Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1917-06-28
The Convention Movement
NOn-P

Ono Of the reasons why the move
ment for q Constitutional Convention
is stronger than ever is that nag
been placed upon basis 30 manIIes0
" fair to all political parties ana 70
all classes, and so clearly removed
from the purpose Of opportunity Oh
partisan intrigue or party adVahs8e.
that the public men and people Of al
shades of political belief may unite
without any excuse or need Tor dle'
trust.
And so it naturally happens that
men who have widely differed on
many questions. are, indeed fouho
united In advocacy Of the convention
They are not democrats. republicans,
or other partisans, in the presence OF
this proposition, which appeals 10 q
common patriotism The spirit OF
factionalism and feud is relocated 10
the rear; people are thinking In
stronger, finer, higher vein ss to mat
ters of state duty and destiny.
THIS week has afforded striking evi-
dence OF the fact that many leaders In
both the foremost parties In Tennes-
see are aligning themselves with equal
zeal in advocacy of constitutional
Convention Gov. Rye and hon. ).
VIII Taylor, former State Insurance
Commissioner, and present chairman
Of the Republican Executive Commit
tee of Tennessee, have made public
declarations OF their interest In the
movement Many years ago, when the
proposition was before the people Gov
ernor Rye, in fact. took the stump La
support OF II, and he still stands FOR
revision of the organic law. To rep
resentatiye of the Constitutional Con-
yention League. he has made the fol-
lowing statement: 81 have previously
expressed myself in favor OF a Coii-
stitutional Convention, and still be-
lieve that the organic law needs re-
vision. The constitution Of today in
its main outlines is the instrument
framed In 1884, and is not, and cannot.
therefore, be adjusted accurately to
existing conditions.
ut is of the very highest Importance
II the people on July 28 declare In IA
yor of the proposition. that they
should exercise the most careful scrut-
my and send only the strongest. most
patriotic and purest mon In tho state
to the convention"
Mr. Taylor, In a communication TO
the Convention League, expresses
himself in the strongest terms. He
says:
"As to the need of revision OF ouf
Tennessee constitution. submit that
10 my opinion a proper revision OF our
constitution Is imperative. Owing TO
the extreme factionaliSm OF the pact
years, I have felt that the times were
not opportune for the performance OF
such an important work. However. II
occurs to me that factionalism ana
partisanism have so subsidized In Ten
nessee that we can now 30 about this
great deliberation with the patriotic
breadth and fidelity 10 public duty
which should characterize such an un-
dertaking, and for that reason, am
unreservedly IN favor OF the proposi-
ton. The representation provided BY
the Act Is SO manifestly fair and equi-
table as to guarantee square deal TO
oil sections and parties In the state.
and am led to believe that the move
ment to revise our constitution Ia
thoroughly impregnated with truly
wholesome and patriotic spirit"
The circumstance that both the
democratic governor and the head OK
the republican party organization In
the state are advocating the conven-
ton speaks eloquently OF tho realisa-
ton By both public mon and the
masses Of citizens OF the auspicious
fact that there Is no partisan politics
about this great and patriotic aad
needed movements