Evening star., 1901-06-21
FAR APART IN VIEWS
Delegates to Virginia Convention Di-
Vided on Franchise Question.
AMENDMENTS START BALL ROLLING
Chairman Recognizes All Elements
in Appointing Committees,
THE WORK OF TODAY

Special F-om a Staff Correspondent.
RICHMOND, Va, June 21.-For the mo-
ment there is hull in the political con-
test, as the interest OF politicians gathered
| in Richmond now centers upon the pro-
| Ceedings of the constitutional convention.
The introduction yesterday of several pro-
posed amendments bearing upon the ques-
tion of suffrage has fairly set the ball roll
ing and discussion wakes warm wherever
a group of delegates or visitors are assem-
hed., Expressions heard on every side
give promise that the convention will be
torn with dissension upon this subject.
| The propositions advanced will run the
gamut from radicalism to conservatism,
| and each will be supported strenuously.
There is little doubt that in the end the
| negro will lose. and it is only a question
IF how much he can save from the wreck
in the contemplated assault upon his civil
rights
There is an element in the convention,
however. that will aid him in the undertake
ing Not that they love the negro but
that they are concerned for the fair name
Of the state and jealous Of the preservation
of great constitutional principles tradition
airy in Virginia. Taking a material view
OF the situation, they also foresee danger
To the industrial interests of the state in
radical action.
Judge 4uarfes' Position.
Judge Quarles of Staunton, one of the
ablest men in the convention, voiced this
sentiment He IS unaIterably opposed to
disfranchisement as practiced in the states
Of the far south. Virginia cannot afford
to take action that will bring upon her the
reprOach Of her sister states of the Union
fksays. ANY act of injustice TO a fraC-
tlrr of her citizens will in the end recoil
upon It's promoter The industrial progress
OF the state should not be retarded by the
work of this convention"
Judge Quarles idea Is that the dis
frauchisement should not extend beyond
those who cannot read and write, or who
have not a certain property qualification.
He represents the conservative sentiment
in the convention. and wide expanse sep
arates him and Representative-elect Flood.
who wouldfJr! n negroes from holding any
elective otfceNnder the state.
Every one is anxious that the question of
suffrage should be taken up at once and
passed upon. TO get 1t out of the way and
clear the track for consideration of other
questions before the convention of import
ance to the people.
Harrison's Amendment Unpopular
The proposition involved in the amend
merit offered by Mr.. Harrison of Frederick
county yesterday and telegraphed to The
Star. TO relinquish congressional appor-
tionment TO the extent that the negro
vote is disfranchised. does not find favor
with the delegates. Not that the equity of
1t is questioned. but the necessity In other
words, If it Were alternative between
giving up one more representatives in
q Congress and disfranchising the negro vote,
II would probably be decided that the men,
ace OF negro suffrage was not sufficient to
warrant the sacrifice. That, of course, is
an admission OF the weakness of the whole
proposition of sdisfranchisement, but as
stated heretofore, the clamor for wholesale
acknowledgements is sectional and not gen.
eral.
The plan of Delegate Thorn of Norfolk to
inaUgurate steps looking for a rnomerial
10 Congress 10 submit to the states the
question of the repeal of the fifteenth amend
ment to the United States Constitution is
REGARDED by many as beyond the province
81 this convention. and a Inakeshift at
best The trend of sentiment among dele
gates. expressed in conversation seems
to be stronger in the direction of imposing
property qualification upon voters al
though, of course. the radicals will en-
deavor to have evasive clause included
for the benefit of the poor whites.
Standing Committee Appointed.
When the convention assembled at noon
today prayer was delivered by the Rev DR.
Hawthorne. There was a Eull attendance
OF members, in anticipation of the an
nouncemeut of the appointment of the
stasding committees of the convention
When the committee on the elective fran
chise was announced il was seen that
President Goode had recognized all fac
uons OF sentiment i'll the makeup of this
committee Senator Daniel was made
chairman of the committee, and among his
o associates Judge Harrison of Frederick
Flood of Appomattox. Thorn of Norfolk
and Judge Green OF DanviiIe, representing
the extremes of opinion for and against
disfranchisement. All of the members of
tbis important committee WelI-known
and competent men. enjoying the conf
dence of the convention. Senator Daniel
said he would call a meeting of the COM
Tnittee some time next week.
The full membership of the suffrage COM
mittee is follows: John W. Daniel W.
\. Anderson, IL ID. Flood, John H. Ingram
Alexander Hamilton. Geo. D. Wise. j. G.
Wysor. Alfred +. Thorn. r. Lindsay Cor
don. James H. Lindsay. Clagett b. Jones.
Henry c. Stewart, Eerrman Green Wood
I3a,Ildin. D. w. Boien. Walter A. Watson.
Francis l.. Smith, Gilmer s. Kendall
Thomas II. Barnes, Thomas W. Harrison
Albert p. Gillespie and Thomas L. Moore.
Oath Question Comes Up Again.
After the committees We're announced the
question of requesting the administering
= of the oath was revived by Delegate John
Z. Summers. who proffered last Monday to
file All oatn. He moved to take from the
liable his motion made Monday to enter the
oath upon the record.
Mr.. Summers motion precipitated de-
barN that was shared by many of the lead
Staunton was the first speaker He main
tained that II would be improper to force
the oath upon the delegates in the absence
of any provision of law requiring the oath
to be administered.
Other Committees Namedl
Other committees announced today were
follows:
On preamble and bill Of right, the divi-
s1tN OF governmental powers and on such
portions of the constitution as shall not be
referred to other committees-Berryman
Green, William b. Petit, Hill Carter John
8. Barbour. n. b. Wescott. David q. Egg
gieston. Goodrich Hattou, X. 8. Parks
Preston W. Campbell, Branch J. Epes
Abraham l.. Pedigo.
On the executive departments-Wm. E.
C1Fneron, Carter Glass. Beverly A. Han
cock, Henry Fairfax. James Marshall c..
Harding Walker, E H. Loven, il. D.
Flood James n. Hooker, Joseph L. Bar
ham, Robert W. Blair
On legislative departmental. Walton
Moore. w. Gordon Robertson, Hill Carter
N B. Westcott. Robert Turnbull Thomas
W HARRISON, James B. Richmond James
N. Hooker. John W. Lawson. J. NJ Quarles