The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-04-19
PROPOSAL FOR
RECALL TABLED
Trend Of Discussion fOretold
Its Defeat.
MINORITY REPORT CAUSTIC

Declares That Proposition to Retire
Elective officers at Will Of People
is Obnoxious to Spirit of Our lnsti-
tutions - Urges More Efficient
Means Of impeaching Crooked
Jurists--Convention Votes to Abol-
lsh Capital Punishment For Crime.
Columbus, O., April 1S.-The con-
stitutional convention, by a vote OF
so to AS, expressed its disapproval
of the proposition to take up and dis
Cuss the recall of public elective
officials.
The vote may setlle the recall prop
osition so far as the convention Is
concerned
BY substantial majorities the con
vention adopted comprehensive
proposal for conservation of natural
resources and reconsidered and
adopted the Pierce proposal, which
was defeated the day before, to do
away with capital punishment for
crime. II the Pierce proposal Is rati-
fed by the people at the polls there
will be no more electrocutions at the
penltentiary.
Parliamentarians disputed over the
status of the Watson recall proposal
after the convention adjourned. The
| question came up under a special or
der to adopt the minority report Of
| the initiative and referendum COM
| mittee, which recommended indefi-
mite pcstponement OF the proposal.
The report was signed by Delegates
Halfhill, Dunlap, Lampson and Ev-
| ans. The majority report recon-
mended adoption of the proposal.
After brief discussion Mr.. Donahey
moved to table both reports. The mo
tion carried so to 48, but clerks
made q mistake in computation and
President Bigelow announced its do
feat, 40 TO 40 Before the mistake
could be corrected the convention re-
cessed
Two Radicals Flop.
The action is declared to leave the
proposal without prejudice in the
committee and no further attempt
may be made to report 1t out again,
as slight discussion has shown that
the proposal will be defeated II It
ever reaches vote. Two radicals.
Judge Peck and Mr. Harris of Ham
ilton, joined the conservatives in de-
bate ir opposing It. The minority
said of the proposal;
I'm its entirety II is obnoxious to
the Spirit OF our institutions and Ia
a supplemental blow aimed at the in
tegrity of representative government,
THAT the judges of our courts,
heing also elective public officers in
this state and included within the
scope of this proposal, the same is a
gratuitous assault upon the honor
and integrity OF our judiciary, and
no condition subsists or ever has ex-
listed in Ohio, that remotely Justllles
creating any such procedure or max
ing II . part of our fundamental law.
That the duties OF every elective
public officer OF this state are de-
fined by the law of the land, which
law their oath of Office compels
them to obey and support, ana it any
transgrees this obligation they
should be tried by the law on charge
duly made, before tribunal. with
orderly procedure under rules OF evi'
dence acknowledged and subssting
in all stable governments. and they
should not he assailed from the
hustings and tried at the polls by
popular tumult or be compelled to
face destruction of their honor
through verdict rendered by clam
or, corruption or partisan prejudice
The minority recommended more
efficient means OF impeachment as q
remedy for whatever fault exists
with the judiciary, The convention
will consider the Dwyer proposal
embodylng this idead today,