The Little River news., 1918-07-13
WOULD BREAK UP
 POLITICAL MACHINES
Terms and Prevent Officer From Succeeding
 Himself.

Little Rock, July 10-It was while reading proposal in the Constitution al Convention the other day that the Secretary, Harvey G. Combs, one of the most popular legislative clerks that ever served the state, was read ing proposal to put the Political Ma chine out of business so that it would no longer function, that he reads:
 'iNo officer shall have served four years successfully in any office shall be eligible to succeed himself"
 The author had written successive 1y," but the new version put a some what different aspect upon the ques- tion
 As matter of fact, the Convention Sid not care whether an officer had served successfully or not, when The Constitution makers were princi- pslly concerned in was to deprive the professional politician of his occupa- ton, to bust up the political machine and prevent the organization of an- other, in bries, to put politics as it is practiced into the discard.
 It is the evident purpose of the Con- vention to provide that no officer can succeed himself or anybody else, after serving a four term for which he was elected
 But there are some loop-holes that may defeat the purpose of the au- thors.
 If an officer desires to run for an- other office, there is nothing to hinder him from resigning the office he holds and becoming a candidate for the oth- CT. This will, of course cause expense ] and complications that would be ef- fectively prevented if the inhibition should be ma1e to read, "No officer shall become candidate for any other office during the time for which he : shall be elected" Then even resigna- ] ton would not help him.
 This is the rule that applies now to 1 the office of State Senator. which bars the holder from seeking any other i office during his term.
 The prohibition, up to date, applies only to the Governor, Lieutenant Gov ernor, Secretary of State, Treasurer Of State:- Auditor and Attorney Gener- al, the only Constitutional officers so i far created
 It has not been made to apply to the judicial and legislative departments, but it may be yet. although 1t is hardly probable with the Judiciary.
 As for the Legislative department, almost anything may be expected of it. For instance is the House of Delegates system that would abolish the General Assembly, and substitute g single House of S6 members. It is being seriously considered, as well as other plans for reducing the size of the House and Senate.
 And should the ineligibility of suc- cession be made to apply to the Leg islature, there would be an entirely new body of men called to the capitol every four years to make laws-there will be no old familiar voices answer ing to the roll-call.
 It begins to look like the day of the professional politician is drawing to a close, and that office-holding is to be put on a higher plane.
 There is still chance for one who holds an office not declared to Con- stitutionaI office, being able to seek promotion from that to one of the Constitutional offices, but even this may be cured by the convention.
 And "she" and 'her" must be writ ten into all the election and offce-hold- ing statutes hereafter, for the eman- cipation of woman has been made as complete as the Constitutional Con- vention can make it.
 She can vote, and hold office, and serve on juries; although the foresight of Delegate Webber of Miller county will protect her from being compelled
 
 to serve on any jury.
 Some of the Delegates declared that these reforms alone are worth all the Constitutional Convention twill cost the state.
 The Constitutional Convention spent all day Tuesday discussing Section 10, of the Bill of Rights, the guaranty of trial by jury.
 The discussion took wide range, involving questions of racial prejudice, election frauds, mob law, compulsory process, the limiting of witnesses, and many other questions.
 And after the whole days debate, the original proposal by the Committee, the substitute proposal by the same committee and all amendments were defeated. and proposition by Judge Jeptha H. Evans to substitute the sec tion as 1t appears in the Consultation