Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-12-12
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

TIE meeting of the Constitutions
Convention was enlivened yesterday by
a speech from Mr.. Glass, In which h'
charged that deals were made in thu
Legislature when offices were to bt
filed. The question under discussion
was the Pollard amendment, providing
that judges OF the Supreme Court bt
appointed by the governor, and the
Withers amendment, providing ths
they be elected by the people. Mr.
Glass said the chairman ofthe judiciary
committee, by striking 90 close to the
principle of election by the legislature
was running the risk OF losing all. He
declared that election by the Legislature
was putting the judges on bargain
counter.
He begged Mr.. Hunton TO vote fol-
the Pollard amendment, to prevent
having the judges elected by the people
Mr.. r. Walton Moore made a speech
In favor of Mr.. Withers' amendment Ia
elect them by the people, and il that
failed for Mr.. Pollard's, providing TO:
appointment by the governor, by and
with the consent OF the general assem-
bly,. There were other speeches on
both sides, Chairman Hunton contend
ing against both amendments.
Both amendments were lost, thus
settling the matter as far as the com
mittee OF the whole is concerned, and
the committees report, providing for
their election by the legislature, will
stand, unless changed when the matter
comes up for discussion in open con-
vention,
Mr.. Dunawsy's amendment to have
twenty-seven circuits instead oftwenty.
four. and rejected.
The liquor dealers and manufacturers
of the State were given a hearing by
the finance committee yesterday even
ing 10 opposition to the Harrison reso-
luton, which provides for high license
to be levied exclusively by the State
representatives Of municipalities.
The saloonkeepers contended that
the additional tax would drive numbers
OF dealers out OF business; that II all
revenue were taken away from towns
and cities it would not be long before
local option prevailed; that innumerable
speskeasies would result, the local
authorities, having no financial interest
10 the business, relaxing their police
supervision; the State would lose an i'm.
mense amount OF revenue because the
local incentive to collect the tax would
be destroyed. Mr.. A. Won N. Roseneek
Iorcibly argued that the destruction of
saloons nesnt the destruction of brew.
cries and the immense amount of capi-
IAl and property they represented.
Senator Glass made q speech before
the democratic conference of the Con-
Convention last plight sgains
The permanent understanding clause. !
BE declared that the true object and
,eed of suffrage plan was to relieve |
white men from thethreat ofnegro domi- |
nation, which had been used as a club |
o dragon good men into submission |
% all forms of political and other chic |
,anery. His objection to the under
Handing clause was that 1t required |
Sc, 900 white people to undergo the or
ieol OF an examination and subject |
heir rights of suffrage to the caprice OF |
IN election officer. He said Mr.. Dan
els plan put on $4,000 negro voters TO
,egin with, and its requirements for the
uture were not severe enough. He |
poke for the temporary understanding
lause in his own plan. This, be said,
'ut white people beyond the ordeal OF
Is operations. and would be used but
nee to exclude negroes from the cleo
crate until 1908, when tho poll tax
prerequisite and the requirement of a
written application to register for all
lot previously registered will come TO-
o operation and keep the negroes shut
ut.