The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-31
TORE MISREPRESENTATION

AiONI NhioNLT NLoL> lON.
Yesterday The News took occasion to point out the unfainess
of the Providence Journal in its treatment of the movement for con-
sttudonal reform Attention was directed to it's persistent distortion
and misrepresentation of the aims and purposes of that large part of
the citizenship that is honestly seeking real reform of the organic
law ltpointed out also that the organ of the dominant party had
unwittngly and unintentionally admitted the contentious of the
constitutional reformers to be sound by confessing that it is plain
enough that circumstances have drawn us away from the fundamen-
tai American principles of representation according to population and
of equality of weight for each citizens vote" Nevertheless it went
on to advise the approval of the amendment to be voted o n at the
next election, which if it becomes operative will destroy all hope of
a restoration OF representative government for many years to come,
and will maintain twenty senators from country towns in absolute
control of the law-making and administrative functions of the COM
monweath.
In an earlier article under the caption, IAN Abandoned Issue"
the Journal was equally tricky and tergiversating. 1t referred to an
amendment to the constitution submitted to the people in 1882 which
provided for the calling of a constitutional convention by the general
assembly and noted the fact that the amendment was defeated at the
polls. 1t charged that the constitutional reformers then changed
front and asserted that no amendment was necessary, because the
assembly had the inherent right to call a convention to revise the
organic law.
1t put special stress on the opinion Of the supreme court rem.
dered in 1883, which, it will be remembered, was only an advisory
one and declared in effect that the constitution could be amended
only in the manner prescribed in the instrument itself. Following
this came the declaration that "fr more than twenty years the
Democratic party persisted in declaring that this opinion w "a not
law and canored for a convention" The constitutional reformers
Weic WeH us OF inconsistency because, reahZlng N utility OF
attempting to overcome the influence this advisory opinion exercised
over the ultra conservative electorate, they bowed to it and in con-
formity with it submitted a constitutional convention proposition
about the Legality of which there could be no question.
Then with a cunning and deliberate intention to deceive the
Journal went on to say of those now engaged in the reform move
ment: They ask that the proposition which va rejected by the
electors in 1882 be again submitted to the people"
They ask no such thing. The proposition which was submitted
to the people in 1882 and rejected by them was as follows:
-, ~
Article Y. The general assembly may, a majority of all the
members elected to each house voting therefor, authorize the quail
he'd electors OF the several towns and cities to elect as many delegates
to a constitutional convention as the said towns and cities are re-
spectively entitled to elect members TO both houses of the general
assembly, and the delegates when elected shall assemble in conven-
ton at a time and place TO be provided by law, and NAV then revise,
alter or amend the constitution; but no such revision, alteration or
amendment shall take effect unless when the same is first submitted
TO the qualified electors of the state for their adoption in a manner
to be provided by law, three-ffths OF all Of the said electors voting
thereon shall have voted in favor of such revision. alteration or
amendment.
1t requires mendacity of extraordinary proportions TO asser. as
the Journal does, that this amendment, which provides for the direct
calling OF a constitutional convention by the general assembly. is the
same proposition which the Rhode Island Citizens union. represent
ing the constitutional convention movement in this state, unsuccess-
fully petioned the legislature to submit to the people.
There is not an intelligent Rhode Islander who does not know
that the proposition Of the Citizens union is for the submission to the
people Of the question. in the form Of an amendment to the eonsttu-
uon. whether o not a convention to revise the constitution shall be