The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-28
MISSES THE FONT RAISED.

<,ur esteemed friend, the Newport News
hre,s. 10 right when 1t says that THE Rich
kcrd viyotnicn was persuaded to laughter"
tKhen II was stated by some OF the newspapers
hostile to the constitutional amendments
adopted by an overwhelming majority three
weeks ago. that the vote on the amendments
swas not a true expression OF the VIII OF the
p<cpls" Frankly the statement seemed ao-
eurd to as at the time and not altogether lack
NJ. on the part of some, in reflection on the
anse,,irence OF the voters who had dared TO
n>r,a. contrary to their advice. AT least one
Aswspaper was bitter in Its remarks on the
hnbiect. In view of the vote showing ma
E,rtty OF nearly three TO one for the amend
ments our first belief is but strengthened
The Press declares that the official figures
Aroye absolutely its contention that "A tair
lxrress,on" of the wishes OF the electorate was
u, attained. Figures, 1t has been said, can
I. raae 70 proye anything, and II the vote
IN the amendments proves the cohteht'oh "a
ms Press we have here the same hsures prov
,ny two irreconciable facts TO our "iha
these figures prove conclusively that there was
fair expression of the will OF the peopie anu
that this expression was Overwhelmingly III
e.xor ~ the amendments The Press points
nnf that the vote the amendments "aS
only so per cent of the vote Tor president va"
the Press name a case In whlch 'he poop'e
tr,ck as much interest in a CONSTITUTIONS queS~
zion az they took in personalities Does ING
pyess believe that under the most iaFofa''e
circumstances that the vote on CONSTRUCTORS
amendment would equal that on choice Oh
nrex,aent Of the United States? There are
Y.w men who could not make up their minus
H. contest between persons espee'a'''
nsrty lines be drawn. but there are many VIM
Escu,d not reach a conclusion on cohs'it"-
.s.na, question even though not distracted oy
ihe necessity of voting for Candidates 'or
president and for congress at the same t'ne-
MI The Press declares that the people were not
.ma,ant,v informed about the amendments
4, vote intelligen,ly 1t may be admitted ina
many people were not well informed o0'
ftese do not constitute the whole OF those VINO
aid not vote II may be admitted that
would be we'll should the people DC oe'le' IN
termed on the subject. Even then the yo'e On
speh questions would not equal that on per-
acnalties and party questions. The Vir0tntdn
III, NOT admit, however, that the vote as re-
3 ncrded was not true expression OF the VIII
- those who voted. These knew what they
were voting for and why they were voting as
they did. There were 1856 OF them voting
- the amendment relating to commissioners
& md 6S.4s6 of them voted for the amendment
~ nav that this enormous majority does not
I " oresent the will OF those voting seems 10
$3.50 Ia be one of the most absurd propositions
ss1ver mt forth or the total vote cast for pres
h 3eut. 1890 did not vote. Had all OF these
A iSxcressed an opinion the amendments but
@3 - thousand. or about ene-sixth, would nave
hi ExNn needed by the advocates of the amend
ont 10 secure it's passage, and there Is SUD
& 8 SSanfial reason to believe that far more than
N16K 81 them would have voted for the amend
ut
The Press misses the point raised by The
NpSnsdx. This newspaper did not contend
<kot the voters might not have been better
N f0fmsd. II would not oppose a sensible
1890 q lestinE them know the nature Of