Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-04-18
Shall We Hold q Constitutions
Conventfon7

ConventiOn2
4, Tor one, shall vote no, and | be-
lleye when the vote Is counted the
people of Clarke will be found OPP
posed TO II However much the pep
pie OF the State may desire . change
IN the organic law, are they Wiling
In the present financial condition OF
the State 20 run the risk and expense
OF holding n convention: / say risk,
because who can tell what sort or
men Will compose this body: Late
experience teaches US that our cleo
lions reAke with the vilest corruption,
and the man who has the money snu
inclination can buy his way 10 pubic
ofhce. We claim TO have the best
government IN the world and Yet II Is
doubtful II there is . more corrupt
one on the civilized globe. This Is .
SAD commentary on Repu bllcan gov
eminent, yet, l think no one will dis
pute Its correctness. Twice the Gov
ernor has recommended to the Legls-
iature to appoint n commission TO
draft . constitution for the State, 10
be submitted to the people for rsuti
cation or rejection, and twice these
wise Solons have rejected IL This
would have been an inexpensive ST
fair and | believe would have met the
approval of the best element in the
State. The chances were that u few
able and good men, say Que from each
Congressional district and two at
large, making IN all twelve men. that
a constitution could have been draft
20 that would have been an honor TO
the State and met all of the require
ments of the people. Why was not
this plan adopted: | can see no res-
son, unless there was horde of states
men whose cspscious NAV hungered
for the flesh pots, no only wish
ed for chance to get their hands IN
TO the pockets of their poor old mo-
Their and fitch out the last cent ground
from the tax payer.
A convention elected by the people
to De popular representation would
doubtless be as numerous a. the Leg
islature. They would have the DOW
er to fix their own wages and TO re-
main IN session as long as they want
ed to, aud who can tell how long they
would like to rusticate at the capitol
with all OF It's attractions. too numer-
Gus TO mention: ! have heard IL es-
tlmated that a con, ention would cost
the State half million dollars. Is
the State at this time able to stand
such draft as this, and meet the
addition interest OF the public debt
without an Increase of taxation:
Ii might be said that the plan OF
the Governor is undemocratlc. vet
their work would have been submit
ted to popular approval and AS there
would be no candidates involved.
just and honest judgmeu'. uninilu
tnced, would have been obtained.
1t is also claimed by some that the
cost of the convention would be savee
IN the reduction Of the expenses OF
the State government. So far have
seen no itemized saving that WAS 10
accrue to the State which would of
set this expense; therefore | think II
better to bear the ILLS We have than
nv TO those We know not Of AT least
until we can see our way clear 10 call
convention and be able to pay the
expense without adding to the bur
dens of the people, or. better still.
wait and see if the Legislature will
not finally adopt the plan of the
Governor. Another matter of expense
must not be overlooked: if a convep
ton Is called bv a vote of the people
an extra session of the Legislature
will be called, and as they 90 not
work for nothing or go to Richmond
whether to work or loaf. the tax DAY
ers have to foot the bill.
TAX PAYER.