The sun., 1893-01-08
Johdnnio.
"The King of Natural Table
THE REFORM cLuB 10 TnE aoyERNoR.
II Opposes the CONSTITUTIONAL Con,entior
HiIi as IrconstItuttoLni.

ALBANY, Jan. THE Reform Club o' New
York city sent It's President. W. Harris Roo:n".
and Its attorney. Lewis l. Delancld. to wait
upon the Governor to-day and inform HIM that
tho club had decided that the Constitutional
Convention bill was unconstitutional anu
therefore did not wish IL signed. Gov. Flower
heard them patiently for nearly nm hour. ana
then told them he would not sign tho bill to-
day because Il had not yet reached him. lie
then asked them ii they had received an invi-
tation o his rec option on the Hth and. .on receiv-
ing a negative answer. ho directed Col. Will
linms to give them one.
Attorney Delailcld made the argument be-
fore the Governor. He contendcd that the bill
was stitutonal in Tint it restricted the
right OF suffrage. Ilo argued that every quail
fed clcctor had tho right under the Constitu-
tion to vote for any one he saw MT. and the
Legislature had no power 10 say to him. You
shall vote for only sixteen delegates Mt large
nor to direct that II lie did not choose to vote
for delegates named in tho certificates OF
nomination his vote should not be
counted. The bill under consideration
attempted to exercise both OF these unconsti-
tutionn prci ioEatives. The Court OF Appeals
had decided that u votor had n constitutional
risht to writc any name on his ballot. vote 1t.
and have It counted. This was all admitted to
he true OF elections for State officers. and the
Constitutional Convention delegates were un-
douptedly State oflicera They exercised a
the HIs People. e. Who WHO alnns had the power to make
and amend the Constitution. The constitu-
Stones as Sa's oesrs 'T 'Ths Of Appeals
in the case OF Green agt. Shumway. has 30
decided; and in its opinion declared that NO
power Is conferred urnn the Legislature 10
stitution Inns establshcd.' It would be extra
arnry Who i' were @ sntiled t" tho privilege
OF voting and he able TO disfranchise any class
sIsn WIN In pr"sdns a%s f S the e ns Of
vacancies by the Convention itself Mr. Dela-
a N@t he hat
had no more right to nll a vacant ,seatthan the
stats srnHts AMJemhiy Ne hd ubot n.n
he would suggest in providing for minority
representation.
ndonted in Illinois which the courts IN that
State have declar cd to he constitutional. II ia
tho mehd Hnd syss tho ptss
than the whole number Of candidates to be
elected. Under this system an elector could
large provided for in the bill now under con-
si1eraton by the Governor. or he could cast
The Governor said he would consider the
obiections made by DIR. Detailed. and asked
him If tG thoaGht there any for
Mr.; Delailelh said yes. that the JUDICIARY
article needed revision =. SO & as to permit the
given tho Governor to- designate retired
Judges OF tho supreme Court. who receive a
pen sion. IT, hold Circuit Courts in localities
throughout tho state where tho Judges cannot
keep M with the work.
President ltoome gave as his reason for de.
string a Constitutional Convention that it
might frnme an amendment to the Conetitu-
tion which should for all time divorce local
from State and national elections: that all
State and national elections be fixed to occur
on the even years and tho loca! elections on
the odd years. This would involve q two-yenr
such separation OF local elections from tho
others would tend to n more Independent ex-
preston on the part OF the voters.