The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-16
TWO SESSIONS OF THE HOUSE.
Lively Debate Over the Barclay Reso-
Naturalization o. Judge.

t;paIly finished up its work preparatory to
a final adjournment to-day.
l.y :, vote of 10 to Co. alter a long and
spirited discussion, the House refused 10
adopt u resolution offered by Mr.. Barclay,
providing that the delegates to the con-
vent-on be nominated by the several
House districts. and elected by the vote
OF the State at large.
tbs. House at tne afternoon session
adopted the report of the Conference Com
mittee on the Constitutional Convention
biiS and agreed ITO a, final adjournment
to-day Speaker Saunders immediately
after his election as Judge OF the Fourth
Judicial Circuit was presented with a
handsome silver berry dish by the House,
and made an appropriate speech OF
thanks in the nature of i farewell adj
dress. The usual resolutions of thanks to,
the House officers and newspaper re-
porters were passed.
CALLED TO ORDER
The House was called to order at noon
and prayer was offered by Rev. w. 3.
Beauchamp.
The attendance of members was rather
slim. a large number of them having left
for home.
Mr.. MurTell offered a joint resolution,
which was adopted calling Tor the ap-
pointment of q joint comm ttee to formu
the public roads of the State and report
to the next session of the General As
sembly.
Mr.. Barclay offered The following reso
luton:
Resolved by the House OF Delegates,
the Senate concurring. That it is the
sense of the General Assembly that tn
delegates to the Constitutional Conven-
ton shall be nominated from the House
of Delegates districts but elected by the
vote of the entire State.
Mr.. Barclay made a strong speech IN
favor of his resolution and it was Tigor-
ously opposed by Mr.. Ryan.
Mr. Petit made a very able speech,
pointing out the necessity of the passagt
of the resolution. as did also Mr.. White
head, of Norfolk
Mr. Ayres opposed the resolution in a
brief speech.
Mr. Mcconnell, of Scott. favored the
resolution. and said it was extremely
doubtful if the counties in the Ninth Dis
tcict could be carried for Democratic del
eSates to the convention.
Mr.. Leech opposed the proposition, and
said the people would look with suspicion
upon such action and he wanted fair
and open fight, straight from the Shout
der
Mr. Cardwe1l made vigorous opposition,
and said the best interests of the people
demanded that the resolution be defeated.
as It would bring lasting reproach upon
the party in the State.
Mr.. Davis favored the resolution, as did
Mr.. Ewell, boil, Of whom said it was
necessary to the success Of the Demo
cratic party
Mr.. Duke said that a Democrat who
was opposed to the convention would be
Of no more value in the body than "
Republican. and he was opposed ID the
scheme.
Mr.. Hubbard spoke for the resolution.
and Mr.. Gent vigorously opposed it.
MINORITY SHOULD NOT RULE.
He said it was evident that IL minority
Of the House was determined to rule the
majority and he hoped the matter would
be referred. He saw no objection to some
Republicans in the convention, ana
of the convention ratified by the PEG
pie.
Mr.. Mcconnell spoke again, ana ap
pealed TO the House to adopt the resou-
ton to save the Democrats of the Ninth
District
Mr.. McClung opposed the move, and
said he would not vote to stifle the voic,
of the people. lie wanted local represen
.tatiol, and the people demanded that the
Mr.. Whitehead again spoke and made a
vigorous effort. He said, addressing Mr..
McClung: I'VE will pull you people OF
the Southwest out OF q hole if You will
only let us do it,
lie was Piled with questions on all
hands, and replied to all that the best
interests of the Democratic party de-
manded the passage of the resolution.
Mr.. Ryan raised the point that the House
should not at this late day undertake. to
in.,::.Ict the conference committee on this
point. especially when the resolution was
radically wrong, and was simply an effort
on the part Of the minority to control
the majority
He warned the House that if the reso-
luton prevailed there was great danger
that the work Of the convention would
not be ratified by the people.
DEMANDED BY CONDITIONS.
Mr.. Petit replied warmly to Mr.. Ryan,
and said conditions were such as to
demand the passage of the resolution and
that it was in the interest of good govern
ment that he pleaded for its adoption Mr.
NcAllister made a Very able speech
against the resolution. He said the Legis-
lature was here to say that the people
should have a representative convention.
and that It was a monstrous proposition
% undertake tc Stitie the voice CT the
people and take away from them the right
OF local self-goVernmenr. He saw no
special objection to a few Republicans in
the body, and he thought it would be
wholesome to have them there.
Mr.. Kelley followed AIR. McAIister, and
made a brilliant effort against the reso-
luton. He thought if 4 majority of the
people in any county We're Republicans.
they were entitled to have Republican
In the convention.
He did not believe it was either Demo-
cratic or for the best interests nf the peo-
pie that the resolution should be adopted,
for he believed it was unjust and unfair
[ othrottle and stiie the popular will.
and give the convention movement a
black eye in its Very incipency He be-
came engaged in quite a colloquy with
Messrs. Whitehead and Petit, in which
ali kept a good humor, but spoke with
great earnestnesS.
The resolution was lost by the following
vote:
Ayes-Messrs. Barclay, Baugh, Birdsong,
Davis, Donahoe, Ewell. Featherston,
Fitzpatrick, Folkes. HUBBARD. NfcConneu,