New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-06
BARNES REVIEWS
CONSTITUTION
Obscurity of the Proposed
Document Blamed for
Defeat at Polls.
UPSTATE AND CITY
Suspicious FATAL
Zach Region Feared Convention
Had Worked in Favor of
Other, Says Ex-Leader.

William Barnes, ex-chairman OF the
Republican State Committee and a
delegate TO the Constitutional Conyen-
ton, gave some reasons yesterday
which led TO the defeat Of the pro-
posed constitution. Mr.. Barnes did not
vote Tor the constitution.
81 purposely rsfrained from taking
any part for or against tho constitu-
tion,' he said. because the refusal Of
the convention TO present It's work In
such form that the voter might dis
criminate was such an egregious blum
der that unless one accepted all the
constitution he necessarily could not
suggest to another whether his afiirma-
tive or his negative will should be
moro controlling.
"The great services rendered in the
preparation Of the constitution by Mr..
Root are not lost. 1t is within the
function of the Legislature TO propose
amendments to the present constitu-
ton, which, if Tho Legislature of 1915
pass favorably upon them, may be
voted upon by the electors In Novem-
Der, 1917.
There we're & number OF provisions
in the constitution OF apparently
minor Importance upon which all mem
bers Of that boCy agreed and which
very properly could be grouped to-
gether and presented as one amend
ment. There ale others which were
open to contention, but upon which the
voters ought 20 have opportunity to ex-
press themselves"
Present Law Roots Work.
Mr.. Barnes said the present consttu-
ton was not a document to be de-
spised, and that IL was a. much prod
uct of Mr. Roots mind as was the
document defeated Tuesday. He be-
lieved that many men voted mo" on
the constitution because they did not
have clearly in mind the meaning of
some Of its provisions, and voted
against it because they were not sure
that a change was advisable. Par
ticulsrly was this so with Article l. the
bill of rights. This part of the con-
stitution should be presented periodi-
cally and separately to the voters, he
thought.
"If the people do not comprehend
that the constitution Is their law" said
Mr. Barnes, 9Th sir minds are subject to
influence and unjust attacks, such as
were made on the constitution just de-
feated. An atmosphere existed in The
Constitutional Convention, among its
members and among those who came
before the committees earlier in its
proceedings. which indicated false
concept By many of the delegates. and
also by many citizens, as TO the mean
ing of constitution. Those persons
seemed to think that q constitution
should be framed for the purpose of
getting things.
Mr.. Barnes said Sheriif-elect Alfred
2. Smith came to the convention with
the avowed purpose Of getting things"
for New York CITY. He said there was
no question thousands of voters in this
city voted against 1t because they
thought il was IN the interest Of up
state" and that other thousands in the
state voted against it because they
thought il was framed according TO
Mr. Smiths ideas Such controversy
was unintelligent and unrelated 10 the
proper functions of constitution, Mr..
Barnes said.
1.-THE essential features OF constltu-
ton should be simplicity, condensation
and observation-disclosures said Mr..
Barnes. THE lack OF these qualities
in the instrumen. which was adopted
by the convention left many voters no
alternative but negative vote when
gladly they would have been recorded
in the affirmative upon many Of the
questions submitted"