St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-01-16
Opposes Constitutional
Convention.
Opelousas, La, Jan. 5. 1915,
" +hn Editor IF tho Ttnm.

0p0loAS(Aog AAtSsS CGsA A~&9
To the Editor of the Item:
In your leading editorial of this
date, you assert a Constitutional
Convention must be held this
year. There is one feature of
the paper I can commend, and
that is. that portion wherein you
say the object of the convention
will be to raise more money,
which can only be had by addi-
tionally taxing the people.
You are too far removed from
the people who are least able to
bear additional taxation, to urge
they shall pay more than they do
at present. If you resided in the
country and beheld the people
earning their bread by the sW at
of their brow, toiling from jan
uary to December in order to
make both ends meet, you would
pause and reflect ere you would
urge the calling of a convention,
whereby to additionally tax them.
You say: There is only one
way to get the things Louisiana
needs. That is to pay for them.
There is only one place whence
the money can come: From the
pocket of the taxpayers.
Yoo can run this state upon the
money now collected from the
taxpayers. Better this year than
last year. The published reports
of the assessments, have been
increased three millions and
this in the face of the hard times
which may last for years.
No, MI. Editor, the Constitu-
tionai Convention is not the
remedy. Economy in the adj
ministration of our public affairs
is what is needed Increase as
sessments and thereby increase
taxation and the legislature and
government officials will eat up
every dollar IN sight. My limit
ed experience at one session Of
the Legislature was, that every
body wanted an appropriation.
Many were granted which were
unnecessary. Many were denied
for want of money.
The Legislature would be guilty
of a crime, to call Constitution
al Convention this year, or the
next, or at any time in the near
future.
Our experience with Constitu-
tional Conventions has been un-
fortunate indeed. We have held
more than any other state in the
Union, with no resultant advan-
tages. Compare Louisiana with
Connecticut, or some other state
of the Union which has had one
or two and Louisiana is the worse
off, as you yourself admit.
Louisiana had a Constitutional
Convention in 1872. one in 1916,
one in 1862, one in 1866, one in
1868, one in 1879, one in 1898,
one in 1913. Eight in all.
In one hundred years, our or
law has been changed
times.
Who has been benefited there
by? Who was it footed the bills
for these impositions?
The rural press of the state
should oppose the call. The Leg
islators from these Districts,
should vote against it. The tax
payers should see to it that their
Representatives vote that way,
or go out of Office.
Any Representative from the
country parishes who votes for a
Constitutional Convention, the
pupose of which you admit is to
additionally tax our overburden-
ed people. will be guilty of a
crime, which time will not efface.
We can scarcely bear the taxes
now imposed upon US, why lnf1lct
additional ones?
As an humble member of the
Legislature, | shall never, never,
vote to call a Constitutional Con-
vention, when | know Gas you
its purpose is, and will be
to additionally tax our impover-
people.
Yours truly,