The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-23
But TWO PL ANS
IN CONFERENCE
Compromise Clause and Mere,
dith Scheme Only Ones.
AL OTHERS ARE LAID ASIDE
NY Are Tabled 80 As 10 Allow The lmm'di-
s.s lessidesatlsa Of These I've.
Biz Hltt to opea
Te.Morrow.

+
There arc but two plans before the
suffrage conference now.
Ono is the compromise plan and the
ether the Meredith plan. which is Oh
eored as substitute for 1t.
Al the other resolutions have been
swept aside. at least temporarily. that
these may be considered without delay,
and tho great fight Is expected to open
up Tomorrow morning in dead earnest.
The leaders and advocates OF the COM
promise measure. having realized by SAD
experience taht a suffrage plan has 10
DO adopted as concrete whole or not at
ali, Will vote so1idly against any and all
Amendments that may be offered by open
or covert enemies. In this way major
tty Uu win out as between two conpet-
Z ing measures in short order.
BY careful counting OF noses Jester-
S day, It was given out as authenuc tilat
there ware not moro than thlrfy-thrce
votes OF all tho Democratic membership
which could be marShaled against the
compromise plan. OF these thirty-three
only twenty could be counted as support
ing tho Meredith plan, except as CLUB
with w..ich 10 kill the other. At a ca.
Gus Of the compromise plan leaders, held
after the adjournment of the conference
yesterday, tifty-sx members were counted
UP in favor of that plan.
SlIRMISII FOR POSITION.
The suffrage conference yesterday last
III nearly two hours, but there was very
little done.
After granting a great many leaves OF
absence. the convention adjourned until
Monday at - o'clock. and the Suffrage
Conference was called in session by Chair
man Keczell.
There was an hour of sparring for par
1iamentary position between leaders Of the
compromise plan and those for the Mere
dith plan.
One side insisted on strict parliamentary
rules in. the conference and the other
thought best to proceed as formerly
The result was decision by common
consent that the rules governing Commit
lee OF the Whole should be observed IN
the conference as formerly.
The fight apparently was made to give
one side or the other the right of way
in the consideration of the two new plans
in place Of the Glass plan which was
pending.
The Meredith plan men had not yet
given any indication that they had a plan
TO offer, evidently trying to get position
before presenting. it
Mr.. Flood untangled the skcin by a mo-
tion that every resolution formerly con-
sidered be laid on the table except the
compromise plan and the Meredith plan
and consideration OF these plans be pro-
ceeded with.
MIR. Meredith finally withdrew. all objec-
ton
The slate was thus wiped clean and the
new figures began to be made on it.
The first mark was the formal presenta-
ton by Senator Daniel of the compromise
suffrage plan.
MIR. MEREDITII'S PLAN.
Mr.. Meredith then offered his plan as
a. substitute for the compromise plan. 1t
was in substance as follows:
ID Two years residence. etc.
CD Poll tax prerequisite of all poll
taxes for four years Immediately preced-
ing election except to soldiers who have
served in any way. who do not receive
more than $50 per annum in pensions.
Until January j, 1907. in addition to
payment Of poll taxes as above, a per-
con may be registered and be entitled
to vote, provided ne be embraced in one
OF the following classes:
(a1 A Confederate soldier or sailor. or
shall have served in the army or navy
of the United States during some war; or,
OBJ a descendant of such soldier or sail
Or: or,
tc) A person over So years Of age on
January Isl. 1902; or.
{d) A person who, or whose wife, shall
or shall he thereafter assessed. with $3.50
worth OF property. real personal. or
both.
Re, A citizen who has been naturalized
prior to 1907;
% Son Of owner Of property specified
In d.
co Persons registered under foregoing
conditions to be placed on permanent
roll. etc.
(4) After January i, 1907. all newly reg
astered voters (a) shall have paid all
capitation taxes for four years preceding.
and (b) shall make out application in
handwriting without aid or suggestion
or use of a memorandum. setting forth
name, place and time of birth. occupa-
ton and place of residence for twelve
months prior to application; ito which
application he shall make oath before
such officer, or he shall be the owner of
property assessed at the value of $780,
EXPLAINS THE PLAN.
Mr.. Meredith proceeded at some length
30 discuss his plan, and stated tina: to
meet The objections of some that it had
property qualification he had concluded
to place the tax on property at IS cents
Instead of 81. SO that it would not exceed
$50. whereas the compromise plan en-
braces a. feature OF 81 which was tax on
over 5000
There was running colloquial debate
here between Messrs. lkeezell and Mere
dith as TO the difference between the prip-
ciple OF the property clause in the Mere
dith and the compromise plan.
When Mr.. Meredith had concluded el:-
ether adjournment debate was brought
On by a motion Of Mr.. Meredith, that the
conference adjourn until Monday at u
o'clock.
Messrs. Meredith. Wysor and Portlock
made earnest speeches for adjournment.
claiming that their plan had not been
printed.
Mr.. Lindsay Gordon bitterly opposed
The motion to adjourn
Captain Wise and Mr.. Westcott both
stated that they intended to support the
compromise plan, but they thought the
other side should have an opportunity to
have their plan printed
The motion to adjourn was adopted
without division.
There was some discussion over cx-
Guiding visitors from the conference. over
q motion that they be strictly executive
IN future except that reporters be allowed
rs at present to give outline proceedings.
erbn ,,,nffon yy,2S lost and fha conference