The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-04-23
FAVOR NEW CONSTITUTION

the attorney general OF the state Dy
Circuit Judge W. S. Bullock of Ocala,
the following is noted as peculiarly
significant and as directly according
with the Journals contention during
a long period of time;
In my judgment there should De a
general revision of the constitution OF
the state. and, for this purpose, a
constitutional convention should be
held. There have been so many
amendments proposed by the leglsla-
ture. some of which have been adopt
ed. and some not, that it makes II
extremely difficult now to know just
what are the constitutional proyls-
ions of the state. | favor const1tu-
tional convention because, in my
Judgment, men who are elected for
their peculiar fitness for such SER
vice, are better qualified to frame an
organic law than the legislator who
has not been specially elected with
that view"
The constitution of Florida, a most
Imperfect instrument to serve its pur-
pose. even at the time Of its adop-
tion is now antiquated. 1t is an act
ual hindrance to the development OF
the state. And. as Judge Bullock de-
clares, it should be overhauled and
revised throughout by convention OF
men selected because of their pecu-
| liar fitness for such service.
The plan of amending the instru-
ment piecemeal through legislative
enactment and submission to the peo-
pie has proved a dismal failure. The
various sections of a constitution
should be more or less Independent
and should be made to harmonic in
the interests of good government.
They may be likened to the ten COM
mandments. to break one of which,
we are told, is equivalent to break
! ing them all.
And, besides, FlOrida's basic law
contains provisions which do not be-
| long to such an instrument, but
should be subject to basic control.
These should all be stricken out, and
constitution broad in it's sphere of
influence, but cOnned to its specific
provisions. should be adopted.-Pen-
sacola Journal.
The Journals appeal for a cOnstitu-
tional convention, backed by the
opinion of Judge Bullock. is a strong
presentation of the subject.
That the question is a pressing one
is shown by the many resolutions al
ready introduced in the legislature.
looking to the adoption of resolutions
calling for more amendments to the
present constitution.
1t should be remembered by the
voters of Florida, that not one of the
many proposed amendments to the
constitution, as offered by the legisla-
ture, since the session of 1901. has
been adopted by the people.
The people have said time and
again that they would have no more
amendments, and it would look as
though further propositions looking |
to that end would be futile-worse |
than futile-foolishness and child's |
play.
1t is apparent that before the leg
islature adjourns there will be MANY
propositions made to change our
present constitution. burt the part of /
wisdom would be, so it would appear
to the sensible mind, to gather all
these and other propositions I'D in |
one measure, together with the pres- !
emit constitution and make a clean |
progressive and comprehensive or /
ganic act.
The only voice raised against the
proposition to submit new constitu.
ton comes from Arcadia. where the
News puts forth this argument.
"A new constitution would call for
an election and a convention. That
takes time and money. Under orr
present suffrage laws, we do not
know who would compose that con-
vention. Let US bear the ills we
have, trying in the meantime to solve
our problems without such a revoIu.
uonary step. Under our present con
stltution, we have grown in popula-
ton and along all lines of advance
ment-material, educational and NOR
al"
A fear Of the people is not a con-
elusive argument against their adont-
ing a constitution and it may wei,
be said that Florida has prospered
within the past ten years in spita Of
the antiquated constitution. and NOT
because of it-Miami News-Reoord