East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-12-25
NATIONAL Convention FOR I
ENLARG|NG THE C0NST|TUT|0s
The United States is Rapidly 0utgrowng Its Ancient Form of
Constitution.
Many Changes Would Brought National
Senator's
Lengthenng surage-over
Popular of Senator'S

There is slowly orystallizlng a sem
timent in favor of a convention to be
held to amend the constitution of the
United States. The sentiment is not
restricted to any one particular local
ity, but 1t seems is taking root pretty
generally. 1t is the consensus of
opinion in these circles that the high
ly developed and complex civilization
of the country presents problems that
deserve the attention of the master
minds of the nation at this time.
The list of topics which has formed
the basis of suggested constitutional
amendments in the past need not be
reheArsed here in detail 1t is a long
list, and includes many topics which
would not be likely to receive seri-
Gus consideration.
Some of the most important mat
ters which would come before the
convention, however, would be as fol-
lows:
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 vote of the people.
Female suffrage.
Providing for the immediate assem-
l.I 90 90 ala
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 1T will be less diff
cult for congress to pass any measure
over his veto.
To define more clearly the. juridic-
ton of the courts in their relation to
the legislative branch of the govern
ment
These are a few of the topics which
have been suggested as affording a
reason why a constitutional conven-
ton should be called. Many others
would doubtless be considered.
The method by which the consti-
tutional convention could be held is
a simple one, and is provided by the
constitution itself. The fifth article
of that document contains the fol-
lowing:
THE congress, whenever two-thirds
of both houses shall deem 1t 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 con-
vention for proposing amendments,
which. in either case, shall be valid
to all intents and purposes, as part
of this constitution, when ratified by
the legislatures of three-fourths of
the several states, or by conventions
in three-fourths thereof, as the one
or the other mode of ratification may
be proposed by the congress-"
1t may not be generally known that
already two-thirds Of the states have
petitioned congress to assemble
constitutional convention. Their leg
islative resolutions, however, bear
only on one subject, the election of
United States senators by popular
vote.
In fact, If to the list of the states
which have asked for n convention
there should be added the states
which have declared in favor of prob
ably be more than the requisite two
thirds.
The convention which Representa-
tive De Almond now advocates would
mot confine its deliberations to one
topic, but would take up all the
questions which might be desirable to