mr.. Braxton: II think it would, and, If
not I should favor a law making a.
teacher an officer, SO there could be no
doubt about it."
Judge Green: II just wanted to know
ELOQUENT DENUNCIATION.
MI. BraXton then turned his atten-
ton to the understanding clause and
said it was utterly impossible for him
to accept it. He wanted to drown the
negro with holy water and stop fight
ing him with fire. There was a lively
time when Mr.. BraXton said he proposed
the grandfather plan to keep promises
made by members of the convention and
candidate on the stump before the re-
cent election. He said they had no right
TO bind the convention but as he did
not repudiate these promises he felt
that he was obligated to keep them A
great many members fired questions here
and DR.. McIlwaine made a short and
characteristic declaration on the posi-
ton taken by Mr.. BraXtonr, which con-
vulsed the hall with laughter. brought
rounds Of applause and put everybody
in good humor.
A BRILLIANT CLOSE
Mr.. BraXton, after few parting shots
at the understanding clause. proceeded to
discuss in detail the various sections of
his own plan. and urged the adoption of
the general idea of it. He strongly inn
pressed upon his hearers the imperative
necessity of mutual concessions ana com
promises. He honestly thought the plan
was such 4 compromise and
hoped ali would get together on it. It was
honest and free from pos
sibilty OF fraudulent admnistra ton Bet
ter than all, it would disfranchise horde
Of negroes and scarcely a single white
man. unless the grandfather clause was
declared unconstitutional in which case
the property clause would protect the
whites from negro suffrage.
sHe concluded his speech with an impas-
stoned and magnificent burst of eIoquence
had to assist the experts specially en-
ployed at 81 per day to get UP the con-
tlngent fund expenditures OF the Gov
errors during twenty years; that the
experts worked during regular hours and
Mr.. Woodward waited on them. and after
regular hours did his regular Office work.
AS to the charge of SS3 for this work. he
declined to say whether it should be paid
Or not. AS to the claims of Messrs.
OVERLY and Goss of SOS each. being 81 a
lay for every day the convention had
been in session, Colonel Marye stated
that at all hours when the convention or
Legislature was in session extra. time had
TO be put in by these clerks. Not only
we're members constantly recurring IN
formation and statistics, but vouchers
had to be made out and audited for the
pay of members and employees. Colonel
AIarye was asked if he recommended
Or could recommend the payment of these
claims. He declined TO say, but remark
ed that it was a matter for the commit
Tee to deal with.
Mr. Woodward explained that while the
experts were at work during office hours
n opposition to the understanding clause,
md painted a picture OF blackness ana
liter despair and decentralization that
vas awful to contemplate in the event Of
ado