The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-07-30
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

closes its campaign for a Constltu-
tional Convention. 1t has from
time to time pressed this question
upon the attention of the people.
1t has advocated the convention at
all times with conservatism, and
has insisted upon the necessity of
constitutional revision with respect
full Difference to differing opinions.
1t has sought by all honorable
means to arouse the people to the
Importance of the question, for the
HERALD recognizes that this is the
peoples government, and they
alone should say whether we should
change our fundamental law. 1t
has labOred earnestly TO excite an
interest among the people, for it
was unwilling to see the proposition
carry without general approval of
the voters of the State.
One thing has been very patent
within the last ten days; that is, the
convention is growing in favor every
day. In fact it has come to be so
generally admitted that we need
some fundamental changes, that the
opponents of the convention have
ceased to argue the merits of the
question and are seeking by false
statements to prejudice the people
against the movement. 1t has been
sought to poison their minds against
it by stating that the new constitu-
ton will not be submitted to the
people after it Is framed by the con-
vention. But those who are max
ing the argument must be conscious
that they are stating a falsehoOd.
In the first place, the law under
which the convention is called pro-
vides that it shall be submitted to
the people for their adoption or re-
lection.
But independent of this it is the
unanimous opinion and desire of the
people of the State that the new
constitution shall be submitted to
the people, and in the face of this
unanimous demand it can safely be
. counted upon that there is no man
in Maury County, nor in any other
! county, with character enough. even
to offer as a candidate for delegate
that would dare undertake to estab
, lish the new constitution without
, submitting it to the people.
, 1t is indeed fortunate that there
are so many safeguards thrown
, around our organic law. This ques-
) ton of changing our constitution
' has to'be passed upon three success
7 sive times by the people before
t there is a finality of it; first, they
must vote for the convention; then
they will have to select their dele
gates, and after these delegates
have framed a constitution it must
, be submitted to the people for their
adoption or rejection; and if the
delegates should violate their in
structions or adopt something un-
l satisfactory to the people, they can
reject their work.
But the merits of question can
d, sometimes be determined by the
: character of those who favor and Op-
7 pose it. In this particular an eXami-
nation of the elements which are for
b.. and against the convention is alto
: gether in favor of the movement.
The Democratic party is for it. The
S Democratic party in each county
question in their various platforms,
; and two Democratic Legislatures in
succession have passed favorably
/ upon the question. The Republican
l party are making an organized eff
' fort to defeat the proposition. They
| are assisted in this fight by the cor
D porate interests of the State, and
the Office-holders as class almost
without exception, are opposing
:. the convention. This is not un-
. natural, because a convention means
a reorganization of government and
a consequent displacement of many
-, of the present gang. But it is indeed
: discouraging to see how little self
interest will predominant over every
other consideration. 1t is the same
;, war waged on smaller scale which
= was made during the last political
: campaign by the people against the
entrenched privileges of the classes.
-, The corporate interests of the State
. the mOnopOlies, those who have fed
. long and well upon the public Crane
= ries, those professional politicians
who hope to live upon the abuses OF
government, are arrayed side by side
| with the Republican party against
=, the people in this fight which they
/ are making for better and more eco.
! nomical government.
+ 1t is now the duty of the Demo
Gratis, as it has always been their
4 course, to stand by the peoples