Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-10-10
For House Of Delegates,
W. L. Moore.
NOT FRIGHTENED?

Last week it became known that ex
Judge l.. l.. Lewis, of the Supreme Court /
of Appeals Of Virginia, and Senator Thurs
ton, of Nebraska, had been employed to /
test the new Constitution of Virginia, as
soon as it is completed, i'll the Supreme
Court of the United States. When the
fact became known, the Democrats pre-
tended that it gave them no concern, that
they know what they are about and that
thew will make constitution that will
stand the tests in any and all the courts
This exhibition of Indifference and cour
age is all pretense. The very manner in
which they lave proceeded to shape their
suffrage law is sufficient to show that they
are not only uncertain of their ability but
that they are completely demOralized.
The Democratic members of the Suffrage
Committee have been taxing their greai
intellects for nearly four months in vain
effort to agree upon a plan which would
accomplish the purposes of the Democra'
cy-that is, that would disfranchise Re
publcans and not Democrats. If news
paper reports were true, Senator Daniel
aud others, who are members of the con
yention, we're induslriously at work on the
same line some time before the convention
convened.
The first show of doubt that was made
by the Democrats was the refusal OF the
members of the Constitutional Convention
to take an OATH This was an acknowledge
ment that, TO accomplish their purpose,
il would become necessary to violate the
Constitution of the United States. Colo
mel Cameron, in his speech on the eatll
question admitted as much, and his
speech was endorsed by the press and
those members of the convention who re-
fused to take the oath.
The next declaration Of fear was the de-
clared intention to proclaim The Consti-
tuition, instead of submitting it to the PEG
ole for ratification or rejection. 1t was a
confession that the new Constitution will
so outrage the rights Of the masses that it
would be rejected by the people.
Now, after four months of constant e.
fort. the Democratic members Of the SUI
fraee Committee have been unable to
agree and have reported two suffrage
MANS to the convention. Instead of these
reports being acted upon promptly, we
find the work of the convention delayed
that the Democratic members may caucus
on the two reports, and, if possible, deter
mine which is most likely to stand in the
courts. Is this not confession of want
of confidence in either of them. If the
Democratic members have so much conf
dence in the consttutionality of the suf-
frage plans reported, why are they unwll-
linz for the merits or dement's of the re
spected measures to be discussed in open
convention where the opinions ofindividu-
al members will become matter ofrecord?
They are ratified. That's what's the mat
ter. The whole convention movement and
making of a new constitution are based on
fraudulent Act Of the General Assembly.
1t is the open and avowed purpose of the
Democratic members of the convention to
violate the Constitution of the United
States, as the records of the convention
abundantly show. No wonder we find
the Democracy whistling to keep up their
courage.