The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-10
Convention Of States viii Be
Called for Legislation
SENATORIAL QUESTION UP
Only One More State Is Needed To
Make Necessary Two-Thlrds To
Call Convention To Change
the Constitution.
BY WATTERsoN sTEALEY.

Washington, October -(special.)-one
of the biggest pieces of business that any
Congress has ever had to determine will
require the attention of that body at the
opening session.
For Congress will be called upon to de-
eide whether a convention of the states
shall be permitted, as directed by the con.
stitution, looking to the revision of that
venerable instrument. When two-thirds
of the states petition Congress for such
a convention, Congress is commanded by
the constitution to call it, and to make
laws for IFS organization, selection and
compensation.
Thirty-one states constitute two-thirds
of the union, and Just 80 are now on rec
ord as having passed through their legis-
latures, the necessary resolutions asking
for such a convention. When one
more state shall have added its resolu-
ton the matter will be in mandatory
fashion before Congress. There is con-
sidered almost no doubt that more than
one additional state will join the columa
this winter, because the income tax
amendment to the constitution Is at
tracing general attention to the matter
ratification of the income tax amendment
does not involve adoption of the demand
for a convention of states, yet it does
bring the general subject to the front.
Line of Questions.
Congress will have a long line of deli
cate questions to answer when it con-
fronts the petitions of 81 states for con-
vention There has never been eonYen-
ton of the states. Many of the states
which have passed these resolutions ask
ing a convention have asked it for the
purpose of amendment to effect popu-
lar election of senator's; others have
placed no limitation upon it,
The first question is whether this con-
vention. once in existence and organized.
can be restricted to the least range of en-
terprise that any state may have definedY
If 20 states asked for convention TO con-
slider senatorial elections and IL asked
convention to consider income taxation.
would Congress still be required to take
the necessary steps and provide the pre-
liminary legislation? If so, could the con-
vention take up AN, the questions specified
in the states resolution, and as many
others as 1t may choose?
These questions have never been an
swered in experience. The strong ele-.
ment in Congress which would oppose to
the bitter end an effort to secure con-
vention, would undoubtedly urge that
there must be absolute uniformity in the
demands, and that the convention be re-
stricted absolutely to specified subjects.
In this view it would be almost fmpos-
sible ever to get convention save for
the general purpose of revision, and in
that case the mandate would be as broad
as the whole constitution.
Plans Of Bryan.
ested in the effort to secure an amend
ment for popular elections of senators,
is said to be planning to make this con-
stitutional amendment specially If he
becomes a member of the Senate from
Nebraska.
If he should be elected next year he
would be in time to have part in the
big contest over the matter; for nobody
believes that the coming session, with the
conservatives completely In control of both
houses will make affirmative response to
any demand for a convention. Rather, 1t
! is expected that technical reasons would
! be raised which would keep the neces-
| sary legislation in committee, and 1t
would require the promotion of a great
popular movement, perhaps arising to
| the dignity of a national issue of the
frst-class, to force the matter out of
| Congress.
The imminence of a national conven-
| ton is one reason for concern to OPP
| ponents of the income tax. 1t Is now well
| known that there Is going to be de-
| termined and organized fight against rati-
| fcation of the income tax. The recently
adopted platform of the Massachusetts
republicans. reputed to have been written
| by Senator Lodge. is taken as the key
note 1t points out that income taxa
| ton has been one of the resources of
| the states; and it demands to know:
| "Shall the state surrender this resource
| or shall it provide for double taxation,
| state and federal, or incomes?'