The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-06
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

Former Senator Troutman, in a con-
vincing article opposing the proposed
constitutional convention, made
very strong point in saying that a new
constitution would at once precipitate
,ipon the people of Kansas a vast
amount of litigation to test any new
constit. ton. This would make bust
ness for the lawyers but would for
years place the people in more or less
suspense until the courts could pass
upon the Various sections. As it is
now, our constitution has been found
to be constitutional in every respect,
all Us provisions having run the
gauntlet of the highest courts.
1t is untrue for the advocates of a
constitutional convention to say that
those who oppose it are opposed to a
revision of our present constitution"
1t is matter of methods only. Those
who do rot favor a convention do ia
vor a revision" but specifically, by
items. the present constitution permit
ting the legislature to submit ''nree
amendments at one time. On many
occasions the legislature has not been
able to scare up" as many as three
desired changes. 1t is more satisfac-
> tory to vote on two or three changes
than hundred.
Very many states have never adopt
ed a second constitution and yet they
are progressive states. too. Among
these are Massachusetts,, whose orig
inal constitution, with amendments
made from time to time, has been in
force 1877 years; Virginia, 124 years
Wisconsin, 90 years; Iowa, 60 years;
Oregon, 60 years; Minnesota 60 years
The constitution of the United States
has been in force 100 years. The
country. too. has outgrown its swad-
ling clothes all right.
When in Ohio five years ago a con-
vention was called to propose certain
amendments to its second constitution
that convention said it intended ''tC
fix the constitution for all time" Since
then Ohio has found it advisable t.
propose and adopt two additions
amendments
1t is a significant fact that at an en-
thusiastic meeting held in Topeka les
than a month ago, in the interests O
L,
a report was made by committee o
which f. w. Blackmar was chairman
making certain recommendation
among them a constitutional conven
ton; on this committee and signing 4
report was ]. c. Ruppenthal OF Rus
sell. Kan, the distinguished Judge O
the Twenty-third judicial district MI
Troutman has just received a lette
from Judge Ruppenthal in which h
says, and thus upon calm reflection
reversing his own judgment of
month ago:
Il have read in the State Journs
summary made by you of reason
against a constitutional convention
think that your argument is the be:
xerse Summing-up on the subject thu
/ have ever seen. I tried to say til
same things at the first meeting
the Good Government club in DeceIr
Der, and so did Governor Hoch, bl
we didn't make it so terse and pointe
as you have. and it was evidently
very unpopular position to take in tina
crowd of reforming enthusiasts. 1 al
as much reforner as any of thel
and have been all my life. but 1 thin
that the energy put in on pursuing
new constitution is wasted on phaT
tom and ignis fatuus. 1 think W
would much better take up each itel
separately unhampered by others tina
10 throw them into one mass to vot
for or against all of them"