Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-01-03
NOT TIRED OF THE CONVENTION.

feeling growing in the State against
the work of the Constitutional Con-
vention, some indeed asserting that
the convention, by it's long drawn out
session, has become SO unpopular that
the people are about ready to vote down
any constitution it shall frame.
Now we deny that this is a fact in so
far as the more intelligent people are
concerned, and we further assert that
so soon as the people know what the
convention has had to deal with, and
what it is trying to accomplish for
their good, they will Lot only not crit
icise it for it's long session, but say to
the men who compose it, Ego on, and
if you can accomplished what you are
trying to accomplish you may sit just
as long as you please, whether it be one
year or ten years.
In the first place we wish to call the
attention of the readers of the SPEC.
TAToR to the fact that there are
scarcely ten men in that body who are
not losing from IS to $40 per day every
day they sit in Richmond, and ma
jority of whom, if they were not try
ing to perform great service to their
State would gladly see the conveation
adjourn tomorrow and go to their
homes.
But let us see whether these men are
taking up any more time than other
conventions have consumed. We must
recall that there are many subjects to
be considered of as vast if not vaster
Importance than the suffrage question.
The uneducated probably suppose the
suffrage regulation was the sole object
of the calling of the convention, but
not 80. The questions of taxation and
control of corporations are two ques
tions of vaster Importance than who
shall vote, we think.
The convention of 1929, we believe,
was In session ST months. and it was
called to extend the suffrage only, and
the negro was not then a factor, hence
no wrangle over him.
The convention of 1850 which was
called to further extend the suffrage,
at period when the negro was not a
factor, was in actual session, we be-
lieve II months, and it was actually 81
months between the assembling of the
convention and its adjournment.
Now those were our own Virginia
conventions. In 1872 PENNSYLVANIA
had convention and no negro uestion
could come up there because there
were not enough negroes in the State
to consider, and that convention last
ed II months.
Kentucky has had recent conven-
ton, and she had no negro question to
deal with, and her convention lasted IS
months. Then why find fault with our
people, when they have been interrupt
ed by several occurrences, such as a
State election, the holidays, etc., when
they have been in session less than 5
months, and have the 18th and 18th
amendments to the constitution of the
United States to hamper them.
Our people must recolIect IN Justice
to these men, that they differ widely
from legislative body, which, if they
err can be corrected by the Governors
veto, OF the courts, and which has only
to deal with few questions during a
session. Our Legislature always sits
3 monts. and sometimes extends it's
session beyond that. Without any
rejection on that body, we call atten-
tion to the fact that while it enacts
laws based on fundamental principles
as laid down in our constitution, this
constitution has to work out those
fundamental principles, not merely
for today or tomorrow, but to last
possibly fifty years or longer. The
body of men who will frame that con-
stitutlon is as a Bile, we think, as any
which has ever assembled in Virginia,
it is as patriotic we think, and it is the
first and only legislative body that has
assembled since the close of the war,
that the powerful corporations in the
State have been unable to control in a
great measure. when they undertook
TO do SO. This fact should at once put
It in favor with the people and they
should cease to utter the phrases put
n their mouths by the corporate press
If the State, to the effect that the PEG.
pie want the convention to quit and
10 home. This talk Is made to order,
t is manufactured by corporate
ervitors, and in the Offices of the
Times and the Dispatch, which are |
he property of great corporations, the
after having been acquired. it is gen.
rally believed, for the sole purpose of
reaking the force of this convention
Its efforts to control corporations
nd arrange for uniform and just taxa
ion. When the people know these
lets, and We intend to do all we can
put them in possession of them, we
re sure they WILL not nag at our rep.
'sentatives in the convention, or grow
etulent about the length of time it
lKeS TO frame measures which are in
'nded for their protection and relief.
ct 1t be remembered that the power.
IL influences of money and combina.
ons of money have not failed to place
heir chosen Representatives in this
invention. They are there, there in
umbers and influence, there in brains
I'D in skillful and artful devices.
hey are busy from early morn till
'wy eve, to defeat, to side track. to !
vert from their clients and masters 8
10 very legislation that other able c
en- who know the needs of the people {