Connecticut western news., 1901-10-03
CONN. TOWNS IN DANGER.
The Constitutional Rights of the Towns of Connecticut are
 in Danger.

of this com on wealth who has enjoyed, or is now enjoying, the rights, privileges. and benefits granted hlm under the ise and just Constitution adopted by the fathers, and upon the preservation of | which depends his own welfare, as we'll as the prosperity of his decend ants, to any and all such comes the | greeting of tens of thousands of his | fellow citizens of the towns of Connec- | ticut, to join in doing all in their | power to sustain our sacred rights by dropping party lines, local issues, | and everything that would interfere with our standing solidly together with | 8 determination not to surrender sin gle right and go to the polls on Mon- day, October 7tb, and vote NO. against the holding of Constitutional Conven- ton, the sole object of which seems to be to take from the towns of the State rights which are the towns by sacred guarantee, and which will bring 154 towns under the complete control of IA towns or cities
 Among the benefits or privileges which are threatened by convention are:
 THE RIGHT OF TOWN REPRE-.
 SANITATION IN THE LOWER
 HOUSE OF THE GENERAL AS SEMBLY ....#
 THE RIGHT OF EACH TOWN
 TO MANAGE ITS OWN AFFAIRS. THE RIGHT OF EACH TOWN
 TO ELECT ITS OWN OFFICERS THE RIGHT OF EACH TOWN
 TO LAY ITS OWN TAXES
 whereby comes the value of property and local prosperity to agricultural communities.
 The Constitution of our state, adopted in 1918, gives to every town, large or small, two Representatives in the lower House of the General Assembly. Later. towns which were set off from original towns accepted of one representative for reasons satisfactory to them. Our national legislature has the same princi- pal of the representation of States in the United States Senate, and the State of Nevada with population of 42.OO0 has two Senators, as we'll as the State of New York with it's eight millions of population; while in the other House of Congress representation is based upon population. What would Con- nect!cut amount to in the United States Senate if the nation would say repre- sentation by population? Where would have been the manufacturing interests of New England for the past 50 years had it not been for her United States Senators? And yet the reformers are striving through Constitutional Con- vention to take from 154 towns their rights in the lower House of the General Assembly and give it to 14 cities. These IA cities have majority of the popula- tion of the state, and therefore can pro- tect themselves, while the 154 towns would have their all taken from them, and be left unprotected. These IA cities can now elect the Presidential electors, Congressman, Governor and other state officers, and all officers elec- ted by the popular vote. except mem- bers of the lower House of the General Assembly.
 When the present proposed amend ment to the Constitution for the in- crease of the State Senate, and redis- tricting of the same according to popu- lation, is adopted by the people, New Haven city will have Senators, while the country district will have to be more than doubled in territory to have one, aud the IA cities will then have permanent majority in the State Senate; and still the small reform element m these IA cities is demanding Constitu- tional Convention. that they may also obtain permanent maj ority in the House. Will there be a citizen of the towns that will not spend the time on Monday, October 7th, to go to the polls and resent this demand? Has there been any dissatisfaction, or even in- justice, shown by the people against the present method of representation? May we not therefore expect If we do our duty fully that the business men and the laboring men of our cities, who are not politicians, or office seekers, will vote with us? Come out as one man and vote down the proposed convention, thereby wronging no one, but protect ing all. Why leave it to politicians ID the city, who leading masses of voters can control affairs of State and legista tion? The Fyler amendment was the sure step for accomplishing represen- tation in both Houses of onr General Assembly by population. It was de- feated by more than 2 to l. Why was this vote in the General Assembly to bring this convention before the people passed? Ask your representatives. if any questionable means were used to St cure its adoption. and to defeat reconsideration?
 Vote against the holding of a Con- stitutional Convention for the following reasons:
 l. Because it is wrong.
 2. Because it is not needed.
 B. Because it will open the door to- we know not what.
 4. Because it's object is to centraliza citizenship into trust.
 5. Because it will cost the people of the state an enormous sum of money. concededly without any beneficial re- suit.
 $. Because the proposed amend ments for redistricting and enlarging the Senate gives the cities a majority in the Senate, and the intent of Con. stitutional Convention is to destroy the prestige of the towns in the House, and give the cities control of both houses, and to remove the land and probate records of the towns to county seats, as in New York State, establishing system that is both expensive and in. convenient.
 '. Because it will take from us the right to elect our own Judge of Probate and justices.
 8. Because it will bring about a re- districting of our Probate Districts.
 9. Because 1t will create Boards of State and County Commissioners, to have charge of all town affairs.
 10. Because it takes from us sacred rights, and leaves us helpless, depend ing upon the mercy of the city poli- tician.
 II. Vote against it because it under mines the principles of liberty, equal rights to all, which are the underlying principles of our boasted peoples government.
 12. Because our Constitution pro. vides the method to alter, amend, or change our present system of govern. ment in an orderly. thoughtful. and considerate way, and a convention is