Evening star., 1901-08-31
Delegates Resent the Remarks of
the Republican Member.
WORK OF The COMMITTEES
Members Of the Suffrage Commit
tee Fail to Agree.
SMALL ATTENDANCE TODAY
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
RICHMOND, Va, August 31-The con-
stitutional convention was called to order
at noon today. The attendance was con-
siderably smaller than at any time since
the body reconvened. The galleries had
about one-half Of their usual quota of spec
tators. while on the floor there were several
vacant seats. Ten colored men rested their
heads on the railing in the western gallery,
the speeches not being to their liking
President Goode presided Prayer was
offered by the Rev. H. p. Atkins of the
Marshall Street Christian Church.
President Goode laid before the body a
number of memorials in favor of the
Quarles and Barbour resolutions restricting
the liquor traffic, and against sectarian ap-
preparations. The memorials were referred.
Mr. Braxton of Augusta presented q
memorial from the city council of Staunton
protesting against the classifying Of the
cities of the state, whereby that city would
be put among the cities Of the second class.
Delegate Richmond Explains.
Delegate Richmond of Scott, arising to
question of privilege, denied the accu-
racy of a statement in a morning paper
which had said that he was opposed to
submitting the new constitution to the
electorate. The publication was incorrect,
as he had stated that he was in favor Of
first seeing what was proposed. He IA
vored the Wysor amendment
Delegate Braxton moved that the con-
ventlon go into committee of the WHOLE
which motion was agreed to, and Mr.
Ognized.
He said that he had no desire to make
a speech, but justice to his constituents
demanded he should correct the idea that
of hf1 rpv,tu
He hoped that such impression was due to
the lights before the people of Richmond
1t was not his purpose to raise from the
pool of political demagogy the incendiary
on yesterday" He extolled his people, and
'on behalf of the people who had been mis-
represented in the convention" he repudi-
ated the statements made yesterday.
Delegate Gordon of Richmond followed.
He was opposed to the long preamble, say
ing that the sovereignty of the people was
concentrated in the convention, and he be-
heved that the wisdom OF the convention
was such that would provide an instru-
ment that would be credit to the people
The body was supreme and could ordain a
constitution. The time was inopportune
however, IN his opinion for determin-
ing the disposition of the question of SUBJ
mission.
WaddiH Replies to Summers.
Mr.. Waddill of Henrico, replying to the
statement of Delegate Summers that east
ern Virginia had produced only peanuts,
mosquitoes and little politicians, said that
from the remarks of the distinguished
statesman from Washington county. with
out being offensive, he thought he was
much of a peanut politician.
Mosquitoes he said transmitted disease
and he expressed the hope that one of the
insects would not in an unguarded moment
bite him, lest the poison should lodge in
some person who was stranger to the
views expressed by him. In the waters Of
eastern Virginia there was a remedy for
the malady from which the Washington
county member suffered, but he feared that
it was too late. Fish was recognized as the
greatest brain food in the world.
Judge Hancock of Chesterfield followed.
He favored the minority report on the pre-
amble. The pledge made by the Norfolk
convention should be respected. Honesty,
morality and justice could not be measured
by dollars and cents, and the constitution
should be submitted to the full electorate
Delegate McIlwaine of Prince Edward
said he should vote in accord with his own
convictions after the deliberations of the
body. He snapped his fingers at the fiat of
the Norfolk convention. The members,
as competent to vote the day they con-
vened as at any time.
Mr.. Wysor-"Will the gentleman allow
me to interrupt him?"
Mr.. McIlwaine-'No, sir. don't believe
in Interruptions at home, and I won't do
1t here"
A roar of laughter filled the suppression
of Mr.. Wysor by the nild-mannered Dr.
McIlwaine, who continued his speech with
out further Interruptions. Neither the Nor
folk convention nor the legislature could
bind the body. The members should be
free to exercise the God given right to vote
their convictions and not the sentiment Of
a political party.
The committee rose and at o'clock ad-
journed. vote on the preamble will be
taken next Thursday.
Work of Committees.
The committee on executive departments,
at it's meeting today, discussed the ques-
tion of the election of the auditor and
treasurer but no decision was reached The
present system had its advocates, and also
there were those who favored the election
by the people. It was decided to have a
final vote on the question next Thursday.
member Of the committee said today
that he believed the sentiment was In ia
vor of the present mode.
There Is no sign Of agreement in the
suffrage committee" This was the reply
Of the chairman of the committee today as
he left the committee room with a tired.
worn look on his face.
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Marine COrna nr6ors