Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-05-15

terview with Harvey l. Wilson, OF
the Richmond News staff, defines hi:
position on some of the questions tc
be considered by the constitutional
convention, and the voters of this
county will note therefrom the con.
sentative stand our nominee has taken
on some of the vital issues. The in.
terview is as follows, and from what
we know of Mr.. O'Flaherty and have
heard of him we vouch for its sccu.
racy:
ID. {. O'Flsherty. of this town. has
been nominated by the Democrats 10
represent Warren and Clarke counties
in the constitutional convention. He
was an advocate of Palmer and Buck.
ner in 1896 and afterward ran as an indie
pendent Democrat against Hon. James
Hay.
Mr.. O'Flaherty is a fine speaker and
ranks as leading lawyer il this section
of the State. He is young and unmar-
ried, and Of fine address and courteous
manner. He has plan which he will
present TO the convention covering the
school fund problem
He is opposed to a division of the
school funds on racial lines. as he doubts
the legal aspect of the proposition but
favors the following:
81 believe, he said, that the negro
is receiving more than his Just share of
the school funds, and l advocate making
all persons pay per capita tax of $1.5
which should go to the general school
fund TO be divided among the counties.
and outside of this let each county pro-
viue for its own school tax, and in the
negro counties where they pay but lit
tie they will have less school facilities.
This would give the negro an incen-
tive TO accumulate property and put him
on his own responsibility. I would
make the payment of this per capita tax
prerequisite to both voting and send
ing children to school and make it paw
able six months in advance OF an election
in order to avoid corruption"
Il do not believe" continued Mr..
O'Flaherty, lin DISTINGUISHING a man
simply because he is black. or simply
because he is illiterate, or because he is
poor. First this is in violation of the
fifteenth amendment, and again because
II is not the fault always Of man that
he is black, illiterste or poor
There ought to be some restriction
of the suffrage, and l want to hear what
the people of the black belt have 10 offer
as remedy. do not see how we can
get around the fifteenth amendment. |
want white man rule. but want also
TO hear what the men from the black belt
have TO suggest.
In regard TO submission" said Mr..
O'Flaherty, Il favor it, but am not de-
Cided as 10 whether it should be TO a
limited suffrage or to all the voters as al
present qualified. That will depend up
on how the constitution suits, but my
inclination is TO submit it to all the peo-
pie, for believe if il suits the white
people of the State they will see to its
ratification"
II am in favor of economy in our State
expenses he said, land as 1 believe in
as few offices and courts as will be con.
sistent with the proper disposal of bust
ness. / ind that in comparing the ex-
penses of North Carolina with our State
men generally overlook the fact that
each county in North Carolina pays its
own criminal expenses.
Il would either abolish the County
Courts or pay the judges by the day fol-
time actually employed The State Bar
association once recommended a plan
for our judiciary modelled something
after the United States District Court:
that think would be a great plan &c
adopt
Among his old books Mr.. O'Flaherty
has discovered complete record Of tn,
constitutional convention of 1929, which
was published by the Winchester Re
publican. 1t is rare volume, and hal
the proceedings in full.
1t shows that the convention met OF
October 5, 1929, and completed its worL
on January 10, 1880. From October 18Th
to the 23d practically nothing was don,
but appoint committees.
Madison nominated James Monroe fol-
the presiding officer, and Madison anC
Chief Justice Marshall escorted him &c
the chair. Peter Francisco, the STRONG
man, was defeated for sergeant at arms
In his report from the Judiciary Com
mittee Chief Justice Marshall recon.
mended that Judges of the appeal and
inferior courts hold their offices during
good behavior"
A sharp debate was precipitated over
the question Of submission, and it was
finally decided to submit it to the voters
qualified under the new Constitution
which, however, provided for an enlarg
ed suffrage. Mr.. O'Flaherty is indus
triously reading the debates, which are
very lengthy.
A Testimonial From Old England.