The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16
TO KEEP UP TOWNSHIP RULE.
POPULAR RULE LIKELY TO
FAIL IN CONNECTICUT.
Warner Of salisbury Dominates the Con-
stitutional Convention. and Reform In
Representation Is Sent to the Rear.

'h
Representation Is Sent to the Rear
HARTFORD, Conn, Feb. 15.-This weeks
developments in the Constitutional Conven
ton have been important and the central
figure of the week has been Donald L
Warner OF the little town Of Salisbury, IN
lItchfeld county, up In the northwest
corner OF the State. Mr.. Warner for SOW
eral years has been a conspicuous figure
in the politics Of the State. and In 1900 he
had a warm battle with Gov. Mclean for
the Republican nomination for the Office
which Gov. Mclean obtained. He seems
TO be master OF the situation In the con-
v~ention, and is the leader and spokesman
Of the delegates from the small towns.
1t was Mr.. Warner who introduced in
the Committee of the Whole the resolution
directing a vote last Tuesday on the propo-
sition that all towns should be represented
equally in the House Of Representatives,
and he led his forces to an easy victory
when the vote was taken. He brushed
aside all attempts to amend the proposition
or to obscure the issue. The vote was
decisive. The Committee OF the Whole
voted that the new Constitution shall pro-
vide for n representation Of one Delegate
lTOIl each tONH III lllt T1OuSt VI DfNF eaNtn
1t was also voted that the Senate shall be
based upon population, and the proposition
is 20 make it a larger body than II has been
heretofore.
This was the situation when the con-
vention began business on Thursday morn
ing, and il had aroused the ire of Delegate
Daniel Davenport of Bridgeport. He in
troduced a resolution, which, as The Sim
has already told, caused excitement and
disorder at the convention. This is the
resolution:
Whereas. This conven ton Is composed of
lGs delegates from the several towns IN the
State. of whom ll2 constitute d two-thirds
Wbcrcds, ii2 Of the members OF ,b'- body
are delegates from towns whose to- j populi-
the population OF tho State. and
Whereds. a large majority OF. SAID, dele
termination 10 resist all attempts in this body
to give the more popuionS towns increased
renrcsentation ia tn" lower house OF tn.
to reduce their representation therein one
half. said action being undertaken under the
Donald 4. Warner, the delegate from Sails
bury, after being dctermlned upon in a series
Of caucuses from which DELEGATES holding
different views were excluded, and
Whereas, The delegates from, a, large ma
iorty of said towns have declared that
neither IN TINS convention nor IN the General
Assembly will the repre- sntatives from
those towns ever consent TO vote for any
thing which will deprive them of equal repre-
sentation IN the lower house with the larger
Wiereis. The composition Of this body
and OF the Legislature Is such that no relief
from such Injustice for the larger towns can
ever be expected from either: now there
fore. be it.
ing the undeniable and indefehsible right OF the
PEOPLE of this state to alter their form of govern
ment as they think best We recommend to his
ENc"ll"ncv. George i. Mclean, the Governor
Of this State, or his successor in Office, as "A
supreme executive act, that he recommend
the existing electoral machinery IN the several
TO elect delegates to a Constitutional
convention TO be composed in a manner TO
of the electors Of the State shall choose the
majority, of said delegates, which convention
shall be held at {, time and place to be named
by him.. and shall frame u Constitution 70 I've
submitted to the electors OF the State for
their approval at electors meetings. warned
ard conducted in the manner in which by
all electors meetings are warned and
conducted. and that this convention do now
adjourn sinc Cie.
Ex-Gov. Waller. who is the delegate from
New London, procured a hearing for the
resolution by pouring oil on the troubled
waters. Let us hear the resolution read,
he said. and we will then see that the chair
man was right in declaring It out of order"
Delegate Warner got up to deny that he
was trying to run the convention through
his caucus, TO which Delegate Davenport
that 1t was common report that
caucuses had been held. that the
fact had been printed in the
and that II had been stated on the floor
OF the convention without being contra
dictcd. Mr., Warner also criticised Dele
gate Clark Of Hartford. for printing things
about the alleged caucuses in his news
paper, to which Mr.. Clark replied that
was in the newspaper business before
was a delegate 10 the Constitutional
Convention, and ne expected To continue
publishing the news while the convention
was IN session and after the convention
Delegate James II. Webb OF Hamden.
referring 70 the clapping of hands that
was intended to drown Mr.. D~ayenport's
voice when he read the resolution himself
after the Chair had declared il out Of order,
said:
NO until the resolut ion had been read
by the clerk did | perceive the reason for
such rapturous applause. | see that all
here is in it is a motion to adjourn and
| shall vote for that, for | believe that each
hour spent here not only puts a charge
on the Commonwealth but is also futile"
Delegate Smith of Plymouth. who is
one of the two chaplains Of q q convention,
was much excited during these proceed
.ngs and asked Mr.. Davenport if he wanted
that deliberate falsehood" to stand in
he record Of the convention.
Mr.. Davenport-If the gentleman charac-
.erizes as a deliberate falsehood what has
been common report ia and about this con-
and has remained undcnicd or
contradiC'ed until now, he does not know
he amenities Of parliamentary procedure.
Mr.. Smith-Docs the gentleman from
Bridgeport mink / can learn the amenities
IF parliamentary procedure from him?
Mr.. Davenport do not. and | doubt IL
he gentleman could learn them from any,
body.
Mr.. SMITH will not try TO learn them
from you.
Mr.. D~ayenport-I should decline TO be
,our teacher.
1t was for his part in this colloquv tha-
he Rev. Mr.. Smith subsequently apollo
yizcd, and Mr.. Davenport made similar
The Objectionable resolution.
lfter Delegate Waller had raised tho poi.,
hat il was ont Of order because il was .o'
'gcrmanc,' was mot received" and o.
'%efcrence to 1t was e%NpunCcd :rJm he
Delegate Davenport asked what Use
here was in tho convention going further.
He thought it would be better for the dele
gates TO go home and occupy their timc
more proftably. He admitted that any
delegate could do This IL he chose, whether
he convention adjourned sine die or not.
He intimated that he might do that himself.
md after the convention adjourned for
he day il was generally understood that
Mr.. Davenport had determined not to re-