The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-05-11
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
GIVEN BLACK EYE BY JENNINGS
Message State Legislators
Joker Contained Elections otSenatofsby
PeopleRe
By Jos: Oil.

Tallahassee, Fla, May 7.-(SpectaI)-
THO governor of tho state of Florida has
served notice upon the people OF his state
tho south and the country at large or
the grave dangers involved in u movement
TO which many southern people. and some
southern states have unthoughtedly lent
their aid. OF far-reaching import Is
veto message which Governor Jennings
has Just sent to the Florida legislature
Locally this message has attracted atteh-
ton principally because Of a discussion III
the senate over the question whether the
governor had authority TO veto this par
ticular measure, but, even here where
there has been much discussion OF Inns
phase of the matter, the broad signih-
canoe of the governors act does not seem
to be fully realized 1t Is pretty safe
prediction that, as q result OF MS act
movement which was well unoer way
will have a quietus placed upon 1t.
This is the movement for the Gazing
OF a constitutional convention Of tine
United States.
MANY States Have Acted.
Under the guise of making effective the
sentiment prevailing in many quarters in
favor of the election Of United States
senators by the direct vote of the people
the legislatures of n number Of states-lt
is said OF twenty-four-have adopted res
oiutiOns addressed to the congress re
ouesting that a constitutional convention
be called IN accordance with the pfoFlS-
ions of article of the constitution OF the
United States. Florida was number TWEEN
tv-five on the list-Or would have been
had the governor not exercised his veto
uower upon the Joint resolution which h3d
passed both houses and was presented
10 him in the usual order Of things LOT
his approval. While this veto message
was being considered In the senate, the
house, apparently without knowledge that
4 had been written, had pointed out 10
IL by a prominent member the dangers
involved in the resolution and promptly
took action which was in effect a request
,ipon the governor that he exercise MS
veto upon the resolution which had so re-
Gently been passed. Subsequently the
senate by formal vote, sustained the gov
ernor In his veto, and the danger so lar
as Florida IS concerned, is past
Florida Against Convention.
whatever other states may or may rot
DO. Florida will have no hand in the call
ing of q constitutional convention of the
United States.
The full text OF Governor Jenning' We
to message IS worthy the study Of every
man Interested In the peace and welfare
of the south. II Is given It's first publ
eaten in The Constitution. In ii Governor
Jennings. who has always been an adFo-
cate OF the principle Of the election OF
United States senators by the direct vote
Of the people, presents clearly ana 80
chiefly the dangers of the method pfoN-u-
ed In the resolution Tor securing tltt eH3-
Perhaps some of the dangers which one
sees pictured between the lines Of the
governors text may be more fancied 'hai
real; but they are possibilities ana as
such are sufficient to call a halt, so iaf
as the south is concerned, upon TINS coh-
stituuonal convention movement
Some Of the Possibilities.
An upturning of the present conditions
Involving the overthrow of all that has
been accomplished by ballot reform laws
aud state constitutions. federal cleo
tons law; a change in the representation
IN congress; 4 return Of the turmoil ana
strife of the days when these states
we're being redeemed from the evils OF
the reconstruction period-aH these things
are possible should the plan which Gov
ernor Jennings frowns upon be carried
through to success 1t makes no dlIer-
ence that the men back OF the conStltu-
tional convention movement are them
selves strongly opposed 10 all these
things II they place such 4 club In the
hands o. their political enemies, they
must abide by the result and share in
the responsibility for It. II. too. by being
instrumental in bringing into life such
q convention they place in the hands Of
the great corporate interests Of the
cou1try-with marvellous wealth at their
command-the power 10 place themselves
beyond the rea ch OF congress by stretch
tns and strengthening the interstate
commerce provisions OF The constitution
or b. greatly Increasing the powers Of
tbs federal judiciary. fo- this. too, must
they beac their fun share OF responsible
:ty
No Grounds for Doubt
Does any body dons2t. II tho opportunity
is given 10 corporate interests Of the
country 10 So strengthen themselves. that
it VII be accepted promptly and with
avidiy7
L win not 10 to pass these things over
as Iancied rather than real dangers. So
long as they are possible, they serve as
a MANAGE 10 the Interests OF the people.
Tbs constitutional convention movement
does present These possibilities there can
be 70 question about &
II IS 81 the light OF such possibilities