The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-06-04
The Constitutional Convention Again

constitutional convention held in Louisiana some le u
J o E sna IN such ca7es the people will tamey submit d.
though they paying rate OF taN'V''" '""' " ~ L
There is Dreence on the part Of Of the pocnS a'
BATON Rouge that they want the questions OF cag f %
and the adoption OF the ] @ lot them say by
their votes first whether convention sha De ceo @
then whether the constitution adopted or raneH " ng to
tOn shall be ratified the people It VIII MOI oe
u.s. however, if this convention dWndeS away I'll W rvontion
days just as did the opposition to the holding Oh
which oemed very strong the opening OF the extra Jf
fact he ordinary observer appears strong enough 10 oeta
the passage bill calling such convention Out JuS n 10
pe M caSeIass and constituencies en0ymty that Oppose
ton disap0eared until there now but two men III u %
general assembly who have the manhood 10 Sahu P a ~
Of the state Il there be convention to frame new or
ganic law in the Of common justice ano co h nrnva
lets have the questions submitted to the people o g bp Of
or reecton for do otherwise would be TO put Mo le 49,
the politicians and grafers Of the state the power b
stitton that would oppess and ensv the masses OF t pCp
II caed that in the Senate the bill has been amended SO as
to give the people the right by vote to say hee es "' m
lection bt if thew are to exercise this right what good reason
there for refusing submit to them the question OF canng con-
vonton since to do so would entail expense Tor there
will have to be an election held elect delegates to that
ton and the question Of convention or no convention cooo De
mitted at the same time without extra expense. 49,
The thing do in all fairness to the people OF the state
to submit both questions them and before ubnSon let thee
be full and free public discussion OF the matter TO Ie emu l
the people NAV be able ntelgeny and they then vote
afrmavey they will have no body blame out themselves
We find impossible to reconcile o9rse with the conten
if be had the people should be represented IN the con-
venon by and abes the state taxing one from
parish rather an by Jew soa IRON h e latter mebod
should be adopted the smaller parishes will have no representa-
ton ALL and their interests and welfare will be entirely ignored
and made the of the larger interests OF the more popou
and wealthy sections of the state.
1t is an outrageous insult to the people to that some
parishes have no man sufficient intelligence and ability to rep
them the constitutional convention ana therefore
for their best interest that man or some selected group OF
men shall pick out here and there men whom they regard as te
hest fitted represent the people the conveno and say to
them here the that must vote for Perhaps some
one will say that proposed that any group OF
men shall do this but they be elected by districts,
contend they should be- how else are the candaes to be
run that but only be elected from each
ressona district for in that if the majority rule as is now
equred by primary election law is be invoked there would
end the contest of those POSITIONS for it would be mpossl
de for any candidate receive majority all Of his oppo
the first at the second third fourth primary
unless be that al candidates but two cut out after the first
primary therefore, he only SAFE ana sane way TO chooSe ue
delegates to have elected by the people each parish and
in that let the people lay aside all fractional differences and
the who is best qualified by honesty experience and
biity to represent them in the convention.
its issue of June st special to the Shreveport Times
McCanahan of Caldwell returned here today with the
that he finds his constituency favors convention
at this time and he will for the bill with delegates at large
restricted to congressional limits and made elective by the people,
Our honorable representative wholly mistaken what the
tment Caldwell parish regarding the constitutional convention
bill We have been discussing question with the people the
ism Tor some tne beginning time prior to the issuance of the
call OF extra session OF the legislature and week for
OF tnS uNe we nave naQ an editorial Waterman
this subject and we have not met single who does not
gree with our view and who does not oppose the holding of
stutna convention at this time 1916 after the genera
state election The people of Caldwell parish are unanimously
agreed that there no urgent necessity for constitution
and in of the large of such convention which will
have to be borne by the tax payers of the state they are wholly
opposed to the and Mr. McCanaan will take thu
time to investigate he will find that he has committed grav
political blunder. o.
As predicted by The Waterman some time AGO the az
sembng of the Louisiana Legislature session has brough
the state campaign in full blast that there now no doub
as to VINO Will be aspants tor the several state Offices but
al of the candidates can't be elected and after the
them will go home with hearts no. sore heads bl
judging from the present begerent attitude Of the
of them are likely go home with heads also It
thought by some that little early for such decided actvit
the part of those who seek such high political honos at tn
hands of the people but perhaps these apran remember tn
story OF the man who was hung because repre message wa
five minutes late reaching the execuoner and have therefor
decided take no chance of meeting political death by any tar
their part And again. it old saying that the earl
bird gets the and it u.s. therefore, we'll enough for ever
body to be in the at the beginning This being true
it not in order for local candidates to begin trimming their sails
We