The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-02-14

A
| tno qieation OF converting conatitu.
| tiohhl convention was approved and or
dorod to DO pressed TO Il final vote, but
i!will require tho utmos, vigilance and
tho greatest oarncstncSa and resolution
70 carry tllla matter successfully
through. 1t looks us II It could not DO
dono except by an agreement had by
ino legislature itsoli to prolong tho sos.
sion. Cnn this DO lind?
Tho provisions OF tho bill, briefly
stated, aro ~ follows:
A voto to BIO takon ut u special cleo.
uon TO DO hold In October next, for aud
against converting u convention, and Mt
mo samo tlmo voting for delegates TO
mo convention, so that II tho vote for
mo convention prevails, tho delegates
elected Mt tho same tin0 shall meot at
tho cnpitoli in January. 1896, to frame 4
constitution, or prepare amendments or
alterations to tho existing instrument,
ana authorizing tho convention to aub.
init tho result OF Its labors to the people
Tor ratification or rejection, by ordi.
nance or otherwise, rs 1t may provide.
This may DO done at tho regular No.
yembcr election OF 1906, ind BY such or.
dinance tho election OF officers under
the now constitution may ,ako place at
tho anmo timo. the tormH OF office to DO.
gin with 1897. by this arrangement
but one special election would DO 70.
9uirou and tho expenses reduced to tho
minimum.
IL also provides Tor olocting delegates
10 the convention from nineteen dole.
gate districts which are to correspond
IN territorial nrcn with the proposed
nineteen new judicial circuits, aud that
thteo delegates shall DO elected from
each oil these districts, Tor whom each
voter may vote for two and no moro,
thus ACQUIRING for each district n repre.
sentative OF the minority. whether that
minority be Democratic or Republican.
ny TINS arrangement tho convention
VIII consist OF fifty.soven members,
scarcely moro than half tho number OF
ihetiioer1 that constitute tho present
legislature. This would give small
majority IN tho convention, largo enough
10 carry through every mcritoriors and
Jus, provision that ousht to be embodied
IN Tho organic law, ind at the samo TINA
small enough to prevent the incorpora.
lion OF measures OF mere partisanship
or OF local interest. 10 illustrate, II
twelve OF the districts are Republican
anu seven Democratic. there would DO
elected in tho Republican districts
twenty.four Republicans and twelve
Democrats, and In the Democratic
districts, fourteen Democrats and
seven Republicans, thus electing
thirty.one Republicans aud twsnty.six
Democrats, or majority Of Ave. Strong
reason commencing this method OF
electing delegates arc the fact that
minority or proportional representation
Is gaining in popularity throughout the
country; that it secures the best mon
from tho minority party to represent
the interests oil that party, aud it would
enable this convention. by the light OF
Its own experience in the election and
organization OF its own body TO deter
mine the wisdom OF incorporating the
same principle into tho constitution, in
tho election oil supreme court judges, or
oil senators, or members OF tho legis-
lature. oil members OF the county court,
as well US the appointment OF all the
directors oil the state institutions. This
principle has already been recognized
by statute in the election OF directors Of
all Joint stock companies, and appoint.
mont OF directors OF the asylums, und
regents OF the normal schools, and OF
the university.
II now constitution is TO be framed
the movement must be inaugurated at
nus tiWs, because II 1t is not attempted
until 1870 1t will then DO handicapped
by the fact that now set OF state otli.
GERS for four years. OF circuit judges for
eight years, OF clerks OF the circuit and
county courts for elk years, and OF sher.
ills and other county officers for four
years will have just been elected,
who would view with indifference, il not
with absolute hostility the proposition
to create new constitution that should
have the effect OF cutting Thorn of in the
midat OF, or at the beginning OF, their
several terms OF office, and these Office
holders would be 4 strong factor i'll de-
term:nlng tho question OF tho enact.
mont OF the law, and upon vote OF the
people, upon the question OF converting
convention.
1t will be noted that for the first timo
IN twelve years past, or twelve years to
come, from 1897 the term OF Office OF all
the officers above named will end or
begin with the year 1897. and that any
scheme that looks to tho creation OF
new constitution after that date and
within the next twelve years would
have the effect OF dsplaciuG greater
or less number OF officers in tho midst
OF their terms.
Every consideration Of public policy,
OF craftsmanship aud justice requires
such action as may be taken, to DO done
at once and without delay.