The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-15
IS THE ROOT OF
A GREAT EVIL
Is Traffic in Votes, Says
Senator Glass.
REPLY TO MR.. OPIE
Lynchburg Senator Tells Why He
Criticised the System,
DOES NOT CHARGE CORRUPTION
tic Objects TO Some of the Methods That
Arc Pursued By Sons " 10 Seek Office
at the Hands OF Tie Lcgis
iatnre Plain Talk in
The Senate Yes
terGay.
DOES NOT CHARGE CORRUPTION

senator Carter Glass insists that there
are practices carried on in the Legisla-
ture that arc not calculated TO operate
Tor the best interests Of the Common
wealth.
in the Senate yesterday he expressed
himself fully, freely and frankly upon
tins matter
To begin with. Mr.. Glass in the Con-
stituiional Convention a few days ago.
in advocating the election Of judges by
The peoplc spoke Of the bargain coun-
1ers' In the Legislature, and told of how
votes We're traded. He wanted to make
it impossible under the new organic law
for such a system TO prevail
Friday. in the Senate. Mr. Opie criti-
ciscd some Of Mr. Glass remarks. Soon
after the Senate met yesterday. MI
Opie. rising to a question oil personal
privilege. said:
Il rise to a question of personal privi-
lcse deeply regret the occasion OF
my personal remarks in my speech yes
tcrday ] do not desire to recall in any
degree the tenor Of my remarks, or to
abate one iota Of my just indignation
ou account of the criticisms of the Sen
.ator from Lynchburg. Of the General AS
semblv OF Virginia. But, MIR. President.
do desire to recall one word that / in
adverteitlv and diScou-teously used IN
the heat of debate. which was not been
reported. hut which was heard by the
members of the Senate. My relations
with the Senator have always been of
the most cordial and friendly character.
We have heretofore agreed and cooper
ateG on almost ali public questions, and
] sincerely Rope our friendly relations
will continue in the future as they exist
ed In the past.
All eyes were turned toward air Glass
when Mr.. Opie resumed ms seat The
Lynchburg Senator was quickly upon ms
feet He was calm. and, though often
interrogated, never became excited, but
his replies We're always deliberate.
Mr. Glass saiG. he regretted he was not
in the Senate Chamber when the Senator
from Augusta spoke yesterday. i dld
not continued Mr.. Glass. hear Of the
incident until last evening. and then |
fNpccted to receive the assurance %
my friend that he intended no personal
alfront To me. and my coincidence WAS
later confirmed by his manly disclaimer
Il suppose | ought To thank my liiShu'
Che Senator from Augusta. Tor whom
entertain a cordial regard and a hlSh
,.osnect. for this opportunity to say that
my. remarks maue some days ago IN
another beuv. have been misnterpretcG
and given a meaning that they 90 not
fairly convey. AS member OF the t"ll-
stjtlItioual Convention of Virginia 1t is
my duty as we'll as my privilege 10
4 mass in review and criticism any System
that relates to the State government.
This eudeayor to do judcloGsly ana
always within the bounds OF moderation
/ do not ADMIT responsibility Tor my
.,,,nersonal remarks in the convention
"a This body or to anybody except the
,,eopIe whom | represent. For obvious
reasons. however. ! wound not desire to
make any criticism that might be re-
c-arded as an assault upon the INTEGRITY
of any of my associates in the General
Assembly.
A BAD PRACTICE.
"Ir7 discussing the judiciary report IN
N. Constitutional Convention ] did re-
prehend a practice which has come I'M
der my observation of swapping votes
and effccting combinations in the mat
Ter of clectinE officers by the General
Assembly. and / sought earnestly 10 have
The report of the Judiciary committee
60 amended as To remove tie Ju ges OF
the highest appellate court from ptae-
flee which is. in my jul gment, utterly
1,,a,newo,thy | exploited nothing new
or sensational merely deprecated
,,rartice when has come to my atlen-
tjou and which the public press OF -.lch-
nond has frequently uepiored. nave
here on my desk extracts from inc
Richmond papers of last winner ieitt
I1ng to deals and 'Vote-tra"lhS III .lte
contest for Judge of the Court OF APP
,aaIs one Of these papers expressly de-
rlares that it omitted the details 81 these
,rsrsactiors at tn request OF members
~ The General Assembly. in orGcr 20 al
Lar, further bitterness. This Is me Pfac-
rice 10 winch I referred, and II these az
members of this body who know iotil-
ing of the system the tact Is more OF d
tribute to their gullelesSness tHdh ~
,Alak. -Nr.i a
TIiE BARGAIN CENTER.
Mr. Opje asked Mr.. Glass il the lat
.ar had not used the term bargain
counter, in connection With such cleo
tions.
connection with the legislative caucus
contests. as | I'D in connection win
State conventions contests, ana since us
moaning has been misinterpreteG, ] may
cav regret having used IT. expressly
sat. there Was nothing in the nature OF
nac,,niary considerations involved IN
these practices.
Mr. opic, again interrupung, asked II
anyhoGy ever made any improper pro-
posals TO Mr.. Glass.
why, certainly not. RESPONDED the
l.y,.ci, burg Senator. nor 10 my friend
from Augusta.
Mr.. Cpic: Does the. Senator know of
improper proposals made 10 other per-
fons?'
Mr. Glass: Il certainly know of prac-
tees in legislative elections that j re-
EarG as utterly improper. Other Eentls-
mon may not so consider them.
Mr.. ople: Then the Senator's duty is
to expose the guilty parties.
Mr. Glass: such Information comes TO
members in d way that makes il improper
20 use ii except in general condemnation
Of the system itself; and that is exactly
how / used it in the Constitutional Con-
vep,fon. / stated in that body that this
reprchensibie system Was recently used
against an aspirant for high Office.