The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-30
SHALL THEY co ny DEFAULT.

.he proposed amendments to the Con
stitution of Virginia will be adopte,
| In November for the simple reason
that the many will not vote at all o,
these questions and that the few VIII
are interested in their passage will
Ihat even such an idea Is abroad Is
great reflection upon the patriotism
of the people of Virginia.
1t is the old story of the organize,
against the unorganized. 1t is tn,
Office holders versus the people. Il
Is hardly possible for US to entertai,
the thought that the people will ALLOW
themselves to be set aside in a matte,
OF this sort. No constitution is the ac
OF mere Legislature; it is so solemn
an instrument that its creation is di
rectly laid upon the people; and 4,
The case of amendment, in our opinIon
the process of passage should be al
most as solemn. AS 1t is the peopl.
who ordain Cons titutions, so it Shout,
be the people who amend them; ant
the people ought not to submit to the
substitution OF band of office
holders for them in so grave n matte,
as that of altering the organic law OF
the commonwealth.
For our rart. we do not hold the
opinion that the people Will be passive
in this matter which is within a few
weeks to be decided at the polls. There
are good and patriotic men in plenty
IN Virginia who Will see to IL tina,
there is substantial vote and an in.
telligcnt vote on these four proposed
changes in the fundamental law of
THIS state. In a matter like this. we
challenge the truth Of the statement
that the fficeholders will take ,he
election by default, We believe that
the average Virginian takes more in.
terest in public affairs than ls ac.
credited to him. In this election. wa
believe he will vote and vote against
the suggested changes in our consti.
tuition.
because the office holders who
would be affected for the better nv
the adoption of the proposed a,nora
ments are seeking to make the i'm.
preston that they will prevail wa 70
iterate all that we have said about tho
imperative necessity Of awalsinr tho
public mind to the gravity and IA tho
Importance and to the far reaching.
character OF these proposed changes
In the organic law. Let the news-
papers Of Virginia arouse the peon,e
TO their danger and their duty.
Let them show to the people lust
what the effect of these amend
ments would be were they IN
be passed Let the people realize that
there is no public demand for these
changes; and that private interests
opposed to the public good only de-.
mand them. If this be done. these nro-
posed amendments will so down to de-
feat by an overwhelming majority
-
Before we give our approval to the
seceder Missionary Conference that
H..
should like to have clear statement
from the Evening Chronicle as to
what the three song services" of tho
Conference were. Were the Psalms
used exclusively and "lined outn as
aforetime or were Some of +ha coz.
OF mere human compositions?
Mayor Gaynor is better and Cal
lagher is said to be hanpy. Rut cal
lagher should be sent to the neniten.
tiary for the remainder OF his natural
life. IT would no wall 70 amend +ha
law so as to make such offences as
I, 20
i's i'u'''S'.uplo py ae.l.n.
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