Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1917-07-05
The Convention Movement
bipartisan

One Of the reasons why tho mcve
nsnt for 9 Constitutional Convention
10 stronger than cor Is that 1t has
been placed upon . basis 20 manifest
ly fair TO all political parties and "a
ali classes. and 30 clearly removed
from the purpose Of opportunity oil
partisan intrigue or party advantage,
that the public men and people OF all
shades OF political belief may unite
w.thoat any EXCUSE or need for d!A
trust.
And SO 4 naturally happens that
men who have widely differed on
many questions. are. indeed. found
united In advocacy OF the convention.
They are not democrats, republicans,
or other partisans, in the presence OF
this proposition. which appeals to a
common patriotism. The spirit OF
factionalism and feud IS relegated to
the rear; people are thinking In
stronger. finer, higher vein as to mat
tiers OF state duty and destiny.
This week has afforded striking evi.
dence OF the fact that many leaders In
both the foremost parties in Tenncs-
see are aligning themselves with equal
seal in advocacy of Constitutional
Convention. Gov. Rye and Hon. J.
Will 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
amor Rye, in fact, took the stump In
support of II, and he still stands for
revision of the organic law. To rep
resentative OF the Constitutional Con-
ysntion League he has made the fol-
lowing statement: II have previously
expressed myself in favor OF Con-
stitutional Convention, and still be-
lieve that the organic law needs re-.
vision. The constitution OF today in
it's main outlines is the instrument
framed in 1884, and Is not and cannot,
therefore, be adjusted accurately to
existing conditions.
at is of the very highest Importance
il the people on July 28 declare in IA
vor of the proposition. that they
my and send only the strongest, most
patriotic and purest men In the state
to the convention"
Mr.. Taylor, in q communication to
the Convention League, expresses
himself in the strongest terms. He
says:
"As to the need OF a revision OF our
tennessee constitution, l submit that
IN my opinion proper revision OF our
constitution Is imperative. Owing to
the extreme factionalism Of the past
years, have felt that the times were
not opportune for the performance Of
such an important work. However. 1t
occurs to me that factionalism and
partisanism have so subsidized in Ten.
nessee that we can now go about this
great deliberation with the patriotic
breadth and fidelity to public duty
which should characterize such an I'M
dertaking, and for that reason, l am
unreseryedly in favor Of the PROPOSE.
ton. The representation provided by
the Act is so manifestly fair and equt
table as to guarantee q square deal to
all sections and parties in the state,
and am led to believe that the move
ment to revise our constitution ia
thoroughly impregnated with a truly
wholesome and patriotic spirit"
The circumstance that both the
democratic governor and the head OF
the republican party organization In
the state are advocating the conven.
tom speaks eloquently Of the realiza.
ton By beth public men and the
masses Of eiti&ens of the suspicious
fact that there In no partissa politics
about this great and patriotic aaa
aeeded movement