The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-11
SUI FR.AGE Plan
WAS CONSIDERED :,.|
Democrats Of Convention Met in.
Conference.
THE EXEMPTION OF SOLDIERS.
Provision Adopted Applies Only to Those
Who Fought in the War Bctwcea
the slates-Lonventiou
Gossip.
[HE EXEMPTION OF SOLDIERS.

The convention was in session but
twenty minutes yesterday.
After prayer by DR.. McI1waine and
the Call of the roll OF members, showing
ffty-six present, leaves OF absence tor
( week were granted all Republican
| members
Mr.. Braxton presented resolution to
permit women to hold the office OF
notary pubic. which was referred to the
Committee on the Elective Franchise
The convention adjourned at 1920
o'clock.
The conference OF Democratic members
assembled Immediately afterwards, and,
in executive session, considered during
the day tho suffrage question.
The usual forenoon and afternoon ses-
sions were held. The general outline OF
the plans were discussed in the morn
ing. and at the afternoon session the
discussion turned on the point of eX-
empting all soldiers from the poll tax
prerequisites
An amendment combining this cxcnp-
ton to soldiers in the war between the
States was finally adopted when the
conference adjourned until to-day
Morning Session.
The conference was called to order at
LBS O'Clock by Judge Robertson, who
had been named as presiding officer. in
the absence OF Chairman Keezell.
The first move was 4 resolution by
Mr.. W,ysor to limit speeches to ten
minutes, no member to speak more than
once on the same subject.
Mr.. Wysor said he was sick and tired
OF so much speaking. He was going TO
cult next Saturday and go home, and he
wanted to get through by then. 1t was
evident to everybody that the perma-
ncnt understanding clause would be over
U l. r1ip rrj,, defeated and If riGiCu-
lous to be wasting weeks and weeks of
further argument on it. The resolution
was defeated by d. vote of 3 to -.
Mr. Glass explained again the diff
ference between his plan and the ma
jc,ity plan. The whole question was be-
tae the temporary or the permanent
understanding principle. lie claimed the
temporary would not disfranchise any
Irore white people than the permanent
plan. The understanding clause of his
Plan would apply to only 10000 white
voters, while the permanent plan would
lave to be administered to $4,000 white
voters. He moved to strike out the first
sixty-five lines of the majority report
anc substitute sections and OF his plan,
which had been accepted by the minority
Of the committee.
MR. NvYSOR'S MOTION.
Mr. Wysor called on all to come to a
vote for the temporary understanding
CtduSc, " ucledt Tie ptlIldlieht Ciduse-
lie would then vote to defeat the tempo
rary understanding clause and send
Messrs.. Thorn, Glass and others to
htntng for something else. He raised
a laugh by declaring he was out and out
fer the temporary plan, temporarily.
Mr. Wysor in his speech digressed into
a. discussion of the question Of procla-
NATION or submission Of the constitution,
strongly opposing the former course.
When he concluded, Major Daniel
asked for a ruling as to the status of
the situation. He asked il the adoption
of the amendment offered by Mr.. Glass
would preclude any further consideration
of the report of the majority of the
committee.
it was decided that if the amendment
was adopted, it would not prevent the
offering of other amendments in its
place. and when the final vote was taken,
ic the amendments were adopted, the
majority report could be offered as a
substitute for all, substantive propo-
siton.
The conference at o'clock, took
recess until o'clock.
AIteruuon SESSION.
Members were late gathering in the
hall, ard it was twenty minutes late be-
fore Presiding officer Robertson, by per-
sistent pounding with his gavel, could
restore order sufficient to proceed with
business.
AS SOON as this was done Mr.. Walker
moved to strike out the paragraph ex-
emptinG all who had served in war at
any time from the prerequisite of pay
ing the capitation tax. He said all Con-
fed.erLtc soldiers who could not pay "a
capitation tax were now exempted by the
courts. Ii the provision as recommended
i'll both the majority and minority plans
was adopted, it would simply let in any
amount of negro soldiers in Eastern Vir-
Sinia without any corresponding advant-
age in eNempting white soldiers. The
amendment was defeatcd-yeas, IS; nays,
30
EXEMPT PENSIONERS.
There was d long discussion over an
amendment to exempt from the capita
ton prerequisite to voting only those SOL
dierS who We're pensioners OF the State
OF Virginia.
This was advocated by members from
the Eastern sections of the State and
strongly opposed by members from the
Southwest and Valley.
Mr.. BraHton was very earnest in OPP
position, while Mr.. Richmond bitterly
protested. Captain Parks called atten-
ton to the fact that if to shut out negro
soldiers and Federal white soldiers, the
amendment was adopted. it would also
have the effect OF shutting out a great
many worthy Confederates WHO were
not fortunate enough to get on the pen
sion roll of the State. He knew of SOL
diers on the pension roll of Virginia who
were never in the, war; he knew of some
drawing pensions who owned valuable
farms; he called list of counties and
the number of pensioners. showing that
While his county had only thirty pen
sloners, another which did not send half
as many soldiers in the war, had 400 on
the rolls Rockingham county, which
sent a whole regiment of infantry and
many cavalry and other troops, had only
.ao pensioners, while another county, not
half SO large. had 500 pensioners.
The Captain further commended that
this discrepancy would produce untold
friction between tho different counties