Kansas City daily journal., 1896-11-15

THE SoMhN1 FIuhT UN ffSOHAbIIION
1t is said by those who are in q situa-
taon to know that a large majority of the
legislators who have just been elected in
Kansas by the PopultBt party are In favor
of resubmission of the protlibitory amend
ment to the state constitution. Tho lead
e1s Of the party. however, have taken
fright at the boldness with which this as
sertion is made and are seeking to conceal
their friendliness for the liquor interests
by stdetracking the legislators from di-
rect resubmission OF the amendment to
the Calling of a constitutional convention.
OF course. in a constitutional convention
the prohibitory question may be reached
about readily as through direct resub-
mission, yet in supporting such a conven-
tion the Pooulists believe they will avoid
the appearance of making q specially Of
liquor legislation and escape its responsd-
bilfty
John Breidenthal does not wish his party
to assume this responsibility. He has al
ready sounded the alarm in a newspaper
interview. in the course of which he said:
What We do want is a constitutional
convention, and in order to get 1t am
willing to receive all the aid I can get
from those who desire to resubmit the
prohibition question. It is one Of the least,
however. of the reasons why We should
hold n constitutional convention. The con-
stitution framed in the days when cow
boys ruled and industries had scarcely be-
gun in the state is not the kind of a con-
stftution We should have to-day. Mr..
Leely, know is for a constitutional con-
vent.on. / don't know what his intentions
are concerning the prohibitory law
In view of this declaration by the oracle
of the party IL may be accepted a fore
gone CONCLUSION than the Populist legtsla
ture VIII pass the necessary resolution to
launch the question of a constitutional
convention before the people. 1t Is beyond
the power CT the legislature to call such a
convention. for the question of whether or
not 1t is wanted must be voted upon by
the people. but the initial step will un-
Gonb.sGly be taken, and the people of
Kansas can begin to prepare for one of
the most important issues which has ever
been presented for their consideration.
The Po-ulists cannot claim the idea of
a constitutional convention as their own.
IT has long been advocated by many Re
pu5Icans. The lawyers of the state have
been particularly persistent in demanding
reforms in the organic law. One Of the
most widely read and most favorably re-
ceived papers ever delivered before the
State Bar Association was that of Mr..
Associate Justice Johnston, in which he
advocated the calling of a constitutional
convention. 1t is also true that thousands
OF Kansans who are unalterably opposed
TO the repeal of the prohibitory amend
ment are in favor of a constitutional con-
vention and this fact IL highly significant
when ii is attempted to fix the point at
which the believers in prohibition will
make their hottest fight to keep 1t in the
constitution.
The first stage of the proceedings at
which the prohibitionists and resubmis-
sionists will be offered chance to test
strength will be at the fall election of 1898,
when the people VIII decide whether or
not they want a constitutional, convention,
this being the earliest date at which the
legislature can call such vote. If the
prohibitionists seek to carry their point by
declaring against the convention, they run
great danger of losing the votes of those
of their own belief who favor convention
on general principles. So numerous is this
latter class that II is a. question whether
the prohibitionists would not be extremely
.mpolitic TO make the issue there.
The next stage at which fight may be
made is when the election is called for the
ceiection of delegates to the convention.
There the issue may be made in a square
toed way, and it is almost a certainty that
when this election rolls around two tick
cts will be found in every county, divided
sharply upon the issue OF prohibition OF
license.
There are many prohibitionists In Kan
sas who are quite as well pleased with the
prospect OF an opportunity to vote upon
the liquor amendment as the resubmission.
lists could possibly be. They are firm In
the faith that prohibition win be reaSiopted