The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-10-28
SOME REASONS
Why the Proposed Amendments
to the Constitution Should
Be Defeated.

The people of Tennessee at the CON
ing November election are TO vote O
the adoption of seven amendments I
the constitution. as provided by enact
ment Of the Legislature. and as il is
matter of great importance to the Stat
and one upon which there was a gres
difference Of opinion. a convention o
mass meeting of citizens was calIe
and held IN Nashville on Septembe
and, to carefully consider the proposed
amendment ana take such action il
the premises as was deemed advisable
II was the unanimous opinion tina
great harm would result in the stat
by the adopt IN of the amendment
. and that they ought to De defeated
and an organization was effected TO
the purpose of advising the people OF
the question and securing their defeat
Hon. A. b. Neil, of Davidson county,
was made Chairman Hon. Bancroft
Murray. OF Hamilton county. Vice
Chairman and JAS 5. Brown. of Dav.
idson, County Secretary and Treasurer.
They have issued the following. winch
should be read by every voter in the
State:
The Present Constitution.
The Constitution of our State was
formed In 1880 by convention COM
posed of the highest class of our citi-
zenship. 1t is true that these gentle
men dealt with conditions which con-
fronted the State Immediately after
the Civil War. when the horrors of
reconstruction and carpetbag rule were
fresh in the minds of the people. Yet
| in all the years that have succeeded,
| there has been no great fundamental
mistake pointed out in the framework
of our organic law; there has been no
demand by the people of the State of
Tennessee for any changes. Not many
years ago the question of calling con-
stitutional convention was submitted
to the people and voted down. The
people OF Tennessee, by their action at
the polls, have demonstrated that there
must be some overwhelming demand
for a change before they will agree to
any tinkering with their constitution.
No Demand.
Has there been any such demand
from the people OF the State of Ten
nessee for any of the proposed amend
mentsy Was the advlsability or
necessity for any of these changes
suggested at any mass meeting or con-
ventIon of the peopley How many
people in the State of Tennessee knew |
of the character of these suggested
amendments before they were proposed |
to the Legislature? How many of the
voters OF the State, even now, know |
either the nature or the effect of the
same! If there be no demand for these
u m 70 itxy f0l1
that there is no necessity for them
Who promoted them. What class Of
citizens would be affected by their
adoption? Who would lie benefited?
Who would be hurt? These are the
questions that every voter should ser
iously consider before depositing his
ballot on November 8. 1904.
Tenure of Office.
1t will be observed that of the seven
amend ments proposed, the first four
apply to the tenure of Office, either
State or county, and all of these
amendments propose to increase,
'ather than shorten. the term of office.
t will be noticed that the Sheriff, the
Trustee and the Register, whose terms
# Office are extended to four years,
,annot succeed themselves in office;
while the Governor, the Secretary of
state the Treasurer, and the Comp
roller may succeed themselves, and
he latter three hold Office continuously
nd indefinitely. One is led to In
uire: Why this discrimination (
gainst county officials and in favor Of
he Governor, the Secretary of State, B
he Treasurer, and the Comptroller? 9
it he bad thing for Sheriff,
'Iustee, or Register to succeed him
elf IN office. why should it not be Z
ad thing for Governor, Secretary .
State, and especially a Comptroller
nd Treasurer, who handles millions {
t the money Of the people, to succeed .
themselves in office? II IT be good
hing for Governor, Secretary of
tate. treasurer. and Comptroller
, succeed themselves, why should it r
OF be good thing for the County :
Ulcers Sheriff. Trustee, and Register
to succeed themselves?
Not Consistent. !.
1t seems to us that the gentlemen who :
AIMED these proposed amendments
loud at least have been consistent. 4
four years he long enough for the !"
1eIiff. the Trustee, and the Register.
rely four years is long enough for =
10 Governor, the Secretary OF State,
10 Treasurer, and the Comptroller.
e believe that two years is long
lough for any Office in the gift or the
ople OF the State of Tennessee. The
ly argument for extending the Office
four years Is that by having fewer
ections the business OF the country is
u so frequently disaIranged, and,
erefore, fouI-ye term is better
an two-year term. That argument,
fried to its logical conclusion, means
at an eight-year term, for the same
ason. would be better than a four 81
ar term, and life tenure better
an either. We believe that two. I'M
or term for Governor, for Sheriff,
I Secretary of State, for Comptroller. =
for Treasurer. Is long enough. IL
of these Offices prove to be
icient, the people will always re-elect
an; ii they are inefficient, rwo years
long enough for them to
Id Office The advocates Of these
'endments are mistaken in asserting %