The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-18

Mr.. wYsoR,s VIEWS.

Delegate u. C, aSysor, of Pulaski. says
Ina communication to the News-Review,
3 that he has been urged by number Of
voters in that county to take the stand
for proclaiming tho new Constitution. and
nc admits that the sentiment for procla-
nation is growing in that section
and throughout the State. Most of
the papers in the Commonwealth. says he,
declare that it is an up-to-date instru-i
ment and that the State will progress;
s under it better than under the old Cons.
stitution. It is quite natural that many
Z citizens would prefer making a certainty
8 OF good thing rather than to run the
risk OF losing it by submitting the ques-5
4 tor Of its adoption to the people at large.
Furthermore, the annoyance and expense
Of political campaign would be avoided.
But Mr.. Visor is opposed to proclama-
ton, first OF all, because he believes that
The convention has no legal right to pro-
Claim, and adds that while the prevailing
opinion in the State among lawyers and
1aymen is against that view. all consti-
tutional writer's support it. He holds
that no convention could have the power
io-proclaim unless it were expressly given
by the vote calling the convention.
80 far from that being the case in
this instance" he proceeds the powers
sof the convention were expressly limited
in the call. The voters throughout the
Commonwealth so construed the question
submitted to- them with reference to call
{ ing the convention. and they were uni
Sersally informed that when the Const-
tuition was framed itswould be submitted
ITO them for ratification or rejection. The
B Democratic party promised in its conven-
tion, held at Norfolk before the Constr
tutional Convention was called, 10 submit
the work thereof to the people. When
ever the word people Is used it means
the entire voting population. unless it
rs limited and restricted in its meaning
3,y the person, or body Of persons. using
\ the word. stated verbally and in print
sssed articles that was for submitting the
+ new Constitution TO the people. The
word people as used by me meant the
entire present voting population Of this
district. =
Coming then to the proposal that mass
meetings be held here and there to re-
lease the delegates from any pledge which
they may have given. directly or indi-
Tectly, and to instruct delegates to vote
for proclamation, Mr.. Wysor argues that
such meetings cannot alter the status Of
affairs, as the pledge was given, and that
each and every citizen has the right, mass
4 meeting or no mass-meeting, to hold the
+ convention to it. He goes so FAR as to
say that he hopes no mass-meeting for
such a purpose will be held in his coun-
{ .ty, as it would impose upon him the un-
pleasant duty Of voting contrary to its
1 instructions.
But Mr.. Wysor does not believe in half:
way measures. He is for submitting or
Z not submitting. He does not believe In
proclaiminE part and submitting part. He
makes. in concluding his article, this bold
and explicit declaration:
rs will say, however. that If the ques-
ton ever narrows down between submis-
sion to an abridged electorate and proc
lamation. shall take proclamation as
7 the preferable course. I regard submis-
sion to an abridged electorate as virtual
ly proclamation, and if vote for proc.
1amation at all 1 will do SO directly and
not in a roundabout way
That is spoken like a brave and con-
6cientious man, and we believe that that
will be the last analysis of the question.
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