Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-11-03
Does Kansas Need a Constitu-
tlOnal Convention2

present constitution; the imperfec-
ton of the clause regarding represen-
tation in the Legislature, which gives
to certain sections of the state much
fuller representation than IS given to
the same populations in other Sec
tions; the need of increased facilities
to hasten the work in the supreme
court of the state; the injustice of the
homestead exemption law, which was
wise in It's time in protecting the
homes of the earlier settlers, but
which now may be taken advantage
of by the dishonest debtor to defy the
honest creditor; the opportunity
which would be afforded to give wo-
man the ballot; and the need of an
improved jury system.
These probably are the reasons
most generally given for desiring a
constitutional convention, but the
real reason underlying all others in
the minds of the majority, though
not so openly expressed, is the hope
that a constitutional convention
1COlLld remote prohibition from Kan
sas. That there are conscientious
msn in the state who believe that the
needed changes can best be secured
III this way, and that, too, without
imperilling the best interests of the
state, mus be admitted; but there is
not a reasonable doubt that the great
majority who are asking for this &C
ton are those who think that by the
cunning of the serpent aided by the
money that would be poured into the
state without stint, the saloon might
once more be established legally
within our borders.
But IS our constitution such a re-
ally outgrown document as some
imagine, and did its trainers have SO
little judgment as to plan it but for
day?
Men of sufficient wisdom to be Sc
lected for a work so important as this
would scarcely undertake it without
carefully studying the constitution of
older states. Our own is said to be
modelled after that of Ohio, which.
twenty years after ours was drawn
up, was thought by some of the PEG
pie of that state to need revision, but
when the work of the convention had
been done and the people OF the state
rendered their verdict, the new con-
sEitutlon was rejected by a majority
Of 10000 and when twenty years la
ter the question of holding another
constitutional convention was raised.
the electors decided against it by
vote of nearly two to one.
1t IS by 40 means certain that the
people Of Kansas, as a whole. are
more ready for a new constitution
than were the people of Ohio. No
one questions that there are defects
IN our constitution, but these NAV be
remedled by amendments, thus saw
ing an immense amount of money to
the people of the state, not an incon-
siderable matter if the money is to be
worse than thrown away by beng
spent in a manner uncalIed for. and
In way that threatens the overthrow
of prohibition. Are you afraid to
let the voters of Kansas again ex-
press themselves at the ballot-box re-
garding prohibitions" asks our en-
envy To this there would be but one
candid answer: An honest express
sion of the whole people would show
loyalty to prohibition; but it cannot
be denied that there Is a purchasBble
vote, and furthermore the stay-at-
homes are the men who would not be
awake to the satanic devices that
would be used to secure the whisky
vote, and would not realize the need
of their presence at the polls to coun
teract it.
Would it not be wise for a few tenn
perance men who desire the conven-
ton to consider carefully this threat
ened danger; and furthermore, for
all to ask, granting that we do need a
new constitution, if this time of I'M
r1st is a propitious time in which to
undertake the work. It needs q
breadth of vision for a work so i'm
portant, and there is great danger
that men of one idea, representing
this and the other pet scheme, look
ing to the interests of classes rather
than the masses, would be chosen to
do this work.
James A Troutman. president of
the State Temperance Union, has
made careful investigation of the
expense of holding constitutional con-
YentiOns IN some other sfatas He