The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-29

was Il member of the constitutional con-
vention of Virginia.
"One of the most important and bene-
ficial features of the new constitution In
that creating the state corporation COM.
mission and giving it power to control
ana regulate railroads and to fix freight
and passenger rates. This great and
needed reform in the interests of the
people prccipitated "a fierce and determine.
Ell fight In the convention. Failure to
ala the people at this critical time in the
history of Virginia was a dcrellction of
public duty which can be neither ex-
ctisod nor cXtenuated. Let lis amir
the records of the constitutional com
vcntion and ascertain what Mr.. Glass did
during the days this great fight was being
made for the people. The Journal OF
the constitutional convention disclosss
that the report of the committee on
corporations. which included the en-
ployers' liability bill. was taken up in
committee of the whole on the fourth day
of February. 1902. Mr.. Glass answered
the roll call on that day. He appears
TO have been present each day until
Feb. ID. 8 was the last day on which
he answered the roll call. while this part
of the constitution was being con-
sidcrcd. On Feb. ", 1902, he was
granted indefinite leave of absence. After
the report of the committee on corpora
tons had been considered for some time
In committee of the whole and amended.
it was presented with amendments
to the constitutional convention
for vote and disposal. 1t was considered
each day from Feb. IS u March A. 1902.
when it was finally adopted. During
these days from the 2Sth of February to
March 4. there were twenty roll calls
upon important matters deeply affecting
rho nnnntn nf Nfrninin a-I
and fixing the powers of the state cor
poration commission.
Missed Every Roll Call.
Mr.. Glass is not recorded as voting
on a single n Of these roll-calls. He is
not even paired upon a single roll-call
as being favorable or unfavorable to
any of these important matters includ-
Ing the Employers Liability section, nor
paired upon the final adoption of the
report. He seems to have folded his tent
like the Arab. and fled to the desert
when this great fight was being made
for the people, of such vast and far-reach-
Ing Importance to the future of this
commonwealth. II Mr.. Glass absence
was caused by sickness or other una
voidable cause, he certainly could have
paired upon these measures. and at least
upon the final adoption OF the report.
lie failed even TO do this. But his dere-
LECTION of duty and his fleeing from tho
fight becomes more marked and moro
striking when an examination of his
record will show that he had himself
paired on other smaller matters. After
his absence on Feb. II, he was paired
with Mr.. Gordon. of Nelson. on an un-
important amendment to the report of
the committee on executive offices. He
did not answer a roll-call until March
10. 1902. Mr.. Glass, posing as n great
champion OF the people now and de-
sirous of regulating railroads in the in
forests OF the people. should explain
why he fled from this fight and missed
the great opportunity OF his life to prove
himself the champion OF the people
against the corporations mother re-
markble incident in connection with this
record is that even during the debates
in committee OF the whole when the
fight was being waged for the people.
and he was present, he failed TO lift his
voice or give any utterance in behalf Of
the people. Absent, silent. unimpaired,
the provisions Of the now constitution
creating the corporation comnissiuA
were adopted without any assistance
from him. If the other members of the
constitutional convention had been as
dcrelict as Mr.. Glass. there would exist
today in Virginia no corporation COM
ihiSsi'Ai W Jill diu Tebhldtc TdllEOduS
and fix freight and passenger rates in the
interests of the people. The people OF
Virginia cannot approve the public
record of a man who. when he wants
high official position, discloses the fact
that he possesses the voice of Jacob, but
the hand of Esau. II comes with poor
grace from him to conduct Il campaign
of criticism and abuse against others,
while the record shows such a glazing
failure OF public duty at one of the most
critical times in the history of the state
staring him in the face. The small criti-
cisms TO which ! have been subjected
by invetcratc political enemies pale
into insignificance before this monu-
mental failure Of duty by Mr.. Glass.
This disposition OF his part 10 vote or
be paired on important questions az
fecting the regulation and control rail-
roads has been further exhibited by his
record In congress. On July %, 1905,
when the question came up in the house
OF representatives upon the adoption
of the conference report on the railroad
rate bill regulating and controlling rail-
roads, MIR. Glass did not vote and was
not paired. Again he seems to have fled
from the fight without making proper
provision 10 have his vote counted or to
aid in the adoption of this important
measure.
Glass rs. Machine Rule.
These are not the only pretentions pro-
scented 20 the people by Mr.. Glass. which
are contradicted conclusivcly by his
public record as disclosed in the consti-
tutional convention. He now poses as a
great opponent of machine politics, al
enough In every campaign he has extended
10 Senator Martin his support and if
eherc Is a machine in Virginia dominated
by Senator Martin. the responsibility
lies with Mr.. Glass as much as with my
one else. His conversion did not come
except concurrcntly with his candidacy
for the scnatOrship. This must convince
any impartial person that his present
position is animated by Sclfishness and