Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-02-27
For a Non.pnrtIaau convention.


The discussion of the question of se-
curing an entirely non partisan conven-
tion 10 prepare a new Constitution for
this State is growing in interest.
Several more down State papers made
interesting comments In their issues OF
last week.
1t is encouraging to note that while
not agreeing as to measures, there is
no dissent from the proposition that
some means should be adopted to abso-
lutely insure minority representation
in the Constitutional Convention. Upon
this point the State press seems to be
a unit. Some papers favor the plan of
convention evenly divided between
the two political parties. Others OPP
pose this, but recommend some scheme
to make sure Of minority representa-
ton.
The Delaware Democrat, published
at Georgetown, is not favorably in
clined towards the equal-division plan.
1t fears that in such an event it would
be impossible to keep the delegates
from wrangling over the provisions to
be adopted, and the disputes would
be carried from there to the people for
their decision" But partisanscon.
vention would surely be much more
prolific of wrangling over the provi-
sions to be adopted" as many provi-
sions would then be partisan in their
nature, and the partisan wrangling
would be sure to DO carried TO the peo-
pe With a convention equally divided,
partisan provisions could not possibly
find their way into the new Constitu-
tion.
The Democrat, however. has some
excellent ideas as to what the personnel
OF the convention should be. 1t says
Our idea of constitutional conven
tion is that it should be composed Of
men of judicial nature rather than of
a political character. In the formation
OF the fundamental law OF the State
the men to do the work should be Of
good judgment, having an extensive
knowledge of affairs, possessing the
confidence Of the people and willing to
make compromises for the general good
We thought at the time the question
OF calling convention was voted upon
that no radical changes were needed in
the instrument We are still of that
opinion, and think that it could have
been sufficiently amended by the Gen.
eral Assembly, without the trouble and
expense and danger of calling a con
vention for that purpose. We are. there
fore, not the advocates of any radical
changes in the Constitution, and not in
favor of radical men being sent to the
convention. For that reason we are
opposed to partisans, in the offensive
sense OF the term. being elected, whether
the ticket shall be composed of men
belonging to one party or divided be.
tween the two. 1t is a place in which
radicalism should be able to find no
foothold.
Certainly, this is the kind of conven
ton the people would like to have.
And how can il better be secured than
by removing it entirely from the plane
of craftsmanship? And to SO remove IT,
what better means could be employed
than to divide its membership equally
between the two parties?
The Sussex journal, also of George.
town believes that the convention
should he non. partisan body, and
says: We believe both parties should
act together for the common good of
the State. Partisan ideas should never
be allowed to be engrafted in the new
basis OF government. We should have
Consultation for all the people of the
State, without regard to party or party
perpetuation.
The journal promises to discuss the
question more fully in subsequent is.
sues. 1t is in hearty accord with the gen
eral desire for a partsanconvention,
and We hope it will throw its influence
IN favor of convention equally divided
between the two parties as recon-
mended by the last Legislature and on
dorsed by sound public sentiment.
The only voice that has been raised
in fiat opposition to an evenly divided
convention, comes from Republican
Glasses" in the Sunday Star, and it is
well known whose harsh, dscordapt
voice that is. 1t can be assumed as a
principle safe to follow, that whatever
Republican Classes recommends
the community should shun as it would
a pestlence; whatever it condemns is
good for the people, But, after all, the
writer is perhaps entitled to thanks
even for his venomous opposition 10 a
non partisan convention, for his enmity
will only serve to aid the cause he seeks
to destroy.