The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-10-04
NJ M'CC0NNELL,OPPOSES
NEW CONSTITUTION
MOSCOW MAN GIVES INTEREST
ING INTERVIEW TO WALLACE
DAILY PAPER

That he is unqualiedly opposed to
tinkering with the constitution at this
time; that he believes if there are
any changes to be made, they should
be made In the manner provided by
the constitution itself, and that under
any circumstances no radical changes
should be made in the fundamental
law of the state until the soldiers
from Idaho, who are now fighting in
France, have an opportunity to par
ticipate in the making of the pro-
posed changes, are the firm convic-
tions of w. j. Mcconnell of Moscow
two times governor of Idaho, one of
the first United States senators and
member of the Idaho constitutional
convention which framed the present
document at Boise in 1889. Ex-Gov-
ernor Mcconnell was business visit
or in Wallace yesterday. Before Ida
no was admitted to the union the
present constitution was framed and
submitted to the people and became
the written fundamental law of the
state when Idaho entered as a full
fledged member of the union on July
3, 1890.
Don't shut out the boys who are
now fighting in France to save this
country" said Ex-Governor McCon-
nell last night "Let the boys who
fight have hand in the writing of
the new constitution should it be
found necessary to have one. When
they return home some of them may
be crippled and it will be only just
to permit them to share in the franz
ing of the new document, in event the
old one cannot be fixed up and made
to serve.'
Ex-Governor Mcconnell, who has
been so closely identified with the
existence and progress Of the state
of Idaho, is most emphatically opposed
to the calling of a constitutional con-
vention at this time. Having helped
draft the present constitution and
having watched the operation Of state
affairs under its provisions he is well
qualified to speak on the subject.
Last night he said: 81 know the diff
ficulty of calling together representa-
tives from all sections of the state and
in. This is a large state and it's in
terests are widely diversified and it
is dangerous to bring delegates to-
gether to write constitution to take
the place of the present document. If
changes are deemed necessary let
those who believe they see defects
tell exactly what articles or sections
are wrong. Then let the remedy be
and submitted to the people
as an amendment, or amendments, as
provided for in the constitution itself.
IN this way the remedy can be secured
at an expense that will be trifling
compared with that involved in calling
a constitutional convention.
"After the war, things will be diff
ferent. Then decided changes may
be necessary. Perhaps the taxation
system will have to be revised, but
let the boys who fight have hand
in this revision. Do not shut them
out. Perhaps some of them will be
crippled. We should wait to see what
we want and what they want before
acting.
"Dont fix a new constitution that
will, perhaps cut off the school child
rem from their just heritage, or may
hap give a monopoly to certain in
terests. The thing for the voters of
Idaho to do is to wait until the war
is over before attempting to write a
new constitution"
Ex-Governor Mcconnell was the
chief executive of Idaho in 1892 and
1894. He served the short term as
one of the first senators from the
state of Idaho in the 51st session from
December to March, being elected |
governor upon his return to the state. |
He is the father-in-law of U. S. Sen
ator w. E. Borah of Idaho. He is in
Wallace on business. He is U. S. i'm
migration inspector.-W Wallace Press
Times.