The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-21
So He Writes Negro Industrial
Society Meeting Here.
ADDRESS ISSUED TO ALL RACE
Every Effort Will Be Made by Negroes
to Raise Money to Emp.oY Big
Counsel-AlI in the State Called
Upon to Contribute-Reso
lutions Adoped Con-
denning States, Etc

That the colored people of Virginia Will
contest the validity of the new Consttu-
Ion is now almost beyond quesuon.
Hon. John S. Wise. of New York, is
likely to be one OF the counsel TO re-
present the negroes. and Judge Lewis
ana Senator Thurston are expected TO be
his associates The declared purpose OF
the Negro 1ndusturial and Agricultural
Society at its convention here Monday
and Tuesday to raise money to pa"
counsel leaves no question as to their
determination.
In a letter to that society and presented
at its meeting Mr. Wise expresses the
opia.on that the Constitution VIII no.
stand.
lie was seen last night by the Times
correspondent in New York and made
the following statement:
.! have been asked by committee
of Nirginian negroes to act as counsel
in the case of a, negro. The indlVlduai
concerned is not the principal question,
but tie validity Of the new Constitution
OF the State is. A very grave legal
question is to be confronted. 1t is yet
TO be determined whether the nev Con-
stitution Of Virginia is not in conflict
with the Constitution of the United
States. Personally, l am interested in
the issue and may come to participate
in it profess. .onally.''
MIR. Wise was then at the Union
League Club.
The Times correspondent had previously
called at Mr.. Wise's residence Oh 10Th
Street. and heard from a colored butler
that MIR. Wise and his son. of the same
name. have been quite interested in the
matter, talking about it only the other
evening without coming TO a decision.
The butler said he used to be with the
Wise family in Virginia, owned some
property there and had something at
stake In the settlement of the question"
NOT YET RETAINED.
Mr.. Wise, at the Union League Club
said further. You may say that I have
been spoken to, but am not yet retained
In the case. The committee, the member
ship of which l prefer not to name at
present, is endeavoring TO raise money,
] understand for the sake of the cause.
But l do not know whether the matter
has taken definite shape as yet.
The question involved is of uncommon
Importance. The whole organic law OF
the State of Virginia is at issue. Is the
new Constitution valid? Now, l be-
lieve there is no political feeling in this
case l will proceed along that line.
Thousands of virginians, white as well
as colored, are awaiting with intense
personal interest any move in the case.
The gravity Of questioning the validity
of the Constitution of any State as con-
t1ictinE with the United States Constitu-
tion is important beyond estimate, no
matter how Insignificant in itself may be
the incentive for investigation.
This Virginia question. in my opinion
will draw the attention of the eminent
Surists of the country.
LETTER TO THE SOCIETY.
Mr.. wise's letter to the negro society
Is as follows:
while / am not fully prepared in their
rase. / have examined the question suf
fcicntly to feel certain that in proper
proceedings the courts will hold that
the new Constitution of Virginia is not,
has never been, and cannot be the law
ful Constitution OF Virginia: that the
convention. neither by the popular or
claim it, and that it will be held a
nuliity, and all efforts to treat 1t as
valid or binding upon the people OF
e'''''' JOHN S. WISE"
ADDRESS TO THE RACE.
After hearing this letter the society
en Tuesday adopted an address TO the
coored people Of the State. asking
them all to contribute money to pay
counsel in this fight.
A set OF resolutions We're also adopted,
In which were condemned the actions
OF those States whose object was to dis
franchise the negro, all class Legislation.
tbs, part of the press which takes pride
in setting forth thai the negro is a
criminal and unworthy Of respect. A
committee was appointed to see the
officials of the Seaboard Air Line, At
lantic Coast Line and Atlantic and Dan
vile, it being alleged that these roads
provide better accommodation for the
negro than the white.