The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1884-09-21
WARS rHx NATTER xovr

of this month adopted. among other
resolutions. the following:
.'rhat in view OF the fact that neces-
sAry constitutional reform can lie ac-
coanp-shed by amendments TO the State
Constitution as speedily and effectively
~ by a revision 81 that instrument by a
Constitutional Conyentiou-a doubtful
experiment under the most favorable
circumstancrs-we hereby recoumend
the voters of the Stat. to vote at IA next
general election against calling Constr
tutionAl Convention
Taking their cue from the above bare
faced abandonment of a policy which
tao years ago, this same party. and some
of the Identical men, openly declared to
he the only true one, the Republican
papers OF the State, with a u~nsrimity
which would b. admirable in an honest
cause, fail gracefully into line under the
banner Of Legislative amendments"
and coo in harmonious chorus The
automatic precision with which the Re
publican machine is made 10 Worthwhile
it displays the admirable drilling of its
journalistic eorps-also exhibits the hu-
initiating spectacle of q press SC miser-
ably partisan that not a ~peneil-pusher of
the entire crew has the independence of
spirit to express his disapprobation Of
the cowardly course Of y convention
which has not only stultifed itself. but
has, without vouehsafne a tenable rea-
son for its Sudden change Of base, re
pudia;ed the course Of the party press,
which, in conjunction with the Demo
cratic press OF the State, two years ago
advocated the calling Of a Constitutional
Convention for good and substantial
reasons then given. and which have in
no wise been impaired up TO the present
day. The method prescribed i'll the
Constitution itself, for the revision of
that instrument, is undeniable proof of
the falsity OF the assertion made in the
above quoted resolution, that reform
be accomplished by legislative
amendments to the State Constitution as
speedily and effectively AS by a revision
Of that instrument by a Constitutional
Convention" II this were true, why
did tine Republican State Convention OF
two years ago declare in favor OF n con
~vention for revision? And why did the
ensuing Legislature, composed vi repre-
sentative men OF both political parties,
by a two-thirds vote, pass the following
concurrent resolution:
Whereas, BY the second Section of
Article XVI. of the Constitution vi the
State OF Nevada, it is provided that IA
revision of tho entire Constitution may
be made; and
Whereas, 1t is absolutely necessary
that such revision should he made for
the purpose OF reducing the expenses OF
the Government; therefore be it
Resolved, By the Senate, the Assem-
bly, concurnng, that We recommend to
the electors at the next election for
members of the Legislature To vote for
or against a convention for the purpose
OF revising the Constitution OF the State
OF Nevada. And it shall be the duty Of
the Governor, by his proclamation, and
the several Boards of County Commits
sioners of the several counties of this
State. to submit the question Of calling
n Constitutional Convention TO u vote of
the people at the next general election"
The election referred to is that which
takes place less than two months hence,
and as may be seenb by the first resolution
above quoted, the Republican Convention
which met at Carson on the 4th Of this
month, recommends the voters Of the
State to "yote against calling a Consti-
tutionnl Convention" Now, il, as "all"
declared two years ago, a convention
was absolutely necessary, and the only
practicable method for obtaining relief
from the burdens under which the tax
payers of the State are staggering, why
is 1t that the Republican Convention adj
vises the voters at the approaching cleo
ton to oppose such measure with their
votes? No effort, even, has been made
to point out wherein any conditions have
changed since 1882, or the vaguest rea-
son given why an absolutely necessary
measure" two years ago. should now be
r~epudiated. The fact is, the nect ssity
for q revision OF our organic law becomes
more and imperative with every
year, because the burdens OF State and
county Government, imposed under the
Constitution, are constantly, under the
prevailing busiucss depression, becoming
more and more oppressive. The claim
that constitutional reform can be accom-
plishcd by amendments, as speedily and
effectively as by revision in convention"
is totally unsupported by obtained faces,
for n glance at the Constitution itself,
will prove to the dullest intellect, that II
the vote this Fall favors the Convention,
the desired changes in the Constitution
can be perfected within two years, while
any amendments which may be proposed
by the next Legislature, cannot possibly
become effective under five years. From
the s~tulifying course Of the Carson Con-
v~cntion, il IL manifest that mn immense
Etheopean is carefully concealed some
where in the Republican fence, and il
the people OF Nevada care less for the
advancement Of a few political tricksters
than they do for their own material in
terests, they wifi sit vigorously down
upon the schening politicians by voting
solidly for the Convention. and then
seeing 10 it, that none but honest and
capable men be permitted to go to II as
delegates.