Evening star., 1901-06-13
Opening of the Virginia Constitu-
tional Convention Today.
VERY HOT WEATHER IN RICHMOND
Delegates May Find it impossible
to Continue There.
GOVERNOR TYLER'S ADDRESS
Special From a stan Correspondent.

constitutional convention have sweltered in
since their arrival in Richmond and they
will he ready to consider the propositions
already advanced either to adjourn the
contention to some town in the mountains
or take recess until fall. For the next
day or two the time will be consumed in
spcechmaking and work preliminary to
mapping out a line of procedure. The
real business of building a new constitution
| for the state. with all of the perplexing
and dscussion-provOking questions attach
| ing thereto, Is still some time ahead
| The event of the day was the speech de-
| liv~red by the governor of the state before
the convention. Prior to the assembling of
| the convention at noon there were a num-
her of conferences of influential delegates,
looking TO shaping line of action One
suggestion put forward is to appoint a
steering committee to bring in pro-
gram and to provide for the appointment of
the necessary committees and subcommit
tees that will prepare the drafts of pro-
posed amendments to the constitution upon
the most important subjects which the con-
vention proposes to handle
The visitor to the convention is imme
diateIy struck by the representative char
aCter Of the delegates, seeming to promise
careful Intelligent and conscientious work
that may be of lasting benefit to the state.
The delegates have evidently been chosen
from the best ranks of Virginia citizen
snip. and come from professional and busi-
ness fwalks OF life. The office holding class
is not unrepresented. but in Virginia that
Is recommendation rather than other
wise.
Composition of the Convention.
Not quite half the delegates are lawyers,
while sixty of the 100 members are grad
yates Of colleges. 1t is said that the pres
ence of such a large proportion Of busi-
ness men and farmers is Indicative of the
conce&n manifested by the people in the
growing industrial interests Of the state
and their desire TO have those interests pro-
tected in the framing of the new constitu-
tion.
While the convention Is overwhelmingly
democratic, the claim is put forward that
the work of the convention is to be non
partisan and solely for the veal of Nir-
ginia. 1t is assumed, of course, that Vir-
ginia's best interests will be conserved by
the democratic party.
Two questions seem to be most promi-
nestly in the minds of the delegates
limitation of negro suffrage and reform
and economy in state administration. The
negro suffrage question viii command the
longest and most labOriouS consideration
There are already indications of wide diff
fercnceS Of opinion among the delegates as
to ways and means TO accomplish the COM
mon end. and there are prospects of much
acrimonious debate when the convention
settles< down TO work
Ii is assumed that majority of the dele
gates are in favor of action that will limit
the exercise of the right to vote by the il
uterate cOlOred population. They base
their argument in favor thereof upon the
assertion that legal elimination OF unde-
sirabIe voting elements will tend TO reduce
frauds at the ballot box, now admitted to
be rampant IN the state. There is gen
eral desire for publication of election
methods. In recent years frauds have cut
both ways among the factions of the faith
fu. democracy as we'll against the re-
PUBLICAN enemy. The lessons learned in
dealing with the republican and the negro
vote have been remembered and applied in
democratic factional contests.
Against White Initerates. Too.
But there is also an element In the con-
v.rtion that would restrict illiteracy among
tie whites 1t is too early to gauge the
extent Of that feeling. and it would be
hazardous at best, to make very strong
prediction Of its prevailing.
Some members OF the convention have
supplied themselves with copies of the cleo
tiou laws of other southern states passed
under the new constitution. ard it is found
that there is generally a clear understand
iag Of the operation and effect of those
+ w. y majority Of the delegates proba-
Is are thoroughly posted upon this ques-
ton and viii he abe to deal with ii under
staudirgly. 1t is said there is a determina-
tIJn to compose the suffrage committee of
the best timber In the convention and to
put on il men whose names carry weight
throughout the state There will be con-
s---rah.e maEeuvering for place that
committee by the cOntending factions on
4 suffrage question.
leaving for a moment the burning issues
Cf the hour. il Is found that there are two
other subjects that are very near the
hearts Of the delegates one is the ques-
lion Of assessment and taxation of proper
" There has been great deal of COM
plaiut IN recent years of unjust assessment
and a consequent unequal bearing of the
Ourtf-ns Of taxation. The agriculturalist
Delegates are particularly concerned in this
and will insist upon its receiving its share
II attention by the convention The trust
IS surely scheduled for castgat!on
chances are IL will be nothing more than
tongue Iashing. however. The rule that
the lrishman applied at the Donnybrook
fair goes in Virginia, whenever you see a
trust, hit II. 1t Is expected that there will
be a great deal of able denunciation of the
hyd-a-headed monster. which will be re-
ceived with thunders of applause but the
wise ones are not looking for any whole
sale slashng of OF heads. Even the ven
cradle president Of the convention in sick
.ng the delegates onto the monster was
careful 10 admOnish them to heed the limi-
tation Of the federal Constitution.
Question of Negro Education
II Is predicted that the question of negro
education will cause some strife in the con-
vention: The old-line feeling is strong
against increasing the educational facilities
for the negro. Controverting this vigor-
ously, however. is a sentiment, viriIe rather
than prevailing, urging the broadest and
negro upon other lines as well as indus
trGl.
right TO vote because he is ignorant" they
say. and then to hamper him in efforts to
make himself worthy of the ballot. We in
sist that you shall live up to your decIara-
tiOn that you dlsfranchise the negro for
illiteracy. not because he Is a republican
and prove Ii by giving him opportunity to
improve himself"
The question will come up for discussion
in the consideration OF the proposition 10
extend common school education with
greater appropriations of the public money
Promptly at noon the convention was
raped to order by Mr.. John Goode the
venerable president OF the assembly. who
occupied a chair in an embrasure back of
the presiding officers desk.
The first prayer in the convention was de
lyered by Rabbi Calish of Beth Ahaba syn
asogue an eloquent. popular Hebrew pastor
known throughout the south.
Electric Fans Cool the Air.
The delegates were more comfortable in