The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1915-08-21
DELEGATE PUGH AND THE
CONVENTION

In last Mondays issue of the New
Orleans Times-Picayune appears a
statement by Edward N. Pugh, one OF
Ascension's two delegates-elect to
the proposed constitutional conven-
tion. announcing his intention to cast
his vote against the convention at the
election to be held August 81.
The main reasons advanced by Mr..
Pugh in support of his attitude are
that the time for framing a new con-
stitution is inopportune, although the
need for the work is admittedly great /;
that there is too much politics
and partisanship extant just now to
permit of the proper performance OF
the important task Of reconstructlng
the states organic law; that If CON
yention is to be held at all 1t VIII De
bv the grace Of the New Orleans 'or-
ganization," supposedly conceded on
the condition that consideration OF
the question of prohibition by the
convention should be forbidden; that
the power of the legislature to re-
strict the action of a constitutional
convention should not be recognized
or countenanced, and, finally, that the
knowledge that an alliance IS on De,
tween the state administration ana
the Organization" is of itself a sui
fcient cause for disapproval OF the
convention project by the liberty
loving people of the state.
That there is a deal Of force IN
some of Mr.. Pugh's objections can
not be denied, and undoubtedly
great many citizens will oppose the
convention proposition for similar
reasons who would be inclined to IA
vor it under normal conditions.
Perhaps the greatest factor in
changing the sentiment of voters who
were originally disposed to support
the convention call has been the i'll
advised "hog-it-all' policy OF the
New Orleans Organization" and #
the pending proposition is defeated
at the coming election the city lead
ers will have themselves chiefly to
blame for the outcome. Despite the
fact that the making of constitution
ought to be by it's very nature hon-
political and bipartisan, the ward
bosses pulled the factional lines as
taut as il a general election for the
partition of the loaves and fishes was
about to be held. They confined their
Endorsement and support to their own
simon-pure, thick-and-thin partlsans,
and made the contest one to deter
mine ward leadership and party stand
ing rather than an occasion for choos-
ing delegates best qualified for the
task of framing model state constl-
tuition.
Despite the discouragements and
drawbacks of the situation, however,
we do. not share Mr.. Pugh's conclu-
sion that the convention call should
be defeated. 1t is not serious OBJ
lection, in our opinion, that the state
debt and liquor questions are to be
kept out of the convention. The elm
nation of the debt is generally rec
ognized as proper and judicious, be-
cause our recently issued state bonds
are in the nature of vested contract
which sound public policy demands
should not be tempered with; and
regulation of the liquor traffic can
better be left to local option and leg
islative control than written into the
constitution, and thus it may be treat
ed from time to time in accordance
with changing public opinion without
the necessity of resorting to constitu-
tional amendments.
If the holding of constitutional
convention is to be delayed until i'm
munity from the contamination of
politics and partisanship is assured,
we fear the postponement viii extend
beyond Mr.. PugIos generation, and
possibly our own d. well. It is pre-
ferable, in our judgment, to have the
now, trusting to the pres
ence and influence of such delegates
as those to be accredited from Ascen-
sion for the construction of consti-
tuition that will meet the needs of the
and command the APP
proval of the people. In the event
that this expectation is disappointed
and the professional politicians domi
nate the convention and mar its work,
The Chief will engage to join Mr..
Pugh and the rest of the states good
citizens in decrying the result and
its rejection.
Let's give the convention a trial.
1t may turn out all right. It is enti-
tied to the benefit of the doubt any
way.