The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-26
REFORM OF The
CONSTITUTION
Gov. Utter Says Country Towns
Will Consider II.
PLEADS FOR AN AMENDMENT
He Praises III, Work Done BY The City
Delegation During Tho Last lsgls-
Iaion Session.

The Eighth Ward Republican club held
rousng registration meeting last even
ing in the hall Of the odd Fellows block,
on Plainheld street
The meeting was called 10 order by the
president OF the club. Dr. n r. Windsor
Several new members were voted I'm and
then Governor Utter was introduced AZ
the first speaker. He discussed at the out
set the idea that men must take part in
the government II they expect II 10 rep
resent their interests.
There is no sense he said I'm having
a dozen people vote and the rest all stay
away. The man who fails 10 vote. fails 10
make use OF his opportunity. He - the
dangerous man There has never been
tussle Between parties I'm the United
States where things have gone wrong
where there has been a full expression
OF the peoples wishes. When tho peopl.
give a large. full expression Of opini,n
at the polls. that is the best opinion of
what the government should be AZ that
time
you should not only take care Of your
own registration. but you should ask
your neighbor TO register. A club like
the Eighth Ward Republican club can
do a great deal for a community by ere
atng an interest I'm public matters You
can accomplish a grea ideal Of good in
that line.
There are some things coming be
fore the people this year which demand
YOU attention. The constitutional amend
ment increasoing the house of represent
atives 10 100 members is one of the most
important kat has come before the peo-
pie for years.
There has been feeling that there
81, L., ~
general assembly on the part Of the cities,
and think ,hs. this Is right. In the
frursp today there arc % members every
town has one. and~1~, 'own has more
than -. Providence has i2 members. The
constitutional amendment will give the
| house 100 members. No town under the
amendment will have more than 25 mem
hers, or one fourth NJ the whole.
This amendment proposes another
| thing which is right principle. AZ the
president time 10 men are nominated on
| one ticket The people vote for all IL
alike. The amendment proposes that
| where one man is elected the election shall
he by districts. Then YOU will elect your
| own representative in the Eighth ward
and not the man who lives on the East
| Side
Rhode Island is unlike any other stat,
| In having but one compact centre. viz
!
| population Is located In Connecticut ther,
! are several centres widely separated II
| Massachusetts, the same condition exists
| I am i'm favor OF this constitutions
| amendment for two reasons First. he
| cause II gives the city Of Providence
| fuller representation, and second becaus
II arranges for the election OF representa-
tivcs by districts think for these tw,
reasons the amendment ought to b
| adopted
There has been cry by the Democrat
for a constitutional convention for years
| That has been talked so much II has he
come n Democratic shibboleth We hav
| put out To tho people several amendment
I'm years past which the Democrats hav
voted down because they were not pro
sentcd hy way OF y constitutional conven
tion. Now have read TRADES against thi
amendment. not because n is not good 70
the state hut solely because IL did no
cmanate from constitutional convention
There Is another issue we arc 10 hea
about this fall-that Of a constitutions
convention Secretary Shaw says: We d
not discuss public questions enough unit
we get into the heat OF n campa ign
Therefore. I am glad tonight TO come :,
= meeting like this I'm advance OF tn
| campaign and talk things over"
The Governor I'm conclusion discussc,
| tho question Of taxation and showed tina
! the state had not been extravagant In III
! expenditures. without the issue OF bonds
IL had added 81 10000 Of permanent i'm
provements I'm the last ten years.
The governors address was warmly ap
! plauded.
The social committee including Alder
| man Parker, Councilmen Darling. Daw
land Jr, and several other active mem
| bers Of the club then served an Ella bora (,
collation., which was enjoyed by all pres
I