Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1917-07-26
Go To The Polls July rs

Go to the polls on July 2S and cast Q
vote for a Constitutional Convention
and for progress. Such a vote would
be in accord with the spirit Of patriot
ism, which is manifesting itself in va.
rious directions all over the land.
Every county in Tennessee will have
at least one delegate in the Constitu-
tional Convention, should it be called.
This is a decided advantage over pre-
vious propositions. The smaller coun.
ties will be on the same footing with
those of moderate size. Pickett and
Unicoi would each have a delegate
and SO would Wilson and Sumner. The
small counties had very little voice
under the plans heretofore promul-
gated.
Thirty.seven Tennessee counties, or
over one-third in the State, showed an
actual decrease in population during
the decade ending in 1910, according
to census figures Of unquestionable ac-
curacy The population Of nearly all
the agricultural counties was either
about stationary or showed q loss,
and the small gain credited to the
state as whole came from the cities
mainly. Tennessee has dropped from
second in population in 1870 to fifth.
A new Constitution, which would be
powerful stimulus to ell avenues OF
development. would so far toward
stopping this depressing showing as to
population.
Ninety-two Of the one hundred and
twenty-seven delegates in the pro-
posed Constitutional Convention would
come from agricultural communities,
and only thirty-fve from counties con-
tanning cities. The farmers and their
neighbors of the towns and villages
would, therefore, be In clear numerical
control of the convention. The plea
which SEINE who are opposing the con.
vention have been making that 'the
cities would put 1t over the country"
Is, therefore, so absurd as to be I'M
worthy a moments serious attention.
The country delegates would out-num-
Der those from the cities over two
and half to one When one vote
weighs more than nearly three the
silly plea referred to will have some
force.
Would good men" 90 to Constitu-
tional Convention, were one called?
The lessons Of the past are the surest
guide for the future. The three Con-
stittional Conventions which have
been held already in Tennessee were
the most distinguished bodies ever as
sembled within its borders, that Of
1870, the one nearest to US, being the
ablest Of all. The people ruled in
them all: the ablest, most honored
men in the state, taken as a whole,
we're members. Each county We'd
with its neighbors to select It's strong
est man to represent It. What reason
Is there for fearing that the people Of
the state having gone to the pains and
expense Of securing q convention win
lose all interest in II and permit just
any sort of a fellow to be elected dele
gate?
When a man knows that he Is really
sick and sees the need OF medicine, he
realizes that the best time to take II 10
NOW-to stop the malady and put
him on his feet as soon as possible.
He is not very apt to turn patient
ear to the suggestion that the time 10
not "opportune" for medicine taking.
that he had better wait until he feels
worse. to plan TO take the cure next
year or some other year. Tennessee
is sick, is very sick. of stagnation Of
energy. lethargy. Of failure to reach
out and develop her agricultural and
Industrial resources. The federal gov
eminent Is telling US that and warn
ing US with figures that show an ap-
palling drop In prestige among the
states Of the South. Tennessee needs
the medicine OF constitutional revis-
ion; so say all. Then why suggest to
the state a policy of delay that no