The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-10

before members of the caucus were
prepared to consider such candidacy:
and further, AZ no candidates had ~
yet announced themselves for the con-
sideration Of the caucus. therefore
tina, II was the sense Of the Senate
caucus. tho House caucus c0ncurrinS.
that the position Of revisor (like thai
OF tho Supreme Court Judge) 10 ore
OF such dignity and Importance That
1t should seek the man. and should not
be sought by any candidate, and
further that 1t Ii the sense Of this
cucus that friends who mean to ad-
vance the interests of any prospective
candidate. or candidates, should take
no steps to that end until a revision
bill has actually passed che houses
of the General Assembly.
Wants to Know Men.
Judge Williams moved the adoption
Of the resolution. Hugh White. men,
Der from Rockbrfdge, made a vigorous
assault upon the resolution. He de-
clared that he would never support
such q proposal. that already the State
had been to q large measure can
vassed by one or more candidates for
the position OF revisor. He declared
that the caucus should not bind Its
hands In the matter. He argued that
the States laws were ~ " in q transit
ton period and he strongly doubted
the propriety Of revision at this time.
When he voted for a revision bill he
wanted the names OF the reyisors in
serted therein 30 that all may know
In whose hands the delicate work Of
revision was to be placed.
In previous ATTEMPTS to get through
revision measures the names of men
as revisors had been urged who were
in no way qualified. The Legislature
had largely to depend upon the wis
dom and judgment OF the revisors az
when they brought in the results OF
their work the members had no time
or opportunity to consider IL. They
must take the work on the say-so OF
the revisors. He felt that there was
something somewhere with the reso-
luton. 1t expects, said he, to bind by
mere resolution the minds and
tongues OF the members. The House.
he urged again. should keep Its hands.
tongues and minds free.
Judge Williams replied to Mr..
White. He said that six years ago
he introduced the revision bill. The
measure had passed the House. but by
the time It had reached The Senate
pledges had been made by members OF
the House to support men who were
not qualified to revise an almanac. For
the best lawyers in the State to do
the work. He did not care who they
were or where they came from. There
was an absolute necessity. he urged.
for a revision Of the code. which had
remained unrevissd since 1887. since
which time there had been complete
change OF the constitution OF the
State He had seen the State scend
all the way to Minnesota for law
books. PAYING 322 for them. because
the'code was not revised. He expect
ed to be the author OF the new meas
ure to provide for the revision. II beg
Of you not to think there is a Niger
In the wood pile. the gentleman from
Giles remarked with warmth
did yo1 know that the State had
besn partially canvasse1?" querried
Mr.. White.
IT knew il, yes. sir. knew II. and
this resolution was intended to cor
rect the situation rs far as possible"
replied Judge Williams- At this
point there were suggestions that the
discus sion be postponed until the
joint caucus was held.
Hill Montague. OF Richmond. de-
cla-ed that there was no use in post
poning action upon a simple reso-
luton. Mr. Montague urged that the
passage Of the resolution would be
found a desirable expedient In cur
failing the activities of candidates
ard would be productive Of good.
s..,--z.: Not in Order. r.
Al this point Mr. White spiked the
gums OF the friends OF the resolution
effectuaiiy. He rose tn point oil
order and stated that, as the call Tor
the caucus had not set out that the
question under discussion would be
considered. 1t was clearly out of or
der The chair sustained the conten-
ton. Judge Williams said that he
was prepared to admit that the reso-
haion was not in order and the most
interesting phase Of the caucus van
i.hed into thin air In so far as actual
results were concerned,
Joint resolution was passed call
Ing the fotnt caucus for the nominal
ton OF State officers for Thursday
night at 3 o'clock. after which the
caucus adjourned