Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-24
THE PROPOSED NATIONAL CoNSTITU-
IONA CONVENTION,

placed themselves In the forefront on
the highway that leads to thorough and
far-reaching political reform. The plat
form promulgated by the recent state
convention commends to the thoughtful
consideration of the republican party
of the nation the proposition that a ma
tional convention be called by two
thirds of the states to revise the consti-
tuition of the United States under pro-
visions Of article v of the organic law
of the land. 1t is acknowledged by all
who have given thoughtful considera-
ton to the subject that there Is no hope
for great and vital reforms in this coun-
try by the ordinary process of amending
the constitution, with the concurrence
Of twothirds of the members of both
houses Of congress, ratified by three
fourths of the states.
The framework of our government
formulated 112 years ago has become
inadequate to the wants of the nation.
However sagacious and far-seeing the
trainers of our constitution were they
did not dream about the great indus
trial revolution. wrought by the appli-
ance Of steam and electricity and the
other marvellous discoveries and inven-
tons of the nineteenth century. The
garment which was ample for q popula-
ton of 100000 has become n strait
jacket when donned by a nation of To-
100000. In the language of a prominent
nnctpptor rr,10 p0p,p1ip,onfc thu adifnt
Of The Bee for originating the idea
What we want is a constitutional conven-
ton. For our fathers did not leave us i'm
potent, but by article v of our constitution
made express provision for amending that
instrument, even though congress would not
take up the question. Every amendment
so far, as you truthfully say. has been pro-
posed by congress and the power has never
yet been invoked of calling a constitutional
convention. The time is indeed ripe. The
Twentieth century should be ushered in by
one.
A constitutional convention will not
merely be able to deal effectively with
the regulation of trusts, but it will also
open the way for meeting every vital
problem that confronts the American
people.
1t gives the only possible chance the
people have for vitalizing the PROPOSE
ton to elect United States senator's by
direct vote of the people since the SEN
ate can never be induced by a two
thirds vote to abolish the method by
which a majority Of its members have
beer elected in defiance of the popular
will.
1t offers the only possible chance the
people Of the United States will have
for reversing the decision Of the SUI
preme court that prevents the levy of
an income tax.
A national constitutional convention
would enable the country to deal with
the vital question of colonial possessions
and American protectorates. 1t would
deal a %deathblow to omnibus legislation,
which has cost the country hundreds Of
millions, by giving the president the
right to veto any item in an appropria-
ton bill. 1t would doubtless consider a
provision for a responsible cabinet or
ganized on a basis similar to that Of
Great Britain and give each member a
voice, if not q vote, on the floor Of both
houses. 1t would destroy or minimize
the spoils system by divorcing the leg
islative from the %appointive power and
lay a solid foundation for a civil service
based on competency and merit.
These and other reforms would Of
course be fully and freely discussed be-
fore their adoption or ratification.
The objection raised by Bourke Cock
ran and William ]. Bryan that the re-
vision of the constitution by convention
is too remote is, to use a mild term,
frivolous. 1t is much less remote h a
would be the amendment of the consti-
tuition through that burial ground of
all great national reforms-the United
States senate. Under ordinary condi
tons all the legislatures can be reached
within eighteen months and there is
no good reason why the call for the
convention should not be promulgated
within two years. Give the convention
one year for completing its work and
the states two years for ratification and
the revised constitution can be put in
force by the end of 1908 oil not later
than the spring of 1904. This is a good
deal earlier than we could possibly hope
to secure the ratification of a trust regu-
lation amendment or any other amend
ment that would meet with serious OPP
position from influential quarters.
In u judgment the revision Of the
constitution brought about through the
initiative Of the states offers the most
potential solution Of all the great prob
lens with which the country is Crap
ping.
LATIN-AMERlCAN SUSPICION.
Nothing could be more unwarranted
than the suspicion that has been
created among some of the people of
the Latin-American countries that the
IIpitaa Sfotac hao a Hasira for farri-