The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-16
MIR. WISE MAKES
A GREAT SPEECH.
Presented His Suffrage
Plan in Conference.
MANY HEARD HIM.
Unusu-IIy Large Attendance Of Mem
bers and Visitors.
COLLOCUY WITH Mr.. GLASS
The Richno.d Delegate Had Spicy Tilt
Wild the Gentleman from Lynchburg.
Congressman Flood Will Be Heard
Tonight Committee on Az.
riculture Agrees on
Report,

There was good attendance upon the
suffrage conference last night, and Hon.
George D. Wise concluded one of the
ablest and most interesting arguments
yet heard on this subject
He began his speech by a pathetic ex-
preston Of regret at the vacant chair OF
Chairman Daniel, and paid him a splendid
tribute of admiration anG affection. He
proceeded to discuss the weak points of
the Glass plan.
one Serious objection, he said, was that
II required two re2lstra tons OF all The
voters OF the State-one on the first day
Of May, 1902, and one in October, 1902
Another was, after this plan was then
dropped and all who failed to register
under it could apply for registration at
the very next election, and if they could
read and write could vote.
But the most serious trouble about the
understanding clause in the Glass plan
was that it was unconstitutional, in that
it gave to the registrar the absolute
right to select the most abstruse section
OF the Constitution and turn down any
applicant, white or black, who could not
explain to his satisfaction something
agree upon.
ARBITRARY POWER.
This giving TO registrars an arbitrary
judicial power had been expressly. decided
against by the United States Supreme
Court in the California. cases.
In any event. it opened wide the door
for fraud and corruption on the part
of registrars.
Another objection was that it gave to
the understanding test
The Revolutionary War was fought as
much to abolish the principle of irheri-
tance of office and privileges as for po-
litical independence, and Virginia was
the wrong State of al! States rcsus-
citate that doctrine.
Captain Wise here read from a news
paper dipping designating the Glass plan
as most abhorrent and offensive to Viz
ginians.
Mr.. Glass said here: I'll read you
q clipping from the same paper from
which you took yours saying that your
plan was the most fraudulent and out
rageous proposition ever conceived by
the mind of man. The same paper also
says the members of this convention
should be made to abdicate for its re-
port on education. I'll read it to you"
Captain Wise: mo. you read it when
you make your speech. You'll need it
then. After this convention is over you
and l will attend to that editor together
| Naughter.)
A BEAUTIFUL DYKE.
Continuing, Captain Wise said Mr
Glass had built up a beautiful dyke Ic
! last one short year, and WHEN that was
burst the horde Of negroes could march
into Holland, take possession. and not
! care d-n for the remaining restric-
ton of d S1.50 poll-taX that would cNclvde
as many white men as negroes.
Captain Wise explained that the under
| standing clause of the majority plan was
more Of an educational test.
Tie applicant would have TO explain
| the duties of the officer he voted for, and
| the law compelled the registrar to admit
| him. This was a test of inte..4gence which
| applied to all alike. a gro could read
| and write like a white man, but he could
| not. to save his nfe. comprehend or ex-
| plain, like a white man, the simplest
! form of civil government. The promise
| OF an appeal to a. judge would protec
| everybody from any arbitrary or corrupt
| exercise of power by the registrar. ant
| would avoid the unconstitutional phase
| of the Glass plan.
| Captain Wise stated that he proposed
| an amendment to this, SO that on appea
the judge could examine the applicant
| himself and thus determine whether he
| was capable of explaining the duties OF
| any officer or not. This would entirely
| do away with the charge that registrars
| cuI,ld discriminate as between white
| men.
The speaker declared that the Glass
| ,lan would leave one-fourth Of the coun
| les of Virginia with negro majorities an6
| read statistics from many counties &c
| ,rove it.
! He closed with an eloquent and fervic
| apDeal to members from the white coun
/ :ies not to forsake their brethren OF the
| black belt in this, their hour of dire peril
Ie was loudly applauded and warmly
congratulated.
/ The conference adjourned at 10 O'CLOCK
until tonight.
Committee on Agriculture.
/ The Committee on Agriculture hear,
! an interesting argument from Mr.. Johl
+. Jackson. editor of the Southern Plant
er. yesterday afternoon.
/ Mr.. Jackson discussed the practical op
/ erations of the State Agricultural De
/ partment, and made many valuable sus
! -estions as to the best means of increas
ing its efficiency.
The committee voted to recommend tina
the State Board shall be composed of on
experienced farmer from each congres
| sional district OF the State. to be az
/ pointed by the Governor. Appointment
shall be non-partisan.
/ These ten shall elect Commissioner G
Agriculture, who shall be practica
/ farmer, Propositions to make him a
ex-oflicio member of the State Board .Wer
ss+s.ted Propositions that he be az
4 ,,o;n+ed bv the Governor. elected by tn
49, pos, -, t,Ire or left TO be appointed q
,iee.e,i iie as provided by law We're lil1ewis
defeated.
a On Education