The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-14
PROPER CLAUSE
IS KNOCKED OUT
Turnb.uIl Substitute '' for the Glass
Plan Defeated.
DIRECT VOTE TAKEN TO-DAY.
This VIII Decide whether OF No. tue Tempo
rary Understanding Clause Shall Be
the Feature Of the New
Suffrage Article.
DIRECT VOTE TAKEN TO-DAY

~ D.
bur more of them than heretofore, tue
suffrage conference yesterday came TO
81 vote on the IurnDull substitute Tor tie
Glass plan and defeated it.
This makes twice that the property
qualification feature has been voted OIL
and defeated. either for q large or small!
amount, as an alternative or q straight
out qualification. So far the property
qualification, the straiGhtout grandfather
clause and the permanent understanding
provisions have been rejected by the con-
ference by large majorities. They are the
only direct votes yet had. 1t is difficult
to say what will be the fate of the tenn
porary understanding clause when 2 III
rect test vote is taken on it but there
is genial impression that it it, too, will
be rejected. If so, everything will have
tc be begun over again and forces VIII
divide up between a permanent under
standing or a grandfather scheme. as
embraced in the majority and the Ear
bour plans.
Io-day's direct vote on the Glass plan
will settle the matter, and if /: is fa-
voras.e, the convention can soon COM
plete consideration of the su:fraG, ar
ticle
HELD SHORT SESSION.
Rev. P. A. Cave, of the Christian
Church, opened rhe convention at 10
o clock with prayer The roll-caIl showed
Ga members present.
Mr. Meredith, of the Committee on FL
nance and Taxation. presented an account
for services rendered the committee by an
expert accountant and railroad statisti-
clan. He said the services of this expert
were invaluable to the committee and
members felt that instead of paying his
expenses out Of their own pockets it
should be a legitimate and necessary ex-
peESe of the convention. He asked that
the bill be referred to the Committee on
Accounts and Expenditures, which was
done.
The convention adjourned at 1915
O'Clock and the suffrage conference was
called, Judge Robertson in the chair.
SUFFRAGE CONFERENCE.
Mr.. Meredith made a brief speech in
support of an amendment to the Turnbull
substitute for the Glass plan which was
pending as follows:
1.-The property qualification above set
forth shall not be required in any coun-
ty, city, or town for electors in elections
held therein for local officers. if. prior to
January 1, 1906 at an election held for
that purpose. majority of the voters of
such county. city, or town shall vote to
be SO relieved
In the course of his speech. Mr.. Mere
dith stated that the negro question did
not disturb the politics of richmond at all.
He was asked if Jackson Ward and the
presence of negroes in the electorate had
not brought about political corruption in
Richmond politics as we'll as in ether sec
tions.
He replied that the negro had no effect
in Richmond elections. That in Rocking
ham county, with only 600 negroes. they
held the balance of power and could turn
the scales either way.
He said that he had left the Democratic
party once and it tore his heart strings
IL ~ I-cI 70 hly va IN,
do it any more.
In reply to a question from Major An
derson he explained that he voted for
Palmer and Buckner. and would do it
again under the same conditions.
Judge Richmond: $50 did and I would
do it again.
Mr.. Meredith in discussing the neces-
sity for his amendment. spoke forcibly in
opposition to the temporary understand
ing clause of the Glass plan, and insisted
that it was not constitutional and would
be so decided the first time it came before
the Supreme Court.
a SLENDER THREAD.
He claimed that it would be dreadful
to risk the whole future of the State
on so Slender thread as the hope of the
Supreme Court deciding the understand
ing clause constitutional. Tt was all
right to appeal to members from the VAL
ley and the Southwest to come TO the
aid of the black belt and adopt the Glass
plan, but it was an entirely different
matter when the men from Maine. Ma
sachusetts and Minnesota came to pass
upon it.
He said a property qualification was
distastefuI to him, but he could find
nothing else which would legally solve
the problem. and il the amendment he
proposed was adopted the plan could be
fitted to the necessity of each commit
nifty Unless such an amendment was
adopted the people would defeat the
Constitution just as sure as they got
chance at it.
Mr.. Meredith went into a legal argu-
ment on the various points brought up
to show wherein the understanding clause
was unconstitutional and the military