The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-10-29
THE CONSTITUTIONAL
Amendmento--A Prominent Democrat,
Who is Opposed TO One OF These Amend
nnente.

Amendmsnho--A Frominn Democrat,
Who Is Opposed TO One OF These Amend
ments.
Ed. .NBwS-DEAOCRAT: At the coming
election there will he twoimpostAnt ques-
tions 10 be voted on By the people.
Amendment No. l is the taxation amend
uAent which prescribes that the legisla-
ture shall have the power TO tax rights /,
privileges and franchises. This amend
ment was fully discussed by Charles b.
Stokey in one of your former Issues so
that shall direct my remarks 10 amend
ment No. 2 which involves the question as
10 whether we shall have q constitutional
san question and every voter whether he
be of the Dem mocratic, Republican OF Pro-
hibition faith should yote "Non on this
proposition for the following reasons:
First: 1t would be the height Of folly
TO burden the State wish the enormous
expense. A new constitutional oonyen-
tion will cost the tax payers OF Ohio
nearly two millions Of dollars, and the
people seriously protest against this un-
necessary expenditure. The constitution
provides that "at the general election to
be held in the year 1871 and in each
twentieth year thereafter, the question,
shall there be a convention TO revise,
alter OF amend the constitution shall be
submitted to the electors OF the state; and
in case majority of all the electors, vot-
ing at such election, shall decide in favor
Of a convention, the general assembly at
its next session shall provide by law for
the election OF delegates and the assem-
Der election in 1851 the people voted upon
small sn1s PreHSi0n Pms}opisS they anu decided to o
have a constitutional convention. Dele
gates were elected the following year and
after being in session for 1888 days and
spending over million. Of the peoples
money, they submitted n new constitution
to the voters which was Overwhelmingly
defeated. Had the people of Ohio had
any idea at the time they voted for con-
stitutional convention, OF the enormous
expense that would thus be entailod, the
proposition would have been defeated by
hundreds of thousands.
Second: That the people of Ohio are
we'll enough satisfied with the present con-
stitution il we'll demonstrated by the fact
that they voted down new con stitation
in 1874 by majority of 146, ,2o4, and have
voted down every amendment proposed,
save two, by overwhelming majorities.
Third: 1t ia O dangerous experiment.
We know what we now have, but we id
not what we may get. Ii y better to let
well eaough" alone. The man who
claims that theSpFesent constitution has
outlived its usefulness andfs not content
unless he IL continually monkeying with
4 can De very appropriately csassed as
The constitution of 1851 Is grand
political document and II more
nearly resembles the Federal Consti-
tuition than does the constitution OF any
state in the Union. The convention
which met in Cincinnati was an august
body OF talented men. Ex-Goy. Me-
dill was President and among its
members were such legal giants as
Judge Swan, Judge Lawrence and
Judge Ranney' The members oi
were elected by their various constitu'
encies and the people had nothing to fear
for they were men of superb honor and
integrity who could safely be intrusted
with the guardianship OF our laws and our
liberties. The convention was In session
long time and that constitution under
went a severe scrutiny and long dis
cussion, not only In public prints and pri'
vate circles, but solemly and publicly by
the many illustrious statesman who com
| posed that convention. IL has stood the
| storm and shocks OF partisan madness foI
| forty years and Il bids fair 0 stand them
| for twenty years more. II.