Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-12-05
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1901.
IN A MIDDLE.

If ever any body of men were IN com
plete muddle the Democratic members OF
the Constitutional Convention find them
selves in that situation The situation may
be painfully embarrassing, but they can
blame no one but themselves and Their
party. If there had been more sincerity
and less duplicity such unfortunate condi'
tions would not now exist. The Conven-
ton seems to be hopelessly at sea on all
the important questions that have come
before if. and six months have been con-
sumed in the discussion of subjects that
are seemingly as far from settlement as at
the beginning.
1t was pretended that the Convention
had been called to reform the suffrage
laws in such a way that honest politics
would be known once more in virginia
It was also claimed that the purpose was
to give more economical administration
of our State and county governments, ana
that the people would be invested with
more power in the selection of State,
county and municipal officers. These
promised reforms we're all to be made for
the general public welfare, and upon such
a pretext the Democratic party called the
Convention and elected its members to do
the work.
As soon as the Convention assembled 1t
proceeded to disclo a partisan spirit
that aroused apprehenslons on the part Of
more conservative citizens. 1t was soon
very evident that the object of those VIII"
dominated the Convention were more
anxious to serve their party than to hene'
fit the State. In their treatment of the
suffrage and other questions their chief
anxiety has been to handle them in way
that will help Democracy rather than help
the masses. AS result all kinds of wild
and impractical schemes have been pre-
sented, and no member has yet been able
to suggest plan that meets the approval
o. a majority; and there are almost as
MANY different kinds of opinions as there
are members. If there had been an hon
est purpose to give us a plain, honest
suffrage law, non. partisan in its opera
lions and that would contribute 10 the
general welfare, there would have
been no trouble in promptly reaching a
happy conclusion. 1t is the insincerity
and Partisanry of the Democratic mem
bers that has caused SO much delay and
produced such intermnable confusion.
The same may be said of the treatment
of all other questions. We find Demo
cratic members favoring plans for the cleo
ton of csSain offers by the people and
the appointing of others that should be
elected by the people. For instancei IL has
been determined that the State Superin-
tendent Of Public Instruction shall be
elected by the Teople; aud that the county
superintendents of county schools shall be
app tinted Ivy partisan board. 1t has
also been determined that the judges OF
all the courts shall be elected by the Leg
islature, and it is being strongly urged
that the right of the people to elect JUS
tees of the peace shall be taken away and
the circuit courts shall be given authority
to appoint the justices. OF course these
inconsistent positions are taken from an
eager desire to give the Democratic party
all the officers, State, county and munich
pal.
With SO much insincerity attending
every movement of the Convention Is
there any wonder that it is in such q mud
Ole?