The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-12


and sweeping In Its nature and swas not
at all adapted to the gconsti tuencies to-
M nom 1t was to be administered.
IN giving his advice against adopting
the ma oritys report he stated that no
believed public opinion in Virginia was
2overwhelmingly3on his side.
M He thought the permanent Understand
ing clause would give rise to endless Cor
&rlption, fraud and Generalization which
would increase as time passed
SHALL BE TE.NIPORARY.
M He was reluctant TO recommend any
kind of an understanding clause, but II
was necessary to have a temporary fea-
tlre Of that nature to prevent disqualify-i
ing illiterate white men Of the present
generation from exercising the right OF
free men. the right Of the ballot It was
distasteful to him to have to sign his
name to any measure that would make
eny kind OF fraud possible in the adminis-
tration OF a law but he had no. other
& choice OF weapons with which to fight
to maintain the integrity Of the white
race and at the same time fulfill solemn
party pledges He hoped all critics OF
the understanding clause, temporary or
permanent, would remember this. that it
was the only legal efficient expedient that
would accomplish the end sought lt
was the only expedient which had peen
passed upon by the Supreme Court Of the
United States, and it had said In the
Williams case from Mississippi that It
was an honest and justifiable expedlent
IL honestly administered.
Senator Daniel next reviewed the grand
father clause and said he was glad that no
member of the Committee had signed MS
name to any report Recommending IT,
for he would never have given his sup
port or his vote for it, because II was
-, etrE- ho
Constitution.
lie said, while he did not wish to add
to the embarrassment of North Carolina
| and louisiana. he could not refrain
from expressing himself in a Virginia
|convention. He then preceded to argue the
unconstitutionality of the scheme, Whlch
| had heretofore been argued at length ny
Messrs. Thorn, Glass, Anderson, Braxton.
and many other speakers at former con-
ferences.
MILITARY EXEMPTION.
iSpeaking Of the military exemption
clause, which in the Glass plan applied
to any lawful descendant of any person
who had served in the war he said he
was opposed to any hereditary feature.
but that he would support 1t, and this
| only as an escape from having to accept
the permanent understanding clause.
lie was very earnest in his opposition
to a property qualification and said that
he hoped in adopting expedients for
relief from present conditions, The con
sideration of any property quall1ca tion
" ould be dropped from CONSIDERATION
entirely Under property quallfc a'.,l ., :
the biggest rich fool could vote, while
the wjsest and most patriotic poor man.
would be denied a voice in the affairs
| Of government
He named counties in which two-thirds
OF the white population would be dis
franchised. He said such a thing az re-
turning to the old system of property
| qualification for voting had not been
dreamed of by the people of Virginia
when the convention was called.
To do this thing would be going against
the grain of human history and was
challenging fate.
AN ELOQUENT CLOSE.
In conclusion he paid an eloquent tr1-
butte to the valor and patriotism of the
Southern people since the war. and said
it even surpassed their heroic deeds dur
ing that terrible struggle, and implored
the convention not to enact any ordi-
| nance that would wound the sensiblities
Of a sigle one Of their faithful, heroic
and long suffering friends.
There was not the slightest indication
C exhaustion or WEAKNESS when he con-
Guided, his voice being as mellow, strong
and clear as when he first began
Immediately took a recess until CLOCK.
Afternoon Session.
When the conference met at o'clock
Mr. r. L. Gordon, offered an amendment
to section three of the Glass plan pro-
>iding for a property qualification of
500 to all, except to soldiers or their de-
scendants-the husbands, sons or parents
of those assessed with 5000 worth OF
pre- perty.
MT. Gordon stated that in offering this
amendment heFdid not wish in any sense
t., be in antagonism to the majority
permanent understanding clause OF the
r.a iority report He was simply trying
tn perfect the Glass plan while that was
being considered.
800 Mr.. KEEzELL OPPOSES.
Mr.. keezell strongly opposed the
amendment. saying he was willing to go
as far as voting for temporary under
standing clause, a capitatlon tax prere-
dulsite and an educational qualification,
to satisfy the black belt, however much
he was personally against it, but he
would never vote for or support per-
manent understanding or a property
qualification scheme.
Mr. Stuart in protesting against the
amendment said that while the race
conditions were acute in one section Of
the State, there were other conditions
while property qualification would
solve q, trouble in one portion it would
create a worse one in another.
Mr. Flood explained that almost all
white men would come in under the
soldier and soldier descendant clause of
the Glass plan, and the amendment
would only provide a future protection
against the negro voter who would
| come in after the Glass temporary un-
Outstanding clause had ceased to oper-
ate, and because it would be some pro-
| lection in the future. He said he de-
sireu to protect the white electorate of
| tie State after the temporary under
st;l,ldlns clause had ceased to protect.
Alr.x Meredith deprecated having this
Jrc pcrty clause injected at this stage OF
the game, When the issue of a perma-
nent or temporary understanding
| clause had just about renched the point
| where a vote could be taken. He was
afraid it was a trick by the permanent
understanding advocates to load down
| the temporary understanding plan, to
| mystify and defeat it.
BREAK UP THE PARTY.
Captain Parks and DR.. #Dunawaya made
I