The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1910-09-30
The constitutional Amendment.

The Constitutional Amendment
Mr.. Editor note with much
interest the discussion in the pub
lie press Of the proposed Constitu-
tional Amendments to be voted on
at the November elections.
l also note that much is said
against the proposed Amendments
especially by the Times Dispatch
and the stock arguments when its
articles are sifted seem to be that
the people should vote down the
amendment because the ordinances
sought to be amended were pass
ed by the Constitutional Conven-
ton. l admit that this fact ought
to have some weight, but should
it be conclusive?
Consider the fact that the con-
stitution was proclaimed and not
submitted. that one hundred men
undertook to declare the fundamen-
tai laws of the Commonwealth with
out permitting the people TO have
a voice in the matter-not even
having the matters discussed by the
people, surely there could be no
harm in having these Amendments
discussed upon their merits.
Did it ever occur to these wise
statesmen, who now see great dis
aster about to overcome the peo-
pie, that all the wisdom is not con-
tanned in the heads of one hundred
citizens. together with a few news
paper editors; on the other hand,
is there not some danger in the
establishment of a class of select
few to govern the people?
What has become of the boosted
Democracy Of the past, in which
we have been taught that the peo-
pie are the best judges Of the laws
by which they are to be governed?
Now. let us look for a moment
into these proposed Amendments
Is it a great wrong to permit the
people to select their Commission
ers Of the Revenue and Treasur-
ers2 If so. will the Editor of the
Times Dispatch and other papers
specify the nature of the wrong
Would this same editor advocate
the Limitation upon the services o.
cashiers of banks, treasurers O
great corporations, auditors of pub
lie and private accounts, members o
the Corporation Commission, AM
many others which could be enume
rated-why single out Commission
ers of the Revenue and Treasurer
of counties. If a person is unfi
TO hold these offices, it is unrea
sonable to believe that the pee
2 pie of the respective counties nav
not sense enough to find it out.
Are these changes made by tn
D Constitutional Convention founde
S upon the fact that some treasurer
r have defalcations in their office
y Then this same fact stares us !
r the face as to the auditors Office
r in banks. post offices and all otl
T or positions Of a like kind. tn
fact is. 1 expect, now and the
d might be found a dishonest edito
hut of course this would be vel
.e rare.
IT Now. Mr.. Editor, will you an
n vour brother Editors deal frank
r with the people and come out
plain language and tell US why Il
n members of the constitutional 90
p vention changed the old constit
Id ton? Tell US why is it dangero
G. to return to the old law? Tell
a. why we are not capable of selectil
We our officers as long as it suits
~ TO do so? Tell us why we cam
be trusted?
IN The press has done good in t
~ past. and we trust you will contin
TO grow in usefulness, but 90
treat US like children. Don't u
do all the teachings Of the pa
and tell us now by insinuation' II
to we cannot manage u business
Y. accordance with time honored pr