The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-30
THE rIMEs CONAN.

Rejected communication viii = not : I,D De re-
turned unless accompanies by staatnps
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WEDNESDAY. APRIL 80. 1902.
TIE VOICE OF THEPEoPLE
or tifty-oae counties heard from. thirty
Avs have expressed themselves in favor.
OF prociainning the new const tution-seyen
+ in favor of submission and nine in doubt
Meetings were held in several counties
yesterday and in only one OF them-the
county of Warwick-was there q vote in
favor OF submission. In most OF them
the vote was Overwhelmingly in favor OF
proclamation
we have for some time past been sat
asfied from the reports which have come
90 us that the white people OF Virginia
are largely In favor OF putting the new
Eonsti tuition into effect by the simple act
Of proclamation, and the people always
have their way when they assert them
selves. The opponents Of proclamation
are saying that It will create great dis
satisfaction to proclaim the Constitution;
not many of these arc also saying that
af the Constitution Is submitted 1t VIII
be adopted by an Overwhelming majority.
I'VE ask in all candor who will be dis
satisfied IL the Constitution is proclaimed?
VIII there be dissatisfaction among those
who are In favor of the new Constitution?
lf so, why? If an individual citizen is
in favor of the Constitution, why should
he desire TO have the opportunity OF vot-
sng for it? Is it not the same thing to
him If he says to his representative in the
Constitutional Convention that he wishes
the Constitution proclaimed?
1T is our contention that the question
Is between proclamation ana submission
to the present electorate. So far as we
can ascertain, there are the fewest NUM-
her of people who are in favor of sub
Knitting to an abridged electorate, for this
implies that the suffrage clause must be
proclaimed, either tentatively or per1na-
,,ently, and IN either event those VINO
would be disfranchised under the new
Constitution would have no opportunity
of voting. That, It seems to US. would
be almost a farce
The people understand the real issue
and they are expressing themselves. we
believe in the rule Of the people and we
could never persuade ourselves 10 favor
an autocratic proclamation OF the Con-
stit11tion in defiance of the wishes of the
great body of white men in this State.
but if the great body of white men IN!
Virginia hold meetings and instruct their
delegates to proclaim they are asserting
their authority, and it is the same thing
to them as though they actually voted
upon the Constitution itself.
IT has been said that these mass-meet-
ings are not representative meetings ana
that they do not express the true senti-
ments Of the people. Our reply to this
SIS that If there is a large element In those
counties where 1nass-meetings have been
held In opposition to proclamation. why
have not the opponents met in mass
meetings and entered their protest! II
there is any large number OF white peo-
ple in this State who are opposed to pro-
claiming the Constitution it is remarkapAe.
truly, that they have not been heard
from. If we are to Judge by the meet
dnes that have been held and by the va
rious expressions of opinion here ana
there, we must conclude that the senti-
1nent Of the white people Of Virginia Is
overwhelmingly il favor of proclamation
and that the delegates to the Constltu-
.ional Convention will act in contraven-
non of the wishes of thu people If they
submit the Constitution to a vote.
we believe that The Times was the
first newspaper to suggest that mass
meetings be held throughout the State
to instruct the delegates. Without mean
ing to take any credit to The Ilmes, we
are none the less gratified that this course
has been adopted. and it is highly prob
able that such meetings will have oeen
held in every county before tho conven-
ton reassembles. Therefore. when the
Iieleeates return to Richmond they will
3 have a fairly accurate understanding as
TO the temper and wishes of the people
md they will act accordingly. II the peo-
sle of the State do not want the Consu-
tuition proclaimed all that they have to
I do is to express themselves to that effect.
Inc delegates are not autocrats. They
understand their obligation to the peo-
pIe and all may rest assured that they
will act in accordance with the wishes of
the people, so far as 1t is possible for them
TO ascertain the same.
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RELIGIOUS SPASMS.