Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-01-23
THURSDAY. JANUARY %. 1902.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS.

either in its disposition or ability to satis'
factorily settle the questions it was prom
ised etould be speedily and intelligently
disposed of. The people had been led to
indulge in great expectations. and that
has made the disappointment more bitter
and humiliating.
Some of our Democratic friends have
thought us at times too severe in our criti-
cisms of the work Of the Convention; but
IL these friends will only read what Demo
cratic papers have been constantly saying
about the Convention, they will conclude
that their political friends are no more
tolerant of its conduct than We have been.
One of the most prominent men in the
body, some time after its deliberations
began, announced that it was occupying
its time, marching up bill and then
marching down again"
Tie trouble may have come from lite
leadership, for the general makeup Of the
convention meaeures up very well in in'
telhgence, though we have never looked
upon it as body of transcendent
ability. Those who had been regarded in
the past as among the ablest living men of
Virginia, have not, however, been entrust-
ed with the direction of the deliberations;
bat new and untried men have forced
themselves TO the front and dominated its
proceedings. Senator Daniel lett the Con-
vention in disgust some months ago, and
VIM. Z. Cameron, who at the outset was
proclaimed bright, particular star, has
disappeared, apparently from the Conven'
tons armament.
Much valuable time has been wasted in
the discussion of Insignificant questions
that village debating society would have
handled more intelligently and would have
disposed OF more quickly; and the Conven-
ton has done and undone things 80 repeat
eddy that it has made itself ridiculous in the
eyes ofits people at home as we'll as in
the esteem Of conservative public
abroad.
Many very absurd scenes have been
enacted in the Convention, but none more
farcical than one which transpired recent
ly, with DIR. McIlwaine, of prince Edward
county, and Mr.. Carter Glass, Of Lynch.
burg, as the leading actors. In the heat
of debate, while the question Of an an
nual appropriation to the University of
Virginia was under consideration, DR.. Nc
Ilwaine was actually bold enough to-
charge Carter Glass with dominating the
Convention" Thereupon MI. Glass be.
came go grieyously offended that he forth
with rendered his resignation as q member
of the Committee on Education-not as a
member of the Convention. The Conven-
ton was so shocked at the prospect Of log
inc the valuable services of Glass on that
important committee, that Mr.. Thorn, one
of the most brilliant new leaders, offered |
resolution that the Convention should de-
cline to accept the resignation Of Mr.. Glass
o. q member of the committee. The
newspapers say that Mr. Thorn supported
his resolution with very eloquent speech,
and that the Convention, with but one
dissenting vote. adopted the resolution.
This attracted the attention of DR.. Nell.
waine to the enormity of the offence he
had committed, whereupon be made q
profound apology to the Convention and
to Mr.. Glass for saying something which
every one who is informed knows is true
that Mr.. Glass il dominating the Conyen-
ton.
OF course the Convention could not
spare Mr.. Glass from the Committee on
Education. He has recently proved him.
self too great an expert on English con-
to be cast aside, when bis SER
vices are so likely to be called for in the
future to construe the meaning ofsentences
and phrases that may appear In the new
Constitution. The Convention, no doubt,
how Mr.. Glass had proved
himself an expert in the way Of constru-
Ing the pledge to submit the new Consti'
tuition to the people for ratification or re-
lection. The plain sentence, sit shall be
submitted to vote of the people FOR rati-
fication or rejection" was first construed
by Mr.. Glass as meaning: sip favor Of
submitting the new Constitution to the
popular vote for ratification or rejection" {
After be got upon the floor OF the Conven. {
lion he declared himself the author Of the q
Norfolk resolution which pledged the SUBJ
mission Of the new Constitution to the
people; and then construed IT.. to mean ]
submission to an abridged electorate. 1t /
must be that MIR. Glass has been able to B
dominate the Convention BY exhibiting !
,uch wonderful capacity for constituting a
,lain English sentence 80 yariormly.
n. z. ;,.et s,..h r;diculos,a va miyhk aav :,