The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1907-01-04
AMEND U.S.. CONSTITUTION
Many Reforms Are Asxed--IncIuding
Direct Vote on Senators, Woman
Suffrage, Uniform Marriage
and Divorce Laws

There is slowly crystallizing senti-
ment in favor of a convention to be held |
to amend the constitution of the United |
States The sentiment is not restrict
ed to anyone particular locality, but it
seems is taking root pretty generally. |
1t is the concensus of opinion in these
circles that the highly developed and
complex civilization of the country pre-
sents problems that deserve the atten-
tion 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 re-
hearsed here in detail 1t is a long list
and includes many topics which would
not be likely to receive serious consid-
Grafton.
Some OF the most important matters
which would come before the conven
ton, however, would be as follows:
Enlarging the presidential term to
six years and making the president in
eligible 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-
bling 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 difficult
for congress to pass any measure over
his veto.
To define more clearly the jurisdic-
ton of the courts in their relation to
the legislative branch of the of govern
ment.
These are few of the topics which
have been suggested as affording a
reason why constitutional convention
should be called, Many Others would
doubtless be considered.
Many of the leading men in political
life in Washington who, at various
times, have discussed the possibility of
IA constitutional convention have stated
that, while they believed such a con-
vention desirable, they were afraid that
ii would prove to be the opening of a
yeritable Pandora's 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 to bear the present ills than
to 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, it action must be
ratified by three fourths of the states,
tain if the amendments did not appeal
universally to the people.
The method by which the consttu-
tional convention could be held is asim-
pie one, and is provided by the consti-
tuition itself The fifth article of that
document contains the following:
The congress, whenever two-thirds of
both houses shall deem it necessary,
shall propose amendments to this con-
stitution, or, on the application of the
legislatures of two-thirds OF the several
states, shall call convention for pro-
posing 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 thereof, as the one or
the other mode of ratification may be
proposed by the congress-
1t may not be generally known that
nearly two-thirds OF the states have
already petitioned congress to assemble
constitutional convention. Their leg
islative resolutions, however, bear only
upon one subject, the election of United
States senators by popular vote. In
fact, if 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 cleo
tion the total would probably be more
than the requisite twO-thirds. The con-
vention which Representative De Ar
mond now advocates would not confine
its deliberations to one topic, but would
take up all the questions which might
be desirable to incorporate in the
amended constitution.
An Automatic Reporter