The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-15
Survivors of Convention
Meet in Second Re-
union Here.
C. V. MEREDITH
NEW PRESIDENT
Members Realize Radical Law of
Eleven Years Ago Is Now
Conservative - Hill Carter
Registers Himself as Reac-
tionary-Distinguished
Men Speak.

FIFTY OF tho members of the Vr-
ginin CONSTITUTIONAL Convention OF
1e01-1eo2 met in their second reunion
In this city yesterday. They reopened
the debates Of a dozen years ago, re-
newed old friendships. discussed the
effects their work had upon the life
of the Commonwealth. talked not lit
tie of Its relation to the future, and
had a royal good time dinner at
the Jefferson Hotel last night was the
crownlng feature, for among the
speakers were men whose PUBLIC ser
vices have made their names nous"hoiu
words in this State.
Al a business meeting held during
tho afternoon the Association of Sur
vivors OF the Virginia Constitutional
Convention made clean sweep OF It's
officers. All the old officials dccllneo
reelection AS Henry G. stuart. the
retiring president. said. at the end OF
his incumbency of eleven years. IN"
question OF third terms was settled
last November
Charles v Meredith. OF Richmond.
was elected president; former Auor-
ney-General William A. Anderson of
RockbrIdgc, vice-prcs ident. and James
W. Gordon, of Richmond. secretary and
treasurer The retiring officers were
Henry &. stuart. Alexander Hamilton.
Of Petersburg and j Thompson Brown,
OF Bedford.
state officials Hindcrcd Him.
4 feature OF the speaking was the
criticism made by Congressman An
drew jackson MontaHuc OF the handi-
caps felt by him as Governor in trying
Il, mt the new Constitution In effect,
because of the ''rocalcitrancy OF almost
tho complete official life OF the state.
lie said II might be fmprudcnt for him
To mako this remark. but make 1t ne
did Atsestas
Eppa Hunton Jr.. regretted the alb
sence of a strong and nghting minority
party in this State. 10 put the majority
on It's good behavior
Many of the speakers were impeiled
to comment on the fact that their work
In making a now organic law. which
thcy then thought radical in many re-
suects has become conservative with
In. march of events, and is now deem
,d behind the times by. the progressive
clement of to-day.
Hin Carter Renctionary.
This line OF comment brought from
It,l Carter the bald statement that he
4. a reactionary, and that he does not
Yympathize in the least with progress
siveisn II do not" he said, favor the
recall OF public officials. OF ages ana
OF judicial decisions i cannot favor
policy OF ciecting man one day.
then unelecting him the next. II he
does something that does not happen
10 please tho people.
when the committee on legislation
Of the convention met. we were con-
frcnted with a. committee from street
car employees. who said they had to
work ten hours a day. and wanted 10
work six hours and desired il put In
the Constitutions Somebody suggested
that we split the difference, but at last
we took the matter under advisemcnt,
and nothing was ever done III that
convention were meeting now. ] sup
No
gressive and to say that six hours a
day should he enough for an employe.
leaving nothing to individual liberty.
Nor could ever imagine myself
marching under the banner of Gen
erar Rosalie Jones In short, ! am
reactionary"
Following him, Alexander Hamilton
said he was a conservative in conven-
tion times, and is one to-day.
Novel Decorations.
The dinner took place in the Elem
inh room at the Jefferson where the
tables were beautifully decorated with
roses and carnations. on the centre
table were two swectmeat automobiles.
each about n foot long. triumph of
the confectioner's art, filled with cakes.
and complete with actually burning
headlights and sidelights. AT this
table, with Toastmaster Henry G.
Stuart, sat Governor Mann. Major Will
liam a. Anderson, Mayor George Aims
lie, General Rufus a. Ayers. John Stew
art Bryan, Captain r. S. Parks former
Senator a. T. Lincoln. Judge James
Keith, Lieutenant Governor J. Taylor
Ellyson and Judge Il. r. Prentis.
Governor Mann responded to the
toast Virginia" He commented on the
way Mr.. Stuart. In introducing him.
had stressed the idea that he tthe
Governor) is now on the fourth and
final lap OF his incumbency of the exc
cutive chair. The allusion captured
the crowd
Praises Convention.
The Virginia Constitution OF 1892"
was responded TO by Captain Parks,
of Page County. who paiS tribute
TO the unselhsh work of it's members.
concluding with a feeling reference to
the members who have some before.
"a Struggling Democracy was the
topic for the remarks of former At
torney- General Rufus A. Ayers, of
Wise Purity OF the ballot was his
real theme. He told of the growth in
the country and State OF the purchase
of votes in election times, and of the
party struggles in the Ninth District
TO rid the electorate OF such Influences
Knowing that by the use of money he
could easily have been elected TO Con-
feat, considering the stand ne made
for pure elections. will mean more to
the district and to the State Than his
election would have meant.
John Stewart Bryan reminded the
members OF tho convention that much
water has flown by since that body ad-
journed, and that times have changed
Issues have arisen whtch were not
even considered IN those dAys--in fact.
had not arisen. a law bagdns to de-
cay he said, the moment 1t has been