The Mena weekly star., 1918-12-12

THE NEW CONSTITUTION
tBy Clio Harperl

Inc special eleEtton Tor tne COl-
stitutionsl Convention viii be held
December IA. The friends of the
measure are growing in numbers con-
stantly and they are predicting that
il viii be ratified by large major
ity.
There is no active organized oppo-
sition 70 il, although here and there
discordant note il struck in the gen.
eral chorus of approval. The news
papers are supporting it with rare
exceptions.
II is recognized as a great inn
provement over the present Consti-
tuition, possessing many advantages
that will tend to betterment OF the
general welfare.
| No one claims perfection for it. 1t
is an instrument of compromise, just
as the Constitution of the United
States was not an expression of
unanimous approval on the part of
those who framed it. 1t could not be
expected that a body of ia men
could write a document that would
meet the approval Of everyone.
But having better basis than that
which now exists, it is easy to apply
remedies through the Legislature and
the initiative.
Some Of the arguments against it
have been specious and fallacious on
their face, such as would not appeal
to a thinking man, but that would
poison the mind of the ignorant and
prejudiced who do not stop to reason
and analyze.
For instance, one of its critics
made the discovery that it is ''class
| document because it provides that
'the wealthy citizen" is not required
to pay an income tax until three
years after the conclusion of the war
with Germany.
Constitution Of 1874 before the
wealthy citizens" or any one else
could be required to pay an income
tax? The merest tyro in political
economy would answer that it can
not be done at all The new Consti-
tuition provides that the Legislature
may levy such tax, which is rccog-
nized as just and equitable, but that
it shall not be done until three years
after the war. The reason for this
modification is evident. /. was es-
timated that the Federal Government
would continue to collect income tax
for at least that period to meet the
war budget, and it would be unjust
to require the payment of state as
well as federal income tax.
And so many of the arguments
against the Constitution, such as the
criticisms Of the bond provision. the
initiative and referendum, the raise
in salaries (which, after all, is left
wholly within the discretion of the
Legislature,) fall to pieces when
closely analysed.
4 One of the arguments that cannot
be answered, because they who ad-
vance it refuse to think otherwise, is
that it contains prohibition and equal
suffrage provisions. Someone has
remarked that certain county would
} 60 against the constitution because
It provides for equal suffrage. The
! nursery rhymes tell us about some
old mythical person who tried TO
. sweep back the ocean with a broom,
The man who objects to suffrage and
prohibition in this enlightened age
Of progress is reincarnation Of
that mythical being Here and there
equal suffrage and prohibition--it is
interesting to note how they are e.
fectiveiy yoked as team mates,-are
defeated, but the defeat is only tenn
porary and not for long. And for in
! telligent men of Arkansas to adj
vance that as an argument against
the ratification of the proposed new
Constitution is TO declare oneself a
reactionary. Both of them are COM
ing, not only in the state. but in the
nation, and the few opponents of the
new doctrine will soon find them
selves playing a part Of the disap-
pearing point Of a reducible mini
/ mum.
| The educational interests Of the
state are among the most active IN
its support, not for any selfish mo-
tive but because 1t viii place the ed
ucatioEai interests Of Arkansas in the
forefront. whereas they have been
tagging far in the rear It viii place
high school advantages within the
reach Of the humblest country boy or
| girl, without an increase in the rate
Of taxation that is now permitted
under the law.
4 Analysed without prejudice. it viii
be found that the rights, privileges
and immunities of the pepoie are
safeguarded carefully, and an or
ganic law provided sufficiently flex-
ibie to meet the needs of a rapidly
developing state.
Two Local Names in List.