The Prescott daily news., 1917-11-20
INSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS
lBv Clio Harper.l

l.t,nO
 this week is the sixth in the his
 of Arkansas. The others were
 sald in 1886, 1861, 1864, 1868 and
 ,o74 The present constitution, hay
 ;ar continued in effect forty-three
 naors has shown greater vitality than
 any other.
 The only delegate who served in the
 convention of 1874 and is serving in
 .ho present convention, Judge Jos. w.
 uouse of Little Rock, made the state
 ment seven years ago that "it is ex-
 .sodngly doubtful whether new con-
 stitution could be promulgated which
 would give more satisfaction to the
 Dsonle than the one of 1874"
 The convention of 1874 had 92 mem- bors from 73 counties, and that of lq17 has ll4 delegates from 75 coun- lies. The Acts calling the convention If 1874 were approved May IS, and i May 2S. 1874, the election of delegates uas held June 30, 1874, the conven- inn assembled July IA, and remained in session until Sept. 2, a period of 5 days There were at least five negroes among the delegates, and number of Rppublicans. In the election of dele gates, the question of holding the con yention had been submitted to the peope, and the vote was 80,259 flor convention and S,547 against con vntion.'
 The convention followed a reign of misrule subsequent to the adoption of the constitution of 1868, the ratifica- ton of which had prevailed by a mar row margin, the vote being 27,913 for and 26. 597 against it.
 If this constitution should be de- feated or est aside" declared the com mittee on submission in an address to the people, i've can no longer have reasonable grounds of hope for re- storaton of local self-government in Arkansas, and we forbear to contem- plate the sins which defeat or failure would entail upon people already bowed to the earth with suffering and sorrow.
 This committee, which consisted of H. NJ. Rector. Rufus K. Garland, J. w. Butler, Simon P. Hughes and Bradley Bunch, epitomized in this ad- dress the outstanding features of the new constitution, which they desig- mated as corrective of the old, in the . following pointed paragraph:
 An examination of this constitu- ton will show its distinguishing fea- tures-as compared with the constitu- ton of lS6S--to consist in submitting the election of all officers of the gov emment to the popular vote; in di mmlshng the number of officers to such number as is necessary to an economca, and successful administra- ton of the government: in limiting the rate Of taxation, by the Legislature, on the assessed value of all property; protecting the public credit, by eX- pressly prohibiting the Legislature rom contracting any debts save for certain specified purposes; and in pro- abltlng all local and special legisla- tion
 We have every reason to believe mat, If the new constitution is ratified oy the popular vote, and the govern @ent under it inaugurated, the pres ent numerous and gross abuses, as the result of misrule, will give way, the angry feeling which has been engend- cred between the members of the two Pontcal parties by restless office seekers and disturbers of the peace, VIII gradually disappear, and our S'a'e Will assume that honorable posi- 'iOh m the confederacy of states, for when nature has so eminently en- dowed her"
 The committee, in conclusion, urged ,He people to "go forward peacefully Dut resolutely to the discharge of 'He't duty in giving the state this or game law regardless of all promises, ~' oVertures and all threats from 'roSe Who, under the guise of friend s".P' seek only to complete their 0n the subject of free and fair cleo ',O"S' the committee said: "The abuse
 'nls rlght-so long held invincible
 mas stltied the popular voice, given