The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-05-02

legislature. So far as Governor Nc
Lean stuck to that idea he had the sup
port of the state central committee.
But when different course was taken
up he entered upon dangerous ground.
In his annual message submitted to
the general assembly January ., 1901,
Governor Mclean said: You will hear
much about the necessity of constitu'
tional convention from many jealous
and far-seeing men, but caution you
that in adopting this plan you would
open the door to guest and stranger
alike and throw away the key. can
see no argument in favor of this irreg-
ular, expensive and wide open policy
but that of speed. 1T is cutting across
lots in the dark with many bitches to
avoid, and some of us were wisely
taught by our fathers that the longest
way around is the shortest way home
He urged that, there was ability enough
and to, spare in the general assembly
to effect the reform necessary. Up to
this time he was in cooperation with
the state central committee, thorough
ly conserving the interests of the
eighty-seven towns in the state which
had two representatives EACH. as well
as the interests of the ieighty-one towns
which only had one representative
apiece. The idea of the state central
committee was that reform should
come through the general assembly.
Governor Mclean voiced that idea in
giving warning against a constitutional
convention.
June 10, 1901. Governor Mclean in a
special message to the general assembly
reviewed the failure that had taken
place in the legislature for the reappor
tionment of the membership of the
house Of representatives. ana said: y
now, consider it my duty to, myself to
inform you that look upon a constftu-
tional convention as far less dangerous
to the system of town representation
| and the good of the state than would
be continued failure to give this matter
the favorable consideration it deserves
before your final adjournment" He
concluded the message by saying: I'll
| the small towns ever lose Their right OF
representation in the general assembly il
! will be due to their own refusal to sc
exercise, that right that it can be de-
Tended by its best friends" After this
| message the constitutional convention
! was ordered, both houses concurring
| The convention was held in 1902. thu
session occupying several months of thu
winter. The main feature Of its worl
was in the deprivation of the old and
small towns of that representation
which they had held from the begin.
ming. When the conventions work wa.
submitted to the popular vote for APP
proval or disapproval, it was rejected
The legislature of 1903 took the prelim
mary steps for submitting the work O
the convention again to the people II
the form of constitutional amend
ment, leaving out the miscarriage O.
1901 In regard to the defamation o.
small town representation in the genera
assembly. The present legislature has
not vet acted on that amendment. TIL,
Farmers association is against it, ever
with the teeth extracted. It is certain
i that Governor Mclean did not have tn,
unanimous support of the state centra
/ committee in advocating in his specia
message the ordering of a constitutions
convention. That course cost the stat,
a large outlay and showed the willing,
ness of constitutional convention re
formers to pluck the rights of the small
towns from them. This is the GROUND
work of the uncomfortable feeling il
i the small towns towards Ex-Governor
Mclean. / ..--f