The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-12
Z THE DAY in DETAIL.

The convention met at 10 O'clock
prayer by Rev. G. @. Meade. of the Epis-
copal Church, IS members being present.
Memorials favoring the Barbour liquor
license resolution were presented and
leaves of absence were granted members
The convention went into the Commit
tee Of the Whole to consider the report
of the Judiciary Committee Chair
man Hunton spoke briefly in OPP
position to the substitutes for section
offered by Dr. Runaway. which creates
81 circuits instead of the q reported by
the committee The substitute was reject
ed by an overwhelming majority.
Section was then passed without
amendment.
Section authorizes the Legislature to
rearrange the circuits when the public
interests require, except that no new
circuit shall be created containing less
than sixty thousand inhabitants Or re-
ducing any circuit already created be-
low that number.
Mr.. Wise lloved to amend py Striking
cut all limitation on the Legislature as TO
the population of any ncw district. lie
thought it unwise to restrict the Legis-
lature, because the necessities or com
munity very often depend as muca on
lis pOpuIa ton, as the character OF the IN
dustries of its citizens Mr.. Hatton sup
ported the amendment in a strong speech
accepted the amendment. and the portion
of section nine, limiting the population
Of a circuit to be created or changed by
the Legislature. was struck out.
SUPREME COURT JUDGES.
The special order. Eaing the amendment
offered by Mr. Pollard to section hve.
that Supreme Court judges be appointed
by the Governor. coming up. Mr. r. Wal
ton Moore suggested that the WhoIe
question of electing judges by the people
be reopened. Chairman Hunton said the
matter would certainly come up IN the
convention. and the consideration no"
should be confined to the Pollard amend
ment.
Mr. Moore stated that i: great many
preferred election of judges by the peo-
pie, and they did not desire to conslder
the Pollard amendment until all hope OF
electing by the people was lost de
moved to pass by the Pollard amendment
and take up the Withers' motion to re-
consider the vote by which the election
of judges by the people was defeated
The chair ruled it out of order for
the Committee of the Whole to pass by.
without authority from the convention
a motion to rise was defeated.
Mr. R. Walton Moore spoke in
support OF the Pollard amendment, pre-
facing his remar ks by saying he preferred
that judges should be elected by the peo-
| pie though he had not been free from
| doubt.
Mr.. James W Gordon spoke strongly
in favor of Mr.. Pollard's amendment.
Chairman Hunton spoke for the report
OF the committee, basing his opposition to
eiecting by the people largely on the
character of the present electorate, there
| being such a number OF negro voters.
! Mr.. Withers asked if the Constitution
| passed a suffrage law would Mr.. Hunton
favor the election Of judges by the peo-
| pie.
will do replied Mr.. Hunton, ''but have
not said the character of the electorate
was my only objection to electing by the
people
The Pollard amendment was rejected,
| but a motion to reconsider was adopted
by a vote OF SO to %
Mr.. GLASS FIERY SPEECH.
Mr. Glass said the chairman of the
Judiciary Committee. by striking so close
| to the principle of election by the LeSis-
lature. was running the risk OF losing
ALL He declared that election by the
Legislature was putting the judges on
bargain counter. ApplauseD It would
make a man despair of Virginia to come
to the Legislature and see how elections
Were conducted. In the last few days
you have seen men voted in the LegisIa-
ture in blocks of five, and great offices
dependent on bargains made for clerk
ships of committees; and great men pun
1shed for adherence to a principle. He
declared that if the judges were not Sc
lected by the Governor, Mr.. Hunton