The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1917-07-05
Time OppOrtune For
Constitutional Convention

The suggestion has been made that
renders the present an inopportune
time for holding a Constitutional Con-
vention. But the reasons advanced to
support that position really constitute
a strong argument why the conven.
tion should be held now.
Not in a generation has the spirit
of patriotism been so aroused and
so manifest among the people of Ten
nes8ee as it is today. It's fires are
burning on tens of thousands Of al
tars with new warmth; under the
appeal of common esponsibilities and
common sacrifices the underlying
love of country is asserting itself with
a richer meaning and mission than
this generation has ever seen.
And every movement and every
proposition whose inspiration and aim
is the service of the public veal and
the advancement of the states high
est destiny, be the state community
or country, will receive from the very
fact of it's patriotic birth a spontane
Gus and unified support which, under
other and less congenial conditions,
would have been delayed or, per
chance, denied.
The movement to hold convention
to revise the organic law of Tennes-
see is essentially, fundamentally, sole
ly and confessedly patriotic in It's con-
ception and it's objects. 1t was born
of the people, and for the people.
1t will afford opportunity for the ex.
ercise in the council chamber of the
same spirit Of patriotism which will
be holding Tennessee in the van of the
sisterhood of states rallied beneath a
common flag however far flung the
call of hard pressed allies may sum-
mon it to be unflrled.
Men of prominence will gladly give
their services under present con-
ditions in convention, whereas in
times of peace they might not feel dis
posed to take the time from their prl-
vate pursuits. The call to arms will
draw but slightly from the ranks Of
those who should he sent to the con.
vention, for its delegates will be com.
posed principally OF men mature in
years and experience. The gravity OF
the world crisis, instead of demoraliz.
ing such body of men, will bring to
them a deeper realization of the i'm.
portance Of the work to bs done by
them in convention assembled.
This war will not last always And
when it is over, there will be a great
revival of business and a strong com.
petition for that business. Now is
the time to hold the convention SO
that changes in our organic law can
be recommended to the people and
be adopted by them in order that Ten.
nessee may take her proper place
among her sister states, and get her
share of the prosperity which will
sweep over this country.
The vote on the amendments sug.
gested will not be held possibly until
after the war is over,-certainly not,
If the war is ended before 1918, for
that election will not occur until
some time in 1918. The conventis a
will not meet until October 80, 1917.
1t will deliberate rot less than tuo
months. 1t will fix the date of tAe
election on the amendments, after
completing its duties. If by any POS.
sib!lity, conditions should be such that
the immediate holding OF that election
would be unwise, the convention in
it's discretion, can postpone it to any
future date. So this is perfect safe
guard to the fear that has been sx.
pressed.
Cost Of Progress.
For every &25O,o0O spent on ell