The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-07

and ridfculed Its proceedings and it be-
came the mark of the comic actors OF the
passing show The eternal pessinist and
prophet of the past decided that he had
always opposed the convention and al
ways knew that it would do nothing but
spend the peoples money.
The convention was patient. Neither
suItry summer, bleak December or re-
turning spring spurred Its speed Mum
berless plans and specifications from
without were preferred, some as wild as
the rockets flight, soma as curious as
any curio OF Old Curiosity Shop.
AS summer again came, cut Of laths and
bricks and mortar and scantlfngs and
shavtngs, a new constitutional structure
arose. AS It's proportions outlined them
selves to view. and lower taxes and bet
ter revenues, stricter administration. cor
porate restrictions. enlarged privilege of
labor and fortified white ascendancy were
recognized, grabbed accents changed to
harmonious notes. When, on May 29th.
1907, the Constitution was ordained, the
people in most sections of the State were
CRYING out "Ordain!'' "Ordainr, "Give US
a turnkey job" and some who voted to
submit, because they thought it right
and obligatory to do so, had to cling to
personal faith against the dissent of
many constituents.
UNDERSTANDS CLAUSE.
OF the understanding clause, he said
everybody dislikes it. and everybody said
So Nevertheless, both majority and mi
noritv recommended such a clause and
nearly everybody supported it. Why?,
Because literature had been searched In
vain for anything else that was not more
Objectionable and because the Supreme
Court of the United States had confirmed
its constitutionalty. 1t is limited in
oonra .ion TO a brief career of two years,
and we will then move on the sounder
and better basis.
He referred to he grandfather clause.
and said hat while he is opposed to
hereditary distinction. and resisted both
of these clauses or any clause that con-
tanned an hereditary element. candor COM
PEELED him to say that the sons of sol
diers stand on footing in Virginia that
entities them to high consideration, and
if any kind of hereditary discrimination
were ever thoroughly justified, the eXemp'
ton of them from educational require
ments is justified here.
FOCUS OF GREAT STRENGTH.
This State was the focus OF the greatest
war of modern times. Out of 900 bat
ties of civil strife. 500 were fought upon
her soil Two great armies for four
years fed upon her vttals. Her insti-
tutions Of learning were closed, mary
were destroyed while professors and
teachers were literally engaged in teach
ing the young idea to shoot. When war
ended. the struggle for existence kept
thousands and thousands Of the young
away from halls Of education. and the
returned soldier had his, hands full to
provide for q. widowed mother. orphan
sister or some other dependant. more
helpless than himself.
The convention, therefore. with no small
sense OF justice, regarded it as the equity
of history that her sons of soldiers of the
past generation should not be subjected to
educational tests of suffrage, but only to
the payment of the capitation tax.
He paid a high tribute to the Virginia
Lesisla ture, declaring that he had no
! sympathy with the assaults made by
some OF the convention members upon 1t.
and was glad to defend it. They have
their faults; so everybody. else has. They
have made mistakes; so has the conven-
ticn and so has everybody else. The his
tory Of the General Assembly since the
var IS q noble history. and II ii ever be
fully written will rebound for the most
part to the high honor of the State.
COUNTY COURT.
It is with regret that he bids adieu to
the old County Court: parts with 1t re-
gretfully and not without rlsgivings. The
people did not feel that they could pay
to ii or themselves that it should live
on half rationa and be compelled TO jump
ever the judicial rail into the farms Of
legal contention With it departs many
a happy association and many delight
fl,l remembrance fingers in its wake like
the phosphcrescent play of the waves
when the ship has passed. This be its
tribute: ''Eo public servants so poorly
paid ever served the State SO worthily
and WELL
OF the Corporation Commission he said
that il Is a great experiment to put such
| powers in the hands of three men as are
| f.a-c deposed In tine three corporation
commissioners. and a great experiment 70
adopt as e. constitutional rule some theo-
! ries that have never been fully vindtcated
| By practical experience With all these
discounts to the measure, it must at the
| same time be Acknowledged that the dan
I ger from these sources is not Is great as
| the danger Of injustice to the citizen from
unchecked Determinations against him
! and it is hoped and believed that Wit!
| fair and honest men as administrators
with open public proceedings and records
With appeals and prompt hearings assured
! in cur highest court. and. above all, witt
| the Argus-eyed public opinion forever
wstchfHl and attentive to what SO greatly
! concerns the public veal it is not al al
| likely that any great injustice will be
possible in any direction
| Referring 10 the matter of railroad en-
picyes, he believed that the general pro-
| position is just in accordance with The
| spirit of modern Jurisprudence and with
| the sound policy of the law, and it is
likely to be acauiesced in by the. con1pa-
| MES and be thoroughly sustained by en-
| lightened public sentiment.
IAs-to the article on taxation and finance,
Senator Daniel said he dislilSed to dis
sent from so important 3 work of his
convention colleagues. but the fact that
other States have adopted such a system,
| is not conclusive. and ne had rather
stand in the ancient way with a goou
example than follow them in a new and
doubtful one. Time will test the system.
| He hopes it may work we'll and he recog-
nizes some Of Its benefits. Bnt however
| it may work. be it well or i'll, his opinion
! Is not likely to be changed. that uniform
lily and equality is the eternal base OF
Righteousness and fairness in the tustri-
| button Of public burdens. and the only
! one that in the long run viii protect the
weaker portion of society from Giscrlm-
! nations against them.
| IS NOW. HISTORY
| In conclusion the speaker said that the
convention has become history. 1t has
! fulfilled Its mission. Suffrage reform and
practical economics are alike established.
| The committee cllairInen-Grcen Came