The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-10
FIFTY TO ATTEND
NOTABLE REUNION
survivors of Constitutional Con-
81 vcntion Will Meet in Rich
mond Friday.
HAVE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
Elaborate Affair Planned for
Leading Citizens Who Made
New Organic Law,

Responses received from invitations
indicate that fully fifty of the sixty
nine survivors of the Virginia Consti-
tutional Convention will meet in re-
union In this city on Friday night.
Preparations have been going forward
for weeks. and the plans ara practical
~ complete.
1t is expected TO have business
meeting and reunion at O'Clock in
the afternoon, at which the Constitu-
ton makers will greet each other and
renew friendships made during the
memorable sessions OF that body. ON
GERS will be elected to serve until tho
members see fit to hold the next re-
union. While the contract has not
been executed, it is probable that the
Jefferson Hotel will be the scene OF
tho meeting.
Members md Guests to Dine.
Beginning at o'clock at night the
members of the association, with in
Nited guests. will meet at dinner. About
twenty invitations will be issued-to
heads of the more important State de-
partments. to judges Of the Supreme
Court Of Appeals and OF tho courts Of
this city. The list OF after-dinner
speakers, which is not Yet complete,
will include some members and some
nonmsrabers of the constitutional Con-
yention.
The committee in charge of the re-
union and dinner, appointed by Pres
ident Henry c. Stuart, is composed OF
Jamos w. Gordon. chairman: Alexan-
der Hamilton and d. c. O'Flahcrty.
Tho Invitation committee is headed by
Charles v. Meredith.
This occasion will be one of the
most notable gatherings OF recent
years in Richmond. The vitality i'm
portant work of the convention, at
tracttng the leading citizens Of the
Commonwealth, lent great interest to
its personnel who were In the lime
light for the many months the body
sat making new organic law for
Virginia. 1T was its mission to enmi-
nate the negro from politics by de-
priving the bulk of that race the priv
fIeEe and responsibility of the ballot
1t had to formulate n comprehensive
plan Of regulation OF public service
corporations, i'll response to the needs
OF modern conditions 1t had to revo-
lutionize the system of public instruc-
ton. or else abandon it 1t was neces
sary TO make changes in the States
activities looking to the Improvement
of agriculture. And upon general de-
mand. 1t was decided to revamp the
judicial system by abolishing the coun-
ty courts.
All these things the convention did.
occupying many months in the task
Citizens Give banquet.
On the day the convention reached
final adjournment-June &c, 1902-tha
members were rendered a banquet al
the Masonic Temple by the citizens OF
Richmond, the occasion being much en-
ioyed by everybody At that time an
association was formed. Henry c.
Stuart, OF Russell, was elected presi-
dent; Alexander Hamilton, of Peters
burg, vice-president; J. Thompson
Brown, OF Bedford, secretary and treas
urer. There was talk of having annual
meetings in the form of reunions, but
it was hardly expected this would be
done.
In 1906 on the call OF Mr.. Stuart.
the first reunion was held, the meet
ing place being the same hall-the
Masonic Temple. There was large
attendance of survivors-much larger,
unfortunately, than can ever be had
again. No meeting has been held since.
and It Is at the request of many mem
bers that Mr.. Stuart announced early
in January that another reunion would
A total Of iOl men were elected tc
tho Constitutional Convention. one
having been elected during the session
10 fill a vacancy caused by resigna-
ton OF the total, sixty-nine survive,
the death roll numbering thirty-two
in less than eleven years. Among
men we'll known all over the state who
have died since adjournment are Sen
ator John w. Daniel, of Campbell; "
II. Boaz, of Albemarle; Secretary o
the Commonwealth, D. Q. Eggleston
of Charlotte; Wood Bouldin. OF Halifax
Judge G.. Taylor Garnett of Mathews
John Goode, of Bedford, president o
The convention; Judge Bergman Green
OF Pittsylvania; Judge John III. In
gram, OF Manchester; former Congress
man James w Marshall, OF Craig; Col
onel ]. B. Richmond, OF Scott: Colone
John c. Summers, OF Washington
Judge w. n. Portiock. of Norfoli
County, and w. Gordon Robertson, o
Roanoke.