The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-04
Another Meeting VIII be Held To-
Night.
BARS LET DOWN LAST NIGHT.
State Officers, Democratic Ex-Oiiicers and
Members aud Ex-Members Of Legislature
Admitted = DANIEL to Follow, but
Eardiy Before Next Week.
1t Is q Battle Between
diants.

The second session of the Democrati0
suffrage conference was held in the Halt
cf the House of Delegates last night, and
Mr.. Thorn, of Norfolk. continued his arr
g1ment in favor of the majority report
of the Committee on Elective franchise.
There We're about fifty members pres
ent, and the entire session. which lasted
nearly TWO hours, was taken up WITH
Mr IhomS speech. At 1879 O'Clock he
yielded for a motion to adjourn. and Wit
proceed with his argument again to-
night, when the body reassembies at s
o'clock.
< The only feature last night worthy OF
note, save the powerful presentation OF
the views of the najority of his cot.
leagues by MIR. Thorn, was the adoption
OF a resolution offered by Mr.. Portlock.
of Norfolk county. admitting to the ses-
sions of the conference ali State officers,
Democratic ex-State officers and Demo-
cratic members and ex-members OF the
Legislature.
1twas $50 O'Clock before this had been
disposed OF and the way had BEEN cleared
for the member from Norfolk. He then
arose, and until nearly two hours later.
when he yielded for a motion to adjourn
he held the closest attention of his hear
ers, as IN most eloquent and logical
manner he pointed out the efficiency OF
the plan of the majority. and appealed
to his colleagues to help him incorporate
it into the organic law of the State. Mr..
Thorn made no bitter assault upon the
report offered by the minority of the
committee, but in a skiifuI and convinc-
ing manner he contrasted the two
schemes, and argued that the latter was
not efficient in its provisions and would
not meet the important exigencies of tha
occasion. Nothing occurred to break the
thread of his argument. There was not
q single Interruption. and absolute ST.
lence prevailed throughout the entire
speech.
WAS a GREAT SPEECH.
The Norfolk leader was never in better
form. and IL his speech Wednesday, night
was great, the one last night was great
er. Planting himself upon the founda-
ton that the convention was called to
disenthrai and emancipate the white man
from the curse of negro suffrage by re-
moving the race as a factor from the
politics of the State. he resumed the arr
gument of the merits ard demerits OF the
two plans where he had left of We'd
nesday night. and eontendsd that the one
for which ne spoke was the only one
yet presented that would meet the de-
mands which were coming up to the
convention from the white people IN all
sections of the State.
Mr. Thorn closed the second night OF hts
great speech with brilliant peroration
in which ne pictured graphically the cons
d!tions in East Virginia brought on by
negro suffrage. and said the golden pp-
portnnity which had come after thirty
years OF tribuiation should not be frft-@
tered away by the adoption OF a suffrage
clause which would fail to permanently
exclude the negro from politics as a fac-
tor, where he had so long been a. dis
turbipg element.
It is not likely that Senator Daniel
will De heard in favor of the minorisg
plan before next week. Even should Mr.