The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-07-30
I ct Us Be Careful, Lest We
Caps;ze the Ship of State

If a constitutional cOnVehVloll
is voted by a majority OF the a, e.
lectors Of the state on the oI T.,
Of August, it assures the dra graft
mo of many ordinances which
will operate to the detrlment. OF
the people of the rural sections
of the state, for now, beyond
npradventure, this convention
will be dominated by the city
bosses and city politicians ", who
will be supported in their II he ne Hist!
work by gang OF office ho!!d1lng
DELEGATES. As was indicated last
week by Mr.. ThornhiIl in his let
ter of withdrawal, the politicians
seem bent upon relieving the
Wealthy corporations Of the state
from all local taxation, thus
leaving the Parishes to support
ali of their institutions from tax,
es flched from the individual
taxpayers who make it possible
for the rich corporations to
thrive and grow richer. The
adoption Of such an ordinance
bv the constitutional convention,
means that the people ofthe Par
ishes must thereafter dig down
into their own pockets for every
cent that goes to the support OF
the parish government, lnclud-
inc all of it's educational and
political institutions,
There is an unmistakable ten
dency on the part of the dele
gates to the convention to change
the basis of the apportionment
of the public school funds in
such manner as to operate to the
great disadvantage of the coun-
try parishes. The present sys-
TEN is bad enough in all con-
science, insofar as the rural dis
tricts of the state are concerned,
50 it behooves the country peo-
ple to look before they leap, y
and when they do leap, be sure
they leap against any thing that
may make it possible for their
present bad condition to be made
worse.
The revision Of the judiciary
! and assessment laws of the
state are two other subjects
fraught with much danger tc
, the people, and since there is nc
prospect of a majority of the
delegates to that convention
being honest, patriotic men, the
G only safe plan is to defeat the
r convention. 1t is true, that the
:, judicial and assessment laws d
+ the state need revision, bu
IS since there is no prospect Obs
J. serment in this regard, we fae
J. better leave them where the!
To are.
w Whether this proposition tt
e hold a constitutional convention
d. is a creature of Gov. Halls al
er ministration or not does not re
Sc move the dangers which sur
ID round it; and that there is dang
~ err to the common people in tn
d. framing of a new constitution a
Xt this time, is not denied excer
"a by a small group of office hole
ers and politicians who are tn
10 fathers Of the movement. lr
~. Nv. evitably, if a constitutional cor
'ul vention is held, the rate of tax;
ny ton will be increased, and tn
vn is an experiment that will /
ace dangerous to the best and mo-
.au vital interests of the state; fl
,"'' when the rate is once increase
ks it is almost, if not wholly ir
lc. possible to ever reduce that ra
and get back to a lower al
more economical basis.
-, . So we again warn the peoE
NJ of the danger that confror
VIZ them, and give it as our delibe
ing ate opinion that it is better to
the dure a bad condition than
,]d- take chances on having wo1
~ one saddled upon US. TT
az we will get nothing better is
'fy' foregone conclusion.
to The constitution of 1898 wi
hav all Of its amendments, additiC
this and revisions has stemmed
al tide Of some twenty years; a
j., o'' now it is proposed to tear
thls down and build it up again
ana sixty days, but look what S
luir of mechanics have been or v
eous be assigned to do the work
aoly rebuilding. A lot of politi
loef grafters, a bunch Of unho!y
ces. ticians and a contingent of or
'oeo ic office seeking office holder
, of ~