Evening star., 1901-09-19
Alarm Among the Faithful in Vir-
ginia Over the Outlook.
EFFECT OF SUFFRAGE DISCUSSION
Mr.. Montague Tries to AIIay Sus'
picion of Masses.
r REPUBLICAN ACTIVITY Y
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

RICHMOND, Va, September 49, 1901.
"The democratic party will keep its pledge;
no white man will be deprived Of his vote,
and many good colored men will be allowed
to exercise the right of suffrage. / am no
prophet, yet 1 venture the prediction that
the suffrage clause will contain no prop
erty qualification. These statements are
based on direct and latest information, and
will be found as correct as human forecasts
can we'll be-"
The quotation above is from the first
speech of Attorney General Montague in
opening the campaign at Chatham, in his
home county, on Monday last Just whom
Mr.. Montagues informant was to the
anticipated action of the suffrage commit
tee, which is now wrestling with the suf-
frage proposition, is not known, but his
statement is not in accordance with the
action of the committee. Since the assem-
bling of the convention the committee has
been in almost daily conference on the sub
ject, and the fact is that the majority of
the committee have agreed on what is
known as the Thorn proposition, which re-
quires the payment of taxes on property to
the amount Of at least 81 a prerequisite
to exercising the right of suffrage, in ad-
d.tion to paying a capitation tax of $1.5O.
There is no question that the convention
in postponing action on the method of en-
acting the new Observation-Disclosures it
shall be proclaimed submitted to an
abridged or the full electorate-is causing
all sorts of trouble, and good deal of un-
easiness has begun to manifest itself as to
the success of the democratic ticket in the
coming election In all conclaveS of lead
ers the matter is being discussed with
alarm. The people do not know whether
they are to be allowed to vote on the ques-
tion or not, nor do they know that the
constitution is not to be forced upon them
NJ n ho
a pledge to allow the voters to have an
opportunity to pass upon the work of the
convention.
Sentiment of the Convention.
The sentiment in the convention is by
no means unit on the question of sub
mission, some of the ablest leaders in that
body having made speeches in favor of
submitting the work of the convention to
electorate as at present constituted. The
members from the rural districts-those
who in closest touch with the people
who are most affected by the operations
of the proposed changes-are the leaders in
favor of submitting to the present electo-
rate. The white counties want all the
people to vote while the representatives
from the "black belt are in favor either
of an abridged electorate or of proclaim
ing the constitution. 1t is in the white
counties that the greatest danger lies to
the success of the party. Delegate Wysor
OF Pulaski is convinced that the state tick
ct will be jeopardized at the coming cleo
tion by reason of the convention postpon-
ing the determination of this important
matter.
The republican state ticket is regarded as
good one and the nominees have taken
the stump in manner that indicates a
determination to make a canvass such as
has not been seen in the old dominion for
years. The republicans are using the
speeches of Mr.. Montague In the contest
for the nomination in which he charged
that a ring existed in the state by which
the will of the people was being thwarted
and that he was in favor of honest cleo
tions. pledging his efforts to publication
of all the evils said to exist natural
result of ring politics. 1t is the inten-
tion of the republicans to keep Mr.. Mon
tague and the whole state ticket on the de-
fensive in the campaign, and the boast is
openly made that the convention is doing
more to make the election of the repub-
lican ticket certain than anything the re-
publican campaigners could say in their
speeches on the stump.
WOrkingmen Will Vote Republican
Ticket.
One of the best known politicians in the
state told your correspondent day OF two
ago that he had been in consultation with
men from all parts of the state and that
the consensus of opinion was that ma
jcrity of the workingmen of the state would
this fall vote the republican ticket, par
ticularly in the manufacturing and indus
trial centers, due to the conditions pre-
vailing in the various branches of bust
ness.
In proof of the statement that the repub-
licans are sanguine of success it is an
nounced that they will make nominations
for the house of delegates and senate, the
prospects being much brighter through
out the state than was at first anticipated.
They are claiming that if Mr.. Montague
adheres to his declaration to give an honest
election he will see that majority of the
members of the legislature elected this fall
will be opposed to him politically, and that
he will fail Of election himself 1t is no
secret that Mr.. Montague has alienated a
great many of the most active political
workers of the state by what is denomi-
mated his savage attack on the party man
agement. notwithstanding the fact that he
is now attorney general Of the state by
and with the aid and consent Of the al
legged political machine in Virginia, and 1t
Is believed that great many Of the erst-
while leaders and managers-the fellows
who are charged by the republicans with
tests-will allow Mr.. Montague to have
his way and give him an honest election by
holding aloof from active participation in
the campaign And If the threat, as re-
ported, is carried out, then If Mr.. Montague
Is elected 1t will be by majority of less
than one-fourth Of that received by Gov
ernor Tyler four years ago. That Virginia
is good fighting ground for the republicans
no one who knows anything of conditions
will deny.