The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-14

some particularly the table Of rates
about which there had been 30 much con-
tention. and In this connection spoke of
the necessity of having different rates for
long and short hauls and showed how
accusers OF tho railroads for freight dis
elimination had sgnaily failed to make
out their. case. But even were 1t true,
would isolated instance OF Injustice JUS
tify a wholesale indictment of or injustice
to every corporate interest of the state!
Referring to the first recommendations
agreed upon by majority OF the com com,
mittee. he said Chairman Braxton had
claimed that they were only tentative.
and said they were tentative only pc
GAUGE the committee recognized they ola
not have The wisdom then to make
final report, and asked If they thousht
go about their own work three mon the
ego. was there anything wrong IN others
disputing their wisdom now Five ten
tative efforts had been made by CHAR.
man Braxton before the report suited
him, and ii was reasonable to suppose
that before they had been in the con-
vention for three months, he would re
call with dismay his inability to amend,
alter, or strike out provisions that were
unaIterably fixed to apply to the great
est and most complex financial prlncl-
pies that We're the outgrowth OF modern
conditions and progress.
CONTROL CAPITAL.
The men VINO onntu these properties
We're the men who controlled the tide OF
influence which was to make or unmake
the Industrial and financial destinies OF
the State. They were the men who con-
trolIed or influenced the capital that was
TO come in or to be taken out OF the
State.
Development WAS essential in many sec
tons now TO the prosperity or the happi-
a. Il, Nos
wise to say to these men whether 1t was
coterie in Wall Street or anywhere else.
the Constitutional Convention <of Vlr-
einia has declared it has a war TO wage
against capital and will ernbalm that dec
aration III the organic law of the Com
monwealth.'
MIR. Thorn next quoted the statement IN
Governor Montagues inaugural address
that the young men Of Virginia were
seeking homes and caress in other States.
He said the Incorporation of such drastic
and discouraging provisions as those pro-
posed in the Constitution wouu have the
effect of compelling other thousands OF
energetic, ambitious and able-mlnded
men to seek other fields of activity. where
the hand of encoura cement was held out
to them. and they would be allowed TO
keep pace with the vanguard of prog
-ees and advancement in every avenue OF
AN EARNEST APPEAL.
Mr.. Thorn closed in d splendid appeal
to the convention to vote down the Brax-
ton report and thereby free the State
from the imputation os being hostile to
the further development Of the unbound
ed ma tural resources OK the Common
wealth.
He met with enthusiastic applause when
he took his seat, having spoken for two
hours.
Mr. Wysor arose and said he desired to
state that Mr.. Thorn had made exactly
Tie same speech he had heard In his
dream. and hencefcrth he was 4 firm be-
lever in dreams.
Mr. Thorn called attention TO the SINH
larity OF the names of Baxter and BraX-
ton, and Mr. Wysor had mistaken one
of The latter's training school for the
other. That MIR. Tvs sor Lad himself been
trained to such high tension his dreams
had been but the reflection of his own
experience.
Mr.. Thorn concluded with the following
extempore extravaganza, which brought
down the house." and produced a scene
of unprecedented 1lllarity and applause.
the gentleman who was the victim OF the
Knockout drops being loudest in his
laughter:
There was an old man from Pulaski
Who was great, if anybody should ask We.
He came also from Giles,
But BraNton's sweet wiles
Seduced that great man from Pulaski.
Vow this very great man from Pu.aski
Who could think, if anybody should
ask We,
Stopped thinking and dreamed dreams
To promote Braxton schemes.
This gray-head=d old man from Pulaski.
Chairman Braxton began his reply 10
Mr.. Thorn by earnestly repudlahng the
charge that the committee or the con-
vention were actuated by any motive OF
prejudice or enmity to railroads or capl-
| tai. He declared that such imputationS
were not justified by the facts and were
| only made like all such stock charges, 10
| brighten and bully members of the con-
yention into disregard OF the imperative
needs of the Commonwealth.
He related the conduct of railroads IN
connection with the coal fields of Vlr-
| cinia and said the very backbone Of the
| trust was the control which owners hao
| of railroad rates. He charged that VaIues
of property were reduced in the coal re
| gion by refusal to furnish cars, until tne
owners We're compelled to shut up or sell
| out.
AS TO STOCK VALUES.
| He asked if these capitalists believed
| that the proposed ordinances had such
| death-dealing purpose as Mr. Ihom out,