St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1910-01-01
SANDERS SPEAKS OF
PROPOSED
Says It Would Be Wise to Repeal It, But Under
Present Conditions will Advise Friends
Not to Presa 1t.
Not to Presa 1t.

There is no reason why article
So should be in the State Constitu-
tion, and the trend of public senti-
ment, as | see it, is that it should be
repealed
Governor Sanders made public his
first expression on the proposed
amendment to the Constitution, SO as
to allow the governor to succeed
himself, which has been quietly agi-
tated by some Of the governors
friends, and which was first sprung
at q dinner Of his staff at the Grune-
valid Hotel, when District Attorney
Adams launched the proposition.
However, the governor proceeds
to argue that the proposal Of this
amendment in the next Legislature
would Immediately ~precipitate the
A@
campaign Of 1912 in that General
Assembly, with all its factional BIT
teruess, which he says would Be bit
ter IN the extreme, and for that rea-
sen adds:
viii
ADVISE MY FRIENDS NOTT0PRESS
this proposed amendment to the Con
stitution.'
This is the governors first express
sion on the proposed amendment to
the Constitution, and breaks a silence
that has been demanded from almost
every quarter Of the State. He says
he has received numerous letters and
requests. The country press has
been discussing the matter for weeks.
He says he did not vote for this
provision of the Constitution of 1898,
and was absent from the hall. Had
T been present, | would have voted
against it, be says. IF people de-
sire to re-elect a public official they
should be permitted to do SO.
THE administration has never
been behind this movement. | have
never declared in its favor 81 against
Il"
In the governors opinion the
amendment would easily carry both
before the Legislature and before the
people
His statement argues at length
iii favor Of the repeal Of article So,
which prohibits q governor from sue
caeding himself, and says he believes
lie would stand as good a show as
any other Democrat for the nomina-
ton as governor il 1912, but in view
of Che strife that would develop in
the next Legislature, concludes, z
viii advise my friends not to press
this proposed amendment"
The governors statement given out
III this city yesterday follows:
The Constitutional Convention of
1898 was rendered necessary in or
der to settle the then paramount
question Of the suffrage. The Con
sfitution was ordained without being
submitted to a popular vote. Since
1898 numerous amendments have
been proposed by the Legislature
and passed upon by the people. Most
Of the amendments thus submitted
have been adopted; some have been
rejected.
when the Constitution Of 1898
was framed, owing to the doubt in
the minds Of many as to the ultimate
result Of tie suffrage clause en-
braced therein, and following gener-
ally the Constitution Of 1879, the APP
pointive power was largely lodged in
the Governors hands; and article 2O0l
.of this same Constitution seemed to
perpetuate the convention system BY
establishing a certain basis Of repre-
sentation in all nominating conyen-
lions.
''The suffrage qualifications have
stood the test Of time and the neces-
sity no longer existing for the con
centration Of the appointive power in
the hands of the Governor, numerous
constitutional amendments and legis-
lative enactments have been proposed
and passed, almost entirely
ELIMINATING THE APP0INTIYE
POWER
of the Governor. and a compulsory
primary law has superseded the con-
ysntion system as the method Of
party nomination,
Article as of the Constitution
Ei,