South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-01
10 REVISE OUR FUNDAMENTAL LAW.


Were it possible without apparent attempt at
romanciRg. we would call inspiring, and fit intro
ducton the partisan constitutional convention
that is to De Indiana witness Sen. ID. Frank
CuIbertson. democratic floor leader and Sen. Arthur
r. Robinson, republican floor leader, fighting they
did side by side in favor Of the constitutional
vention law.
AS an additional mt introduction non-parti-
san constitutional convention it is also worthy of note
attempt sdetrack the convention by amend
Ing the law providing render its effect
iveness improbable. was quite equally supported by
republicans and democrats-hence both parties have
bestowed about equal salve the special
interests the opponents of the measure appear
to have been especially anxious
It was he brewery lobby the public utility leg
isIatve agents locked arm. and again doing
their-darndest,-to ward of anything and every
thing that might carry with a ghost of a show for
any reform that they afraid We would not
say for an instant that the senatorial gentleman who
voted in favor the referendum amendment belonged
the brewery lobby the utility agencies. and
we would accuse them of being unduly in
huenced but the story OF old good. These lobby
lists and legislative agents always there the
ground and in such numbers exceedingly benevolent
in the throwing dinners, etc. that applying their
y tongues persuasive ways. and pretensvey public
spirited" argumentiveneS it takes real statesman not
TO forget that the people who elected back
this Characterization phnanthropst that and
appealing TO his self-esteem-or over-aweing him by
his concealed gall
However. it doesn't matter. since the majority. and
a soodly majority. evidenced wisdom, larger
responsibility the public and less TO interests;
these, with extended legislative
tor. We never like step on a man. coterie OF
mer. hard when they're down. will men
ton their recklessness toward truth their
arguments merely it in a general way
bearing of the direction in which their
ears had been turned What they said on the floor
legislative agents been peddlng capital
since the assembly convened. 1t the same
great interest in tn people the wonderful friend
ship the referendum,--that you never hear from
such people there IL something up that they
would like have kept Gown, sdetracked put
away. the utilities depending upon saloons the
machinery for doing it.
But this time they have failed Indiana is to have
constitutional convention. The legislature calls
1t viii be "a partisan affair. No party labels go
the delegate tickets When they have finished their
work the people viii pass upon it and as it
should ue. They may pass upon it section by sec
tion or topic by topic. a whole.
ton may designate. Let the saloons II still in exist
ence. the utilities. worst they don't
like it, but one chance for them with their their
velous wealth organization facilities quite
enough. A pre-conventon chance might be too
much. We seemingly have "a somewhat better back
boned, and more forward-looking type OF men the
assembly this year than in those former years
which senator rSferred slowinsly; "bian
nuaiy during ali that time has called eonsti-