The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1917-07-06
TIME |hOPPORIvNt
FOR making CHANGE
STATE ORGANIC LAW
STATEMENT ISSUED BY TENNEs-
SEE PRESS ASSOCIATION
AT JACKSON.
MUST WIN THE war FIRST
People viii Have No Heart For An
Enterprise That Does Not Contrib
ute to the Great Cause OF World
wide Liberty.

the order of the Tennessee Press AS |
ISOLATION, in it's recent session at Jack
son, has been issued to the press OF
the state, by J. |. Finney, appointed by
the editors for that purpose:
"To the Press Of Tennessee:
Since the legislature at its recent
session submitted to the voters the
question of calling a constitutional
convention, this nation has become
lust and righteous party to the most
roomentous struggle in the history OF
the world. A majority of the mem
hers of the Tennessee Press Associa-
tion have been for years convinced OF
the necessity of changes in the states
organic law; they have not changed
their views. The reasons which they
have heretofore given for advocating
a constitutional revision exist today;
hut conditions have changed. This
nation is now at war. Every citizen
of this state and Of this republic is at
war The principles which gave this
nation birth and happiness have been
challenged. 1t is now engaged IN
death struggle between democracy
and autocracy.. Everything that
Christian civilization counts dearer
than life itself is at stake. The mind
and heart of the American people
have been stirred as they have not
heen since the nation had it's birth.
thousands and thousands of the
flower of the states citizenship, those
best qualified to determine the char
acter of organic law, under which this
state should live, have already met
the supreme test of patriotism; they
have already offered the full meas
ure of life's devotion, if necessary that
the world may be made safe for de-
mocracy. Other thousands will soon
enlist in the same holy struggle. the
hearts, the thoughts, the prayers, the
all of those who do not answer this
call, but who remain at home, VIII
and should be with those who are Of
fering their blood upon the sacred al
tar of liberty. The most patriotic ana
ablest of our citizens, from the ranks
of which the membership of conven'
tion TO reform and revise the organ
ic law should be drawn, will have IT.
tie chart for and less interest in such
nroblem at a time when human LID
ertv. Christian civilization, the rights
of all free people hang in the balance.
1.-THE editors, dedicating themselves
as we confidently believe they Will 10
the SUPPORT of the nation, its valiant
soldiers, its heroic seamen, the hed
Coss. the Army Y. M. C. A., the army
and navy comforts, the sale OF bonds'
the payment of taxes, to meet the add
ed burdens of the warm short, 10
every organization and activity tnat
will hing support and comfort to the
nation and finally crown its heroic
efforts with victory, will have neither
the time nor the inspiration to prop
erlv study, consider or advise the peo-
pie whom they serve, touching the
wisdom or expediency of suggested
changes in the organic law.
I'm the words of our president ana
in all sincerity the attitude OF the edi-
tors of Tennessee must be: TO this
task we can dedicate our lives and our
fortunes, everything that we are and
everything that we have, with the
pride of those who know that the day
has come when America is privileged
to spend her blood and her might for
the principles that gave her birth and
happiness and the peace which she
has treasured" God helping the edi'
tors of this state, they can do no less
1.-THE members of this association
love this state, but above the state
they love this nation. They love Its
splendid achievements; its heroic
memories; its high ideals; the death
less vaIor of those who blazed path
way through the trackless wilderness
and here erected the first rude temple
of human liberty. They love It's
starry emblem: its promise OF
worlds regeneration. They love its
rocks and rills; the blue of its skies;
the warmth of its cline. The con-
slant prayer of every member of this
association is that Almighty God may
give them the grace that they may
live worthily as citizens of this repub-
lie.
The members of this association be
lieve that this government of ours is
the wisest and the best that the hand
of man has, under divine guidance
yet fashioned upon this earth. They
believe that this nation, as conceived
in Independence Hall. as born at
a. Fat