The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-05-05
VOTERS TO PASS
ON THE CONSTITUTION
Next Year the Voters of This State Must Decide Whether
Another Constitutional Convention Shall be Called
and Behooves Them to Become Thoroughly
Posted Before Election Day.

have also been the most active and
most uncompronising opponents OF
the initiative and referendum. And
yet, they cannot get constitutional
convention callA1 without a vote OF
the people, ana a new constitution
cannot be put INTO effect without a
vote of the people
Here are two referendums requir-
ed to revise the constitution in the
way desired by those who want to
amend the sections, relating to taxa
tion and who at the same time OPP
pose giving the people a chance to
vote on the proposition to add the
initiative and referendum to the or
ganlc law OF the state,
1t has been intimated that - an
other constitutional convention is
once authorized, an effort will be
made to have the instrument drafted
by it go into effect without a refer
endum vote of the people. The adop-
tion of the first constitution in 1907
would be cited as precedent for such
action
But times have greatly changed
since 1902, when most OF Ohio was
still wilderness. That was the in
itial constitution on which Ohio was
admitted to statehood, and IL had to
be accepted by the federal govern
ment, so there was not the same need
for a referendum as when demand
arose half a century later for re-
vision of the original document, ana
again in 1873 when there was a de-
mand for another revision.
These two intervening precedents
cannot well be passed over to go
back to 1902 for authority to put a
new constitution into effect without
a vote of the people. 1t is reasonably
safe to predict that IL such an idea
gets abroad among the people they
VIII vote down the proposition next
year to call another constitutional
convention so overwhelmingly that
the present generation will never
hear another such proposition.
-
Special stress is put on the fact
that the Mooney bill to submit the
question of calling another constltu-
tional convention at the election next
year, passed the legislature without
opposition. There is, however, no
special significance in that fact.
The character OF the bill is in full
accord with the principle OF initiative
and referendum on state affairs. Al
though, in this case, the initiative
was lodged in the legislature. the
referendum goes to the people.
1t is not disputed that the people
have a right to decide whether they
want another constitutional conven-
tion called. II they favor the propo-
sition they will vote yes; il not they
viii vote 1t down.
At least six years will be required
to obtain results from whatever
changes may be made in the states
tax system by new constitution.
What is to be done meanwhile.
with the states revenues decreasing
and expenses million in excess OF
the income after being pared to the
Done?
That is the question put up square
ly to the Legislature by Gov. Harmon,
and which the Legislature lodged en-
tirely at the recent special session.
Governor Harmon urged Immediate
action to strengthen the states re-
sources. He asked that all the pres
ent ex-oficio tax boards be consoli
dated into one board for the better
enforcement of present tax laws, and
stated in interviews that such a plan
would increase the states revenues
at least $l,5OO,OOO a year.
The legislature refused to act on
the governors tdvice, and in his final
message Governor Harmon placed the
responsibility where 1t properly bo-
longs.