The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-10-17
THE COMING ELECTION.
Reasons for Holding the Constitu-
tional Convention.


In publishing the following article, taken
from the Pottville Republican, the HER
AID wishes to state that it heartily
endorses all the sentiments contained in it :
AT the coming election the people of
this state will be called upon to vote for or
against a Constitutional Convention, n
question of more than ordinary importance,
but one that has hardly been considered.
It is essentially a political question, and
yet not of partisan character men of all
shades Of political opinion have expressed
their views as to the necessity of holding a
convention which vary without reference
to the party to which they belong; neither
of the predominant political parties have
committed themselves unreservedly in sup
port of the convention, the Democratic
party only going so far as to favor it in
order to secure Ballot Reform. Taking an
impartial view of the question, it seems
| that its ultimate decision one wsy or the
other will depend on the weight of reasons
advanced for or against holding the con-
venhOn.
There seems to he an unaminity Of opin-
| ion that some changes ought to be made in
our present Constitution, but the question
arises how shall we make such changes, by
amendments or a new Constitution2 The
! latter method would practically be amend
ment in another form, as it is revision Of
the Constitution that is contended for and
not an entire new instrument. To say the
| least, the wisdom of voting against con-
vention because we can eventually alter
and improve the Constitution by the sub
mission of amendments is questionable.
| If one or more amendments were pro-
posed and agreed to by the Legislature, IL
would cost the state almost if not as much
| to advertise the amendments in the manner
required by the Constitution, and pay the
expense incident to their submission, as to
hold convention, besides what we could
now accomplish at once by convention
we would have to wait at least until 1885,
for delays are dangerous so if there are to
be any changes made in the Constitution
they had better be made now. The
necessary legislation has been enacted for
holding the convention, the expense in
CURED to vote thereon, and it would seem
almost like an act of folly to defeat the
conyention without seeing what benefit
could be derived therefrom.
If it is doubted wherein cur present Con-
stitution is defective, a superficial examina-
ton of the articles on the Judiciary, suf-
frage and elections, taxation and finance
and railroads and canals will afford the
most notable examples. Twenty years
have expired since its adoption and during
that time we have experienced the greatest
progress in human affairs that has beer
known in the worlds history and it is but
just to say we must adapt ourselves to new
conditions that have not heretofore beer
provided for.
Without referring at length to defects il
the Constitutional articles mentioned, thu
people of this county in particular neeC
not be reminded of the weakness of tn,
judiciary article which guarantees us
separate Orphans Court but makes us de
pendant upon the Legislature to get it
As the Legislature did not see fit to pass al
enabling act, we have not got sepsrat
Orphans court which every body says ia
necessity for a county of this size an,
which the Constitution says we shall have
, our present system of establishing courts @
Common Pleas is questioned and the bette
plan would no doubt be to allow the Legis
s lature to or cate judicial districts of two o
d more counties even though one of ther
may contain 10000 or more inhabitant
: the business Of some counties contsinin
that number Of people hardly warrant
separate judicial district although th
Constitution says they shall have it.
As long as the ballot numbering featui
lexists IN the Constitution, ballot reform
impossible; with both The political partit
fsvoring it, how anyone protesting to be
q, Republican or Democrat can oppose
change in the Constitution is hard to in
aRine. Reform in taxation and the powe