The Washington herald., 1906-12-17

Shall convention be held to amend
the Constitution Of the United States?
| This question was seriously asked and
afiirmatively answered in the House of
Representatives last week by Representa-
tive De ATmond, OF Missouri Nr. De
ArmOnd is an able and conservative
/ Democrat whose devotion to the funda-
mental principles OF his party has never
! been doubted.
He is strict constructionist OF IT,.
| Constitution. an upholder OF states
rights, an opponent Of every tendency
toward Capitalization. 1t is not on ac-
count Of Secretary Roots speech. how
ever, that Dir. De Almond now suggests 4
constitutional convention II is because
the time has come. in his opinion. for the
assembling Of the great minds OF the re-
public TO discuss the new problems which
have arisen as the result Of our highly
developed and complex civilization
The Constitution OF the United States
was finally adopted in convention on
September i. 17S7. Shortly thereafter
eleven amendments. framed to meet con-
tingencies which had been overlooked,
were added. The twelfth amendment. re-
lating TO the electoral college. grew out
Of the contest between Jefferson and
Burr for the Presidency. From that
time to the present day, a period Of more
than century. only three amendments
have been added, anl these relate to the
new conditions created by the civil war,
and especially the emancipation OF the
negroes. During this time there have
been numerous attempts to add new
clauses TO the Constitution. Every phase
Of reform which has swept across the
country has found expression in a pro-
posed constitutional amendment, but the
conservatism Of the American people has
prevented any action.
How the Convention Could Be Held.
The method by which the constitutional
convention could be held is a simple one,
and is provided by the Constitution itself.
The ffth article Of that document con-
tains the following:
The Congress, whenever two-thirds
Of both Houses shall deem It neces-
sary, shall propose amendments to
this Constitution, or. on the applica-
ton Of the legislatures of two-thirds
/ of the several States, shall call a
convention for proposing amend
ments, which. in either case. shall be
valid TO all intents and purposes. as
| part Of this Constitution, when rati-
fed by the legislatures OF three
fourths Of the several States, or by
conventions in three-fourths thereof,
as the one OF the other mode of rau-
fication may be proposed by the Con-
gress
1t may not be generally known that
already nearly two-thirds Of the States
have petitioned Congress to assemble a
constitutional convention. Their legislative
resolutions. however, bear only upon one
subject, the election Of United States
Senator's by popular vote. In fact, II
to the list of the States which have asked
for convention there should be added
the States which have declared In favor
of such popular election, the total would
probably be more than the requisite two
| thirds. The convention which Represent
ative De Almond now advocates would
not confine its deliberations 10 one topic,
but would take up all the questions which
might be desirable to incorporate in the
amended Constitution.
I -N1As 10
The list of topics which have formed the
basis Of suggested constitutional amend
ments in the past need not be rehearsed
here in detail. 1t is a long list. and in
cludes many topics which would not be
likely to receive serious consideration.
! Some Of the most important matters
which would come before the convention.
however. would be as follows:
Enlarging the Presidential term to
six years and making the President
ineligible for reelection.
Uniform marriage and divorce laws
| throughout the Union.
Election OF United States Senators by.
the direct vo1e Of the people.
Female suffrage.
Providing for the immediate as
| sembling Of Congress after election.
Changing the date Of Inauguration
day.
Authorizing the President to veto
single items in appropriation bills
Restricting the veto power Of the
President. so that It will be less diff
cult for Congress to pass any measure
over his veto.
To define more clearly the juris-
to the legislative branch Of the gov
eminent.
These are a few Of the topics which
have been suggested as affording a reason
why a constitutional convention should
be called. Many others would doubtless
be considered
Would IL BE Dangerous.
Many of the leading men in political
life in Washington who. at various times.
have discussed the possibility Of a con-
stitutional convention. have stated that,
while they believed such a convention de-
sirable. they were afraid that ii would
prove to be the opening OF a veritabla
Pandoras box. Uncertain whether the
delegates would represent the safe and
conservative element of the country or
whether a radical spirit would control,
they have felt that it was better 10
bear the present ills than fly TO others
which might be worse.
The answer to this expression of fear
is that even after the convention has
decided upon the changes which are
deemed necessary. its action must be
ratified by three-fOuTths of the States,
which ratification would be hard to OBJ