The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-26
HOW TO SECURE
NEEDED REFORM
IN CONSTITUTION
Editor News-Democrat:

Editor News Democrat:
That the program OF the Democratic
and Independent members OF the legisla-
ture, so far as IL goes is an excellent
one. few devoted TO the cause OF good
government In this state will dispute. 1T
is respectfully suggested by a voter In
the ranks however, that It does not go
far enough.
The supreme issue IN Rhode Island is
the restoration OF representative govern
ment IL Is only a minor question Just
at present as 10 how so worthy a thing
would AFFECT the political parties OF this
state.
In the larger sense the fight is not one
for the Democratic party. nor for the Re-
publican but for the people themselves.
Those who fail to so regard the contest
cannot hope for a victory for the Re-
publican party is 80 strongly entrenched
I'm the small towns and I'm some OF the
larger ones that only by severe and ef-
fective fighting can the party OF special
minions driven from power.
That the people OF Rhode Island are OF
the ultra-conservative type. no one IA
miliar with their history since the revo-
lutionary was ended will be bold enough
to deny
In the view OF many wise men, the adop-
tion OF the present constitution and the ex-
tirpating OF the anamolies that King
Charles charter was responsible for were
due very largely to influences from out
side the state. Prominent men in other
states OF the same political faith as that
OF the majority In this state could not
see why the enjoyments OF rights ac-
knowledged everywhere else should be de-
MED in Rhode Island.
soon after congressional COMMITTEES
came this way 10 look things over, the
powers that controlled here saw thar
something must be done 10 change things
Party leaders thought the country might
some day be close in a presidential con-
test and the exploiting Of conditions In
Rhode Island might do harm 10 their
party in other states.
No hope can be expected in the present
contest from Republican leaders in other
states. though the most progressive legs
lation In the country is to be found in
states strongly Republican. Neither can
Rhode Islands internal affairs; and per-
haps II Is best that congress should not
do So
The great stumbling block I'm the
way OF return 10 representative gov
ernment In our state is the clause in
the present constitution which pro-
vides that that instrument may bs
amended by amendments drawn up,
passed by two legislatures and APP
proved by the votes of three-hfths OF
the electors voting therefor
The great weight OF authority out
side or this state sustains the claim
or the Democrats of Rhode Island that
the legislature of a state has the right
TO call convention OF the people for
the purpose OF submitting a new con-
sttution or amendment TO the existing
one.
Our constitution being silent on this
subject, the governor or the state I'm
1883 asked the supreme courts advice
on the question OF the right of the leg s-
lature to call convention OF the peo-
pie for the purpose OF framing a new
constitution. The supreme court de-
clared that the expressing OF one way
TO amend precluded the using OF any
other.
For years the Democrats and many
lawyers who were not Democrats held
that this opinion was only advisory and
was not binding In a recent case the
supreme court took occasion 10 con-
hrm this advisory opinion, although
the personnel OF the court had COM
pletely changed since 1888.
There are many Democrats who still
believe that the supreme court with
all due respect TO the ability OF It's
members, Is mistaken I'm putting so
narrow a construction upon the con-
stitution: and It Will be hard 10 get
amendment giving the legislature the
right TO call a convention. Those sat
isned with present conditions will not
be likely to bring forward such on
amendment.
Then the question arises, how can the
restoration OF representative government
be accomplished here? No one has the
, hardihood to deny that the governmen,
or the state owing to the way the small
towns are represented at the expense OF
the large ones. is no longer a government
OF the majority That representation
should be fair in the legislature. is also
admitted by every one who gives any at
/ tention to the principles OF our institu-
uons.
IL seems to the writer as IL leaf
might be taken from the book of the
English parliamentary reformers. In 1890
1882 committee OF four was appointed
! by tho parliamentary reform party to
frame a bill doing away with the rotten
boroughs and providing for a distribution
OF seats. Now. II the Democrats and In.
dependents in the assembly were TO frame
constitutional amendment and press its
passage. providing for the division OF the
whole state into senatorial and represen-
tauVe districts, II might be possible o.
lay down good hghting line. The
amendment should define the lines of each
district: and then the voters would have
"a reform bill in earnest.
Many lawyers believe constitutional
amendments as we'll as other constitution
al provisions should deal with general
matters. leaving details to the legislature
but the situation is unique.
II a fair division were made of the state
into districts for representation in both
| houses. a magnificent battle could be
fought for the amendment I'm the present
house: and on the stump the people could
be aroused as they were I'm England, 10 a
demand for the bill, the whole bill and
nothing but the full bill" J. J. N. JR.
EIucRcInc