Smyrna times., 1896-01-29
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Interview With Hon. John PiIling Respect
ing II.

ing 1t.
A correspondent of E0eyy Erenin9
says: Hon. John Pilling, of Newark,
was the author of the amendment that
changed the time for voting for a new
State Constitution from May to the
general election. His interest in a
new Constitution is keen and it is gem
orally understood that-he wishes to be
delegate to the Constitutional Con-
ventiOn.
When EVeyy EUening'S correspond
ent questioned him respecting the
origin of the amendment he said: 81
was talking one day with Nat Smith
ers in his office at Dover, about the
vote to be taken at the coming May
election for a Constitutional COnven-
ton and Mr.. Smithers said to me,
Well never get it, John. That set
me to thinking and the next day 1
went back with the proposition to
amend the Constitution so that the
vote could be had at the general cleo
ton instead of in May. He was struck
with the idea and thought it Just the
thing. He said a scheme of that kind
only needed starting and it would
work out itself. He drafted the
amendment after several consultations
with prominent Democratic lawyers of
Dover. They were heartily in favor Of
it. 1t passed first at that session and
afterwards at the next session of the
Legislature without a dissenting vote
in either House."
"Have you anything to say, Mr..
Pllling, concerning the act passed by
the last General Assembly recommend
ing that each county have ten dele
gates, five from each party?' he was
asked.
eyes, think that an excellent idea.
1t is my earnest wish that the conven-
ton be bi partisan, having all ten
names on each party's ticket and voted
for by the whole people. That reso-
luton originated with John Biggs and
Mr.. Bradford of Wilmington. [ un-
derstand that Mr.. Fisher thinks il
probable that such a bipartisan con
vention, if elected, would terminate in
deadlock over the organization. 1
differ with him I do not believe the
people will send that kind of men to
the convention If they do, God for
bid, l don't care to be one of them"
what suggestion have you to make
concerning the choosing of the candi-
iates by the two parties?''
1t has always been my principle in
political government to submit every
hing to the peoples vote, but in this
case l think l see an exception and I
believe it would be to the best interest
u the State to select the candidates bv
district or county convention. I
nave given this Constitutional Conven-
ION question a great deal of thought.
t is the most important matter before
he people of Delaware to-day and
believe L am in sympathy with all the
people of the State in
to see perfectly non partisan
We want the best men in
he State to represent the people in the
raining of our next Constitution. I
ieard John M. Clayton say in his fam
us speech, made way back in 1852
galnst the convention, that the kew to !
ur present Constitution had been
brown away. 1t has taken fifty years
find that key and 1 hope and sin
erely trust that it may prove bless
ng to our little State and be used to
remote the happiness and content
lent OF our people. Our next Consti-
ltion won't last fifty years. That is 7
% long time in this rapidly growing
ge for State to go without a change"