As a prominent and respected newspaper editor , Glass often supported candidates who ran against Virginia 's Democrats of the post-Reconstruction period , who he felt were promoting bad fiscal policy . In 1896 , the same year his father died , Glass attended the Democratic National Convention as a delegate , and heard William Jennings Bryan speak . Glass was elected to the Senate of Virginia in 1899 , and was a delegate to the Virginia constitutional convention of 1901 – 1902 . He was one of the most influential members of the convention , which instituted measures associated with the Progressive movement , such as the establishment of the State Corporation Commission to regulate railroads and other corporations , replacing the former Virginia Board of Public Works
Democratic National Convention
1896 Democratic National Convention
Carter Glass