Evening star., 1902-04-30
CAPT. WYSOR'S VIEWS
HE FAVORS SUBMITTING VIR-
GINA CONSTITUTION.
Delegate Harrison Of Amherst is for
Proclaiming It After Sub
mission.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star
RICHMOND, Va, April 29-Captain J..
G. Wysor of Pulaski is more than ever con-
vinced that it is the duty of the convention
to submit the constitution to the people for
their approval. He was asked today by
your correspondent for statement of his
views on the mass meetings now being
held throughout the state for the purpose Of
1nstructing delegates to the sentiment
in the counties
II have always been in favor of SUBJ
mission to the people. If the people say
that the constitution is a bad one, then let
them defeat 1t. If it is a good one-and
think it is, and shall go on the stump and
support it-then 1 believe that it will be
adopted. All this clamor that is being
raised throughout the state about people
being in favor of the proclama ton of the
constitution Is amusing. They-the pro-
claimers-declare that nine men out of
every ten are in favor Of proclamation.
That may be so, and if it is so, then there
is so much the less reason for proclaiming
the constitution. Where nine out Of ten
men are in favor of thing, and the fell
lows who favor any proposition have the
count in an election. l see very little
chance for the defeat of the proposition.
Certainly no change of sentiment sufficient
to overcome such claim-if the speakers
know whereof they asserts possible.
THE advocates of proclamation weaken
their own case when they say that nine
men out Of ten are in favor of that method
of disposing Of the new constitution, and
then decline to allow it to be voted on.
There is no significance to the cry that 1t
will cost great deal to submit to the peo-
pie. We have to elect members Of Congress
this fall, and 1t will not cost $1,000 ad-
d1t1onal to vote on the constitution. Then
it will have the effect Of bringing out good
big vote for members Of Congress, and the
party will have kept its sacred pledge made
at the Norfolk convention. And want you
to mark my words on this point: We will
have good deal more trouble in elections
hereafter than we have ever had If the con-
stitution is proclaimed. You have no idea
Of the number Of people who are ready to
jump the party, and are only waiting for
pretext to do so, and as soon as the negro
is eliminated from politfcs-which will be
done when the new constitution is made
operative-you will see hundreds Of men
who will experience change Of heart and
go over to the republicans. Now, mark
that prediction"
Beverley r. Harrison of Amherst county
a former member of the general assembly,
was here yesterday. He is in favor Of proc
lamation. but thinks it would be well for
the convention to take recess and submit
the constitution to the people-as was done
In kentucky-and in case it Is rejected the
convention could reassemble and make q
change and then proclaim 1t. He suggested
that change which would be important
would be that Of returning to the hold-over
senate-have the members Of that body
chosen for four years, one-half each two
years. He favors the constitution, and were
1t submitted to the people he would take
the stump in Its behalf.
To show the worth Of mass meetings
which are being held in various sections Of
the state the one held at Mecklenburg
Court House few days ago is declared by
Judge d. A. Christian. editor of the county
paper. to have been almost a secret meet
Ing. There were, he says. just twenty-five
persons present, and that nothing was
known of the meeting until reports Of what
transpired were seen In newspapers pub
lished right here in Richmond. The editor
of the paper offered to publish the notice
of the meeting, but it was never presented
to him, and he was greatly surprised when
he read that the county had instructed the
delegate to vote as he had expressed his
determination to do.