Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1909-03-11

are unalterably opposed to the prop
osition TO put Missouri under prohi.
bition. They do not believe that it
is necessary or practical 70 abolish the
manufacture and sale of intoxicants in
this great state, with its cosmopolitan
population, its big cities and its en-
ormous manufacturing plants, even if
it were desirable to do SO. II the
Democrats have come round to advo-
cady OF prohibition, or even Of sub
hitting the proposition to vote, it is
a very recent conversion and one
which smacks of political scheming
more than devotion to principle or
tolerance of the prohibition idea.
Because of the presence OF the old
issue in the new situation at this capi-
tai there is to be lively doings in con-
ncction with it. 1t would be rather
premature to make guess as to the
final outcome. The Democratic
whip has not yet been heard to swish
through the air of the legislative halls,
1t may be used to line up the recall
citrants before they have chance to
vote on submission. Charley Stokes.
who is the leader of the prohibition
party in the state and son-in-law to
the W. G.. +. u. of which his wife is
president, is here to aid his brilliant
life partner in the battle, and he says
that the legislature will certainly vote
to submit the prohibition question a,
the general election in 1910, but he
adds that if the members of this Cen
cral Assembly have not the wisdom
to do that the pfHiibitionists will use
the new referendum amendment to
the constitution and bring on vote
without the Intervention of the legis-
lature. So there you are. To the
ant-prohibition lawmakers it looks
like there is hot fire on either side
OF the fence on which they would fain
take lodgmcnt. They are to be
damned if they do and damned il
they don't.
But do not forget that the average
Missouri legislator has convictions and
plans of his own. There is propc..
sition to provide for calling constr
tutional convention. That PROPOSE
tiOn is just now taking definite and
good shape and it may be that it viii
be carried to success before the prop
osition to submit any amendment can
be determined. There are about ten
resolutions pending for submission %
amendments to the constitution, one
of them providing for bonded deb,
of S., 900. 900 for new capitol. An
other provides for supreme Cour'
with sixteen members and the aboli.
ton of the two courts of appeals.
These arc big propositions. II thcs,
propositions as well as prohibition are
submitted at the same election there
| will be 1ive1y Amendment campaign.
Prohibition may be ovcfsLadowed by
the other propositions. These are
not the only amendments proposed.
however. II all OF the amendment,
resolutions now pending are to be put
on the bahot in 1910 the voters will
mot know whether they are reading a
ballot or law book. The situation
is becoming SO complicated that the
constitutional convention proposition
begins to loom up very largely.
Governor Hadley favors it earnestly.
not because it may sdctrack some
other proposition, but because it IS
in his judgment, necessity for the
future progress of the state. He is
not disposed to sidetrack or evsdc
any issue which may be presented
during his administration, but to face
all issues fairly and frankly, and be
will do that; but he saw, long before
the Legislature met, that there would
be number Of big propositions fo'
submission to vote--for amending the
present constitution and he said
then and kept on saying that new
constitution is to be preferred to fur
ther patches on the old onc--pre-
ferfed, in any event, to the present
constitution, which has been patched
and patched till it looks like that par,
of poor mans trousers which strikes
the chair first. He is for new con-
stitution, but he has not announccd
antagonism to any proposed amend
mcnt now before the 'uc.sla,urc,
The governor has nothing h.,icially to