Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-08
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8. 1910.
VOTE AGAINST ALL FOUR OF THE
AMENDMENTS.


Vote AGAINST all four OF the pro-
posed amendments to the State coz
sii;ution today Even though you may
be inclined to believe that one or
mere CT the amendments is not de
cidedly Objectionable, that Is no rea.
son why you should vote for any o,
them. The constitution, the organic
law of the state. must not be amended
or pulled 10 pieces as though 1t were
n set of bylaws or an ordinance OF a
city council II the people made
practice OF doing this the constitution
would mean nothing and our govern
ment would be utterly unstable and
unsafe. Therefore. before citizen
determines to cast his ballot in favor
of an amendment he should be con-
WINGED beyond doubt that the public
good, row and in the future, will be
served by making the proposed
change.
No particular fight is being made
on any of the proposed amendments
except the one permitting treasurers
TO succeed themselves indefinitely.
There are some arguments in favor
of this change, and they are being
used for all they are worth, not here
in Newport News, because Treasurer
j. NJ. Curtis. an Official OF unaues-
toned integrity and ability whose re-
tirement will be a distinct loss to the
community, has made no campaign for
the amendment, but throughout
the State. Ii is true that
under The existing constitutions
al provision, every county and
city treasurer in the state will retire
from Office within the next three
years. This means that the State
must lose the service of many good
men. And no doubt in some instances
the new officers not only will be in
experienced, but will lacA the ability
OF their predecessors. These facts
and the contention that the right OF
the people to choose their own OH
GERS ought not to be restricted con
stitute the grounds upon which advo-
cafes OF the amendment ask for
votes.
This paper has discussed previously
all OF the amendments. deyoting par
ticular attention to the one relating
to treasurer. We believe that it Is
neither necessary nor desirable to en-
ter into a lengthy discussion in this
article of reasons for voting against
the amendments But We want &c
ask that the voters keep the follow
ing facts in mind: The constitution
now allows treaSurers TO hold once
for two consecutive terms OF foul
years each. The provision peevent
ing a treasurer from holding ofics
for life without intermission was pui
into the constitution by Che bes
brains Of the State after mature con
sidersiion only eight years ago. I
was put in because The makers OF tn,
constitution knew that trsasureTs hay,
opportunities for using their oficia
positions to acquire dangerous powe
which may be employed in perpetual
ing themselves in once OF to turtle
other political ends: the constitution
makers knew that some treasurer
had acquired and used this power 4
the past and that others were nor
than liable TO do II in the future There
fore they limited the conSecu'iv
service Of men in this ONCE 10 eiga
years. And row. before this pro
vision has even been given a trisi y
are asked to undo the work to pleas
ofice-hoiders who do not want 10 Jos
their Jobs.
On the ballot IN todav's election Nv
paragraphs viii be devoted TO each I
the four amendments. In each 8
stance one paragraph VII read ~
the amendment etc. while the oth'
win read Against the amendment
etc. The voter desiring 70 vote FOX q
amendment viii STRIKE ont a
against II he desires % vo'
AGAINST the amendment he vi
STRIFE out the for This win be Z