The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-26
COMP' / J PLAN
IS TRIMMED DOWN.
Understanding Clause Only This
Year and Next.
BATTLE SEEMS NEARLY OVER.
sraxtsa- Meredith Forces Brought Over. to
the dlass-Daniei Ranks. asd ths
Future Seems Pretty Well
Settled. s 4.

The suffrage conference yesterday, by
q vote of Is TO 3d. struck out all the fca-
lures OF the compromise plan which gave
any promise of a permanent understand
ing nature and fixed January l. 1904, as
the time Tor The expiration of the under
standing feature.
After this was done tho Glass-Danicl
forces joined With the Braxton- Meredith
contingent in the afternoon, and defeated
q motion by Judge Green to strike the
understanding feature Of the plan out
entirely.
The whole of tho afternoon was taken
up sn an informal discussion of amend
mealts to the compromise plan.
A vote was taken on a motion by Mr..
Flood to strike out the three years poll
tax payment prerequisite, and the Glass
Daniel and Braaton- Meredith alignment
continued in force and defeated 1T, thus
indicating tho final adoption of the plan.
which is combination of the original
minority plan, with features OF the Glass
and the Stuart plans Incorporated in it.
Under the i've minutes rule something is
expected to be done to-day, in the hope
that II will Stick.
MIR. MEREDITHs DISCLAIMER.
Pew. Russell Cecil, of the Second
Presbyterian Church, opened the con-
Vel ton with prayer, sixty members be-
:nr present.
Mr. Meredith, arising TO a question OF
oe, sonal privilege, said he desired pub
Idly to express his regrets that T. re
n.srks yesterday had been taken in any
se,yse as personal attack on Senator
-raniel. He had not intended it as such
anG did not wish to be considered as
making any personal attack, but INTENDED
it as a. justifabie attack on the plan
by making fun of its author.
It was perfectly legitimate parlla-
,i,entary attack on a. measure. without
bong intended as personally offensive to
Senator Daniel.
Mr. Meredith said he desired to make
this public disclaimer TO go in the pro-
crt dings of the convention, SO thai Sen
ntor Daniels friends throughout the State
could understand that he (Nlr. Mered1tiD
liat not designed or intended his remarks
as in any sense a reflection on the Sena-
tor
LIMIT TO. SPEECHES.
The convention adjourned and the
Democratic suffrage conference was
called.
There was nearly an hours debate over
an effort to adopt a resolution fixing l
o'clock as the hour for taking. a vote ana
limiting all speeches, on any questions
or amendment after Mr.. Glass had con-
Guided. to five minutes, and debate for or
against any amendment offered after
O'Clock TO five minutes on each side.
The resolution was opposed by Messrs
Bouldin, BraXton. Parks, Turnbull, Dun
naway, Wysor and others, and advocated
by MesSrs. Daniel, Thorn, Ayers, u. Is
Anderson and others.
After a long wrangle resolution limit
ing speeches to five minutes each. after
MIR. Glass had spoken, was finally adopted
by a large majority, the fixing of time to
take d vote at o'clock having been with
drawn the resolution last mentioned being
offered by Mr.. Thorn.
Mr. Meredith arose again to make a per-
senal explanation. He said that in dis
claiming any intention to wound the feel
ings of Senator Daniel, he had neglected
to say that he did not intend to be per-
sonal to any other member present and
wished to be so understood. He regretted
having caused any one to feel that he had
intended a personal reflection on them.
MIR. GLASS SPEAKS.
Mr. Glass, resuming his argument be-
r1ln Monday, said that Mr.. Meredith in
preparing his plan had lost sight Of the
two cardinal principles which actlated
the people in calling the convention to de-
wise a suffrage plan. They were: First,
to disfranchise no white man If possible;
second. to eliminate the negro as far as
possible from the electorate.
he contended that the compromise plan
would automatically place on the regis
tration books without faint Of fraud or
mal-administration nearly every White
voter in the State. without their having
to be subjected to the understanding
clause at all.
Mr. Glass spoke of the only objection
which had been made against the under
standing clause was that it would be adj
ministered unfairly. and commended that
under the property qualification Of the
Meredith plan registrar could be COM
PEELED to register every negro and; his ten
sons if the father gave in for taxation
one old mule valued at his own state
n,ent as worth $50. and an intelligent
bank clerk or city school teacher in the
city of Richmond would be Sdenied the
,ak