The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-30
CONVENTION IS ONLY
ISSUE AT ELECTION
Voters on April : Will Not
Pass on Proposed Consti-
tutional Changes.
MANY REFORMS URGED
Women See Opportunity to
Press Their Claims
for Suffrage.

The voters Of this State will decide one
week from Tomorrow. April I. whether
the Constitution IL twenty years behind
the times and whether II needs 10 he re-
vised TO meet changed public opinion con-
cern,ng matters that affect the people
very directly.
All That the election OF April Viii
settle is whether there shall De a consu-
tu,,onaI convention. The selection OF dele
gates will be deferred until tho regular
November election this year. And the
political color OF the convention tassum-
Ing that the voterr will demand one) VIII
probably depend upon the relative sue
cess of the Democratic. Republican and
Progressive parties at the Novemoer
election There ~ "a strong sentiment.
however, for non-pHrtlsan convention.
~ IL convention j. approved the dele
gates will assemble ON tho frat Tuesday
in April. 1915. Many important changes
and rcvisions have been sugR"st"d AZ
necessary to bring the Constitution up 10
the demands OF these times
Many Have Outlined Uefsrns.
Gov. Martin H. 1iynn Mayor John Pur.
roy Mitchell. Geors" w. Perkins Jonn =.
Irving, representing the conference OF
Mayors and other city officials Charles
H. Strong president Of the city Club the
executive committee OF Tammany Hail
and other individuals and organizations
have outlined constitutional reforms
The Instrument adopted IN 1894 VIII be
revised consorvaiively or radically accord
Ing to the preponderance of Democratic or
Progressive or Republican delegates VINO
sit In tho 1916 convention.
The future will determine whether an
EFFORT will I've made to include In the Con-
stitution provisions for the Initiative and
referendum and the recall OF Judges or OF
judicial decisions hut II Is certain that
an aggressive fight will be- made by con
servative Republicans and Democrats
AZ ainst any sucn suggestions
There are, however. other Important and
Interesting proposed changes that have
been discussed iavorably by leaders OF all
the parties
As regards the necessity for constitu-
tional revision the Democrats and Pro-
xressives take a positive stand, while the
Republicans have been Indifferent and
divided, state Chairman William Barnes.
Jr.. opposing revision.
Prominent In the list Of changes that
have been proposed TO meet the changed
condition Is the short ballot; Gov. Glynn
and many other political leaders have
taken the ground that there In a strong
and growing feeling In this State In favor
OF tho short ballot
Urge More Power fer Governsy.
Al pres. mt the Constitution provides for
the election Of the Governor. the Lieuten-
ant Governor. the Secretary OF State. the
Cor .ptro !!er. the Treasurer, the Attorney
General and tho state Engineer and Sur
veyor. The demand is that power be
given to the Governor through the Con.
stltution to appoint some OF these officials,
| the argument being that there should he
concentration Of responsibility on men
known to the voters.
A greater measure OF home rule for
cities will undoubtedly receive the att, n
| ton of the revisionists. New York city
| Is more directly Interested in this pro-
/ posal than any other city In the State.
; II has been pointed out that home rule
. :ur New York city would have made Il
/ possible for Mayor Mitchell TO put through
his police reform bills, This would have
3 meant the appointment OF Col. Goe,hals
as Police Commissioner.
! New York and other cities have been
/ deferred for twenty years In securing
/ municipal reforms OF one kind or another
because OF the necessity OF appealing TO
| the Legislature. which Is not always sym
pathetic. The Legislature itself IL ham
pered In its wider labors by the necessity
| Of giving time and attention to municipal
matters A constitutional convention can
permit the Legislature to delegate TO the
cities certain legislative powers.
| Reforms connected with the criminal
! procedure and with the selection and
tenure OF the judiciary are apt to be
| among the momentous issues of the con-
vention. There has been a demand for
the simplfcation of the criminal pro-
cedure along the lines adopted by the
Canadian courts There are many who
believe that Judges should be appointed,
not elected, and appointed for n life
tenure. The argument advanced Is thar
such reform would shield candidates
for positions on the bench from the
humiliation OF appealing to political bosses
for nominations or for reelection and that
thereby distressing scandals would be
eliminated. The point is raised also tina.
the salaries OF Judges are Inadequate OF
not balanced properly