Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-07-09
why A NEW CONSTITUTION!

same election they will elect dele
gates to the Convention, in case the
majority of the electors decide in
favor Of holding it.
Now, in order that the voter may
have every facility for making up
his mind on this important ques-
ton, won't some wise statesmen
rise up and point out ust why we
need a new Constitution?
For the Gazette, we confess we
are unable to see any good that is
to be accomplished by the adoption
of a new organic law, and on the
other hand we fore-see a multitude
Of evils that may and most proba-
bly, will, follow in the train of a
new Constitution.
We take no stock in the parrot
like statement, often repeated by
some of. the daily papers. that the
present Constitution has served its
purpose, that it is rotten instru-
ment, that it is an imperfect, hasti-
ly done make-shift, and the like
holder dash.
The best minds Of Louisiana wrote
that Constitution, such men as
E. B. Kruttschnitt. T. J. Semmes,
Chief Justice Monroe, Associate
Justice Provosty, Congressman
Brazeale. Boatner and Pujo, Senator
Ransdell, Lieutenant Governor
Snyder. Senator Cordill, Col. Stubs.
Fred Hudson, Governor Sanders
and scores of other staunch Demo-
Gratis and devoted sons of this State
gave their time and best labors
freely to give the State they loved
good and faithful service.
And they did good work.
The present Constitution is a good
one.
In what respect do those who ad-
vocate another purpose expect to
improve on it?
Rise up and tell the people!
For one thing they say. The
State needs more money; we don't
propose to increase the tax rate but
some plan will be devised by the
best thought of the State whereby
more revenue can be had"
How?
What magic wand will be waved
to give the State more money with
out raising either the tax rate or the
assessed value of property
Is the miracle of the loaves and
fishes to he repeated, and even as
the multitude were fed and basket
fuls left over, so the multitudinous
needs of the State are TO he met by
the same people, out Of the same
property, with the same tax rate9
Or is some new and fantastic
scheme of taxation to be again
placed before the people only to be
again repudiated by them?
If the question of taxation and
more revenue is the one important
problem to be solved, is it not just
as easy and far less expensive to
solve it by Constitutional Amend
ment?
We believe so, and so believing
We shall oppose the holding of the
Convention.
If held we fear its work will
ieopardize and seriously impair the
public school system 80 far as the
country parishes are concerned.
We fear the present firm basis
upon which our levee system, our
drainage system, our good roads
system, and all the splendid con-
structive work in these and other
vital matters which have been built
up on the foundation laid in the
Constitution of 1898 will be i'm
paired. or seriously endangered.
However we may feel on the SUBJ
iect, it begins to look like the Con-
vention project is doomed to defeat
anyhow, for the Times Picayune,
the champion of the new Constitu-
ton, has practically declared war
on it If the New Orleans ward bosses
persist in naming the delegates from
the City, and the Daily States. Col.
Ewing's paper, declares mo sur
lender" on the part Of the organi.