The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-11

Richmond. Va., August l0.-(Spe- ial.)-The Virginia campaign this tali will be an unusually interesting one. In many respects it will present some of the most important issues that nave been before the people or virginia since the war. The tact that the Con stitutional Convention is in session for the purpose of disfranchising the negroes and making radical reforms m the State government. adds to the complications of the contest. The Democrats assembled this Convention for the purpose of putting stop to the wholesale frauds which have been openly admitted were committed in the black belts The people rose up against this condition. and demanded & change. They admitted the necessity of retain ing the supremacy of the whites, put said in effect that it muH be accom- plished by legal means. and pointed out the Constitutional provision as ar fording the only hope of relief. Unoer these conditions, the Constitutional Convention. which is now in session, was brought into existence.
 After the issue had been made upon the suffrage question. then the demand was made for a more economical ad- ministration of the affairs of the state, and the abolition of unnecessary onces, the adoption of a railway commission. with powers to do something. and radi- cal changes in the judiciary system These demands and the menace In them that the great corporate inter ests would be affected, induced the railroads and the other great corpora tions of the State to see that they had representatives on the floor of the Con vention, and the result is that hey have pretty nearly control of the body, and il is quite doubtful whether the Con- vention will be able to carry out the many reforms the people ask for. These powerful interests not only seek to dominate legislation so far as they themselves are concerned. but hold the key to the suffrage problem. The lat ter subject being the overshadowing one before the Convention. 1t is their interest to see that they keep a tight grip on that and through 1t Nominate other subjects before the Convention which are vital to them. This is par ticularly true of taxation, supervision of railroad and other corporations doing business here. The friends in the Convention of these great corpora tions demand that the Constitution, when it is adopted shall be submitted to the whole people: the other side maintains that 1t should go only to the persons qualified under it's provisions to vote. With the whip hand of the right to submit the Constitution to the whole people, the railroads and others. could easily defeat the Constitution should it contain provisions objection able to them. More than that. they could with the understanding that the work of the Convention was to be sub mitted to the whole electorate as now composed-that is including all the negroes-hold this as a menace to force the Convention not to adopt any measures which are repungant to them.
 The Democrats are in a strait in this matter They have assembled the Con vention. and promised the people to wipe out the political corruption and give them a brand new suffrage law. Not only that. but they have given every assurance that radEl reforms shall be adopted in the conduct of the State government, such as cutting down the number of officers and saw ing in all proper ways. The committee charged with the investigation of this subject have made comprehensive report. in which they recommend abol- ishing numberless offices. reducing the salary of the Governor, creating an entirely new and more economical judi cial system. These recommendations, it is claimed, will. if carried out, save the State something like a quarter of a million dollars annually. The offfce- holders. however. are bowling and are ready to fight the suggestions with might and main. The offices in Vir- Einia number something like 15,00e. Should these office holders perfect a combination with the corporations and some other elements. they could easily beat any Constitution this Convention may make. So the Democrats are not happy.
 Senator Daniel, who is the chairman of the Convention Committee on Suf- frage. and who is relied upon to carry through the Convention any measure which his committee may adopt. is be- lieved to be greatly embarrassed. The Senator said when the Convention was talked of and before it was called. that it might prove a political grave yard for many of those who became it's members. Major Daniel is evidently using all proper care to avoid being one of those who are consigned to the great political city of the dead. He is moving with the greatest caution in the matter of preparing a franchise plan. Any number of these have been suggested. but none has been accepted
 
 any of these various propositions. but is carefully weighing all that have been sent to his committee. The Sena- tor is a candidate for reelection. and naturally does not care to furnish any material for the political grave dig gers.
 Senator Martin. who has had some experience in this line. not in making Constitutions. but in helping to nomi- nate Governors this summer. is keep ing in the background just now. The overwhelming defeat with which the junior Senator met in his efforts to se- cure the nomination of Swanson for Governor seems to have induced him to keep out of the Convention fight. He has troubles of his own just now. While MT. Martin is apparently taking no hand in Constitution making, he is evidently greatly interested in what the Convention is doing and particular lv it's attitude towards the great cor porations of Virgina. He has always been friendly with the railroads and in some of the recent campaigns here has relied upon these to furnish the money with which to carry the State. This was particufarly true of the Legislat- i've contest in which MT. Martin de- feated Fitz. Lee for the United States Senate.
 The Democratic State Convention, which meets at Norfolk on the l4th, will nominate A. J. Monta que for Gov ernor: Joseph Willard. a Washington city millionaire, for Lieutenant Cover .or. and man for Attornav-GenaraI