Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-01-30
A I've IssuE TN oREaoN.


THIRTY MEMBERS Of the constitu
tional convention APPOINTED AMI
SIXTY ELECTED.
Two days spent by the editor Of thi,
paper hunting for precedent for suct
n procedure has not yielded one. NOT
in MODERN TIMES HAVE coNsTI
TUITION MAKERS EVER BEEN AP.
POINTED. ALL HAVE BEEN ELRCT.
ED.
III objection Is not TO the supreme
court having the power Of appointment.
If any one had to be appointed that
court might do IL. That court has TO
pas on the constitution when IL Is un.
der consideration before them, and
mSnifestly should have no hand ia
framing, directly or indirectly, an i'm
Htrument that 30 largely would come
before II for Interpretation.
The argument is made that by such
selection Of thirty members the con.
ventioz will become more nearly non
partisan body. But the provision itself
tsyolyes partisanship- IL requires
that not over two-thirds shall be Of one
political party
~ Is not presumed that the supreme
eourt has asked 10 have this power Of
appointment. II is not matter that
osuld properly be considered by the JUS.
tiees Of the supreme court.
II is not a reflection upon that body
90 deny them, In common with any
other coordinate or constituted func.
tionary Of the body politics, this ap
poiRtive power.
THE TREND OF PUBLIC sENTI.
MENT Is IN THE DIRECTION OF /
HNrRUsTIN0 MORE POWER IN
THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE IN.
STEAD OF LESS.
A bill for q constitutional convention
with such a provision would probably be
and should be, without doubt, vetoed
by the governor. II is assumed In this
bill that the people are incapable Of Sc I
iocting men OF the highest order Of q
ability 10 draft now constitution
Where Is the evidence of iti Where are
the preeedentsi What are the argu- II
mentsf
The joint conyention of the general
assembly al the state house "Wednesday
at p, m. this week SHOULD BE AT. d
TENDED BY AS MANY INDEPEND. o
ENr CITIZENS As POSSIBLE TO
HEAR THE DEBArE. u
The advocates % appointing 30 n
Of a constitutional convention b
will make their arguments, and the e
people will be glad 90 hear them. Let
40 not be hasty Ia rondemning this T
pToPosal, because II is new. Rut let the T
'coplo aud their representatives 30 al
How 10 accept proposition that ISL,
TO ALL PAST PoLIrIc. m
AL CUSTOM, AND or DOUBTFUL Of
POLITICAL WISDOM. "
IN making ~ new constitution for a.
Ircgon SHOULD BE AS ABSOLUTELY
oNPARTIsAN AFFAIR As IT Is ri
'osSIBLE TO coNTRIvE. The word al
'ar,y should never he used Ia any step ~
q is formation
THE NEW CONSTITUTION SHOULD
UT orr THE CRAFTS OF THE Al
RESENT STATE GOVERNMENT. pa Ii
lone of tho abuses that have grown up Ti
= tho pas, should be continued or sane AZ
'oned ln the future, III
Every good feature ~ the old eonsti 90
htion should bc preserved Every had a..
NJ should be- cut out The people have cr,
'arncd 10 che dear school " experi shi
nee the defects of The old organic WI
M. a'.
EVERY vRsTIoE or POWER NOW esr
rHB HANDS or THE PEOPLE on
HoULD REMAIN IN rHR Nnw Jo'
oNsrirurIoN, None should be takep nv. ,u.
sAN. What s the real meaning ~ 4
Was aay officials sppolut cousiits to
~ makerst sen
The cohesive power ~ oaicialism was rn
uslfaled in the formation II the pres RE
Z constitution The thea territorial Ma
'nier securcd concessions 90 the state fu
luiing othee ia thar iustrumeat thai lfp,
y the taxpayers dearly
Az low estimate d has cost the pso \
tioooo a wear extra hcsause the
20 plinicr was hulvarkcd in the cou. 7
'uiion who're bis fsos anl p4aats IN, II,
20 rot eui of reach VI the people w,r
Z vao oaioial coald buul up sa,h can
asrsl'slie aAd lucrative deioasa for 4
iself and ais successors. what would t's
people 81, in constitution WITH AZ
riy mesaoeEs ee.sially sppe.ule1. iu Aloe
Ad az elecieit A
'NLr ny RETAINING THR com. and
1TE PownR or ELGorINa nv. ~.
= MEMpER u ths proposed ,anai lhrsr
sasl eonenilaa saa ,le people gst eve,
81 ihe grsi'lns pssssgFe of tls l.Ass - =,
pgoleri ihensslyes sgainsi theu ID - -
?" assa