The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-03-23
SOME S|DEL|GHTS
ON The SOLONS

F, humorist by replying that he would take
! the matter under advisement.
! Mr.. Lace OF Burrillville made the most
! effective political play by offering an
amendment providing that the act should
take effect after being submitted 10 the
electors OF Providence and being accepted
by them, and after this had been voted
down. 90 to II, the Democrats fell all over
themselves In Fastening to make personal
explanations Of their negative votes OH
the final passage OF the act, 10 which they
said they based their objections on tho
fact that the Providence delegation, who
claimed that their constituents wished the
passage OF the act were unwilling TO have
IL submitted to him for approval.
Mr. Bowen OF Providence got the house
into bad snarl, from which the Republi-
cans hastened TO untangle themselves.
but for a few minutes things were as
mixed as the Cranston- Westerly ratio
computations. and the Democrats made
the most OF tho sport.
The Providence man moved indefinite
postponement OF n Democratic amenu-
ment. not realizing that such action post
poned the act Itself, and after this had
been voted, precipitated a further mixup
by a motion to reconsider, which was
carried. Then Speaker Dennis himself got
into the daze I'm the fire OF points OF
order, but finally he saw the light and
the wheels went merrily round again.
That the act will pass the senate is
firmly asserted. but there are those who
aver that influences have been and will
be exerted from positions OF political emf
nence. though by no means from head
quarters" TO make its path somewhat
thorny.
The promised administration" act for
a constitutional convention bids fair 20
attract considerable attention before
final action II taken.
Something OF the kind has got TO be
done. according to my view" said one
OF the Republicans who Is not exactly
cog In the machine. This IN the year
when IL Is necessary TO at least seem to
give the people what they are clamoring
for and 80 get good ground to stand on
next fall. There isn't the shadow OF
doubt that down I'm tho tenderness OF its
heart the real machine is bitterly opposed
to anything OF this kind. Why. the mere
sound OF the words constitutional con-
vention' throws the machine into con-
niption fits and causes the atmosphere OF
the sheriffs office UP here to assume a
cerulean hue.
Just the same. the governor. who has
few personal views LETT, Enthusiastically
reflects those OF many others In his be-
lief In the wisdom OF letting the people
have convention: and the ego whose
word Is law Is pretty likely 10 realize that
there are other things OF too much i'm
portance at stake In rie next election to
risk anything by openly and brutally
frustrating the purpose OF o man elected
only because he commanded so many in
dependent votes. and who was permitted
TO become governor only because n man
who could win was an absolute neces-
sity.
You may at least be sure that IL a
constitutional convention act doesn't go
through this session 1t will not be be-
cause IL has been killed by any knock
down-and -drag-out methods, or by any
others that the dear people can see.
'At the worst, however. this sop
thrown 20 the people OF Rhode Island who
rule their own affairs CD can't do any
real harm, because the convention would
be based on the present representation,
and Il would 10 all intents and purposes
be only n special session OF the general
assembly, controlled by the same Mngle
power.
"But the thing that worries that power
is that. once having got even a smell
at pretence OF popular government, tho
unreasoning voters might some day pluck
up courage enough TO demand the real
thing. Horrorel
"of one thing you may be sure. any
way Westerly won't be represented in
the executive chamber next year; and IL
Colonel Bliss and Judge Palmer get their
deal through, "a they now say they're
dead sure TO do. that'n be hard lines on
the Saturday, Sunday town. won't IT,"