The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-27
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Rhode Island Citizens League Adopted
Some Resolutions.

There was well attended meeting OF
the Rhcde Island Citizens League in
Veteran Firemen's hall last eSening
when the following resolutions was
adopted:
Whereas, The registry voters of the
several cities are Disseminated against by
the laws and Constitution OF the State as
follows: ft
First. The requirements OF a personal
registration, Tor almost year previous to
our municipal, Congressional and Presi-
Dental elections. Is needless hardship,
which results In the disfranchisement OF
a very large percentage Of our number.
Second. The poll tax, when added to
our indirect taxes, is an injustice and a
nuisance.
Third. Partizanship and favoritism are
continually shown by the assessors OF
taxes i'm the selection of the names of
registry voters 10 be placed upon the per-
sonal property list.
Fourth. The laws, which confer the
election of nearly all city officers upon
have no voice, are at once wrong and a
violation of the spirit OF the clause of the
constitution, conferring upon registry
voters the right to vote in the election
of all such civil officers.
Whereas, The state Constitution by
denying TO registry voters the right OF
voting for City Council, violates the
American doctrines that "Governments
derive their Just powers from the consent
OF the governed" and reduces the majority
OF the qualified electors OF each city to
condition of permanent subjugation.
Whereas, Owing 10 the Inc qua BILE rep
resentation OF the cities in both branches
of the General Assembly, the registry
voters, who constitute q large majority
of every city's electorate, have but little
Influence upon the enactment OF any law.
Whereas, A redress OF these grievances
can only be effected by changes in the
constitution, which are practically i'm
possible by the ordinary process OF
amendment; therefore, be 1t.
the registry voters OF Providence, New
port, fawtucket, Woonsocket. and Gen.
tral Falls to ignore party lines in the
coming election and cast their ballots for
only such candidates for the General
Assembly as openly pledge themselves to
vo for a constitutional convention.
1t was also voted To have the resolution
printed as circuar and distributed be-
fore election and at the polls and i'm each
city attach the names of candidates to
the General Assembly who pledge to sup
port constitutional conventions.
1t was voted that those present elect
and give to the chairman the name and
auuFeSs Oh Que person cacn, 10 DecOme part
of a general committee 10 form a per-
manent organization OF oiregistry voters in
all cities.
In response to letters sent out % pledges
TO the constitutional convention were re-
ceived from candidates TO the General As.
sembly. These are: Thomas +. Vance,
Pawtucket; Joseph II. Banks. Providence;
Henry y. Metcalf, Pawtucket; Frank III.
Lee. Pawtucket; Henry II. Wales, woon-
socket; ii. B. Dexter, Pawtucket; f. A.
Morrill,. Woonsocket; Henry A. Barney,
Pawtucket; William p. Bradley, Central
Falls; John II. Walsh, Providence; Ar
thur o'Leary, Provid,nce; Charles Il.
Irons, Providence; William III. Bullock,
Manton; ID. A. McElroy, Pawtucket; G..
II. Carpenter, Paw ucket; Clinton Fuller,
Providence; John T. Drinan, Providence;
Richard NJ. Byrnes, Pawtucket; John
Peacock, Central Falls; John II. Arnold,
Pawtucket; Allen A. Fowler, woonsock-
ct; George W. Burnham. Pawtucket;
jams Burdick, Providence; Clarence Al
dricb, Providence.
Alfred Dawson called the meeting to
order last night.