The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-30
SENATE MAY BUCK
Upper Chamber Opposition to
Constitutional Organizing.
Attitude Brought Out by the
House Row Wednesday.

The big fight that the Allen con-
stitutional convention proposal cause
in the house Wednesday afternoon is
causing considerable discussion of the
question in the senate, and, altho there
is 10 indication that it will come up
except in the regular order, there is
ample evidence that the senators are
buckling on their ammunition belts
and preparing for fight when it does
Senator Drummer of WamegO, the
Pottawatomie county solon who won
fame and distinction by being the only
member of the upper house to vote
against the Kansas bone dry measure
in the 1917 session, says he does not
see any more need for constitutional
convention than for new state house.
81 don't think any one would insist
that we tear down our present state
house and build a new one" Brunner
said in discussing the matter. "Of
course. there will be times when we
will have to remodel and repair it and
eventually it may be necessary to build
an entirely new structure. But think
we can get along with it for a good
many years by making repairs as we
have made in the east wing. Likewise
1 believe we can get along with the
present constitution for a great many
years by repairing it little at a time
with new amendments"
Another senator said:
"There is a great deal of talk about
having an elastic constitution. An
elastic constitution means practically
no constitution ct all. The members
of the legislature are sent here to
make laws to govern the people, but
the constitution is a law made by the
people to govern the legislature and
other functional branches of the state
government
Not Necessary for Roads.
1T seems to me that any ordinary
to engage in road building can be
brought about by amending the old
constitution. Also, it seems to me that
some of the changes Governor Allen
wants to bring about by the adoption
of a new constitution are impractical
ble-and more than that, impossible
because they are in conflict with the
constitution of the United States. We
cannot have g constitution that will
permit the taking awoy of a mans
property just because we say he has toe
much property. The constitution OF
the United States will not permit it
Nor can we put tax on property OF
non-residents that will force these
non-residents to dispose of their prop
erty- The constitution of the United
States guarantees equal rights to al
of the citizens of this country and il
does not recognize boundary lines
Other senators have stated that they
| have heard raeticalIy nothing from
their constituents about the proposed
| constitutional convention. and one Of
! them said that his people were noi
! interested in it at all.
! Getty to Lead Fight?
! Another one is afraid that all of tbs
! court decisions that have been baset
upon the old constitution would be Sc
aside, that precedent would be abol
! ished and that the principal benefits o
| a new constitution would go to the
| lawyers of the state who could collec
fat fees building up. new precedent!
and getting new court decisions baseC
| upon the new constitution.
If there is opposition in the senate
of serious nature it is generally ad
mitted that it will be led by Senators
| Price and Getty. Both these men have
stated that they have not made III
| their minds what stand they will take
but it is known Getty is not an enthu
siastic booster of the proposed chang
and Price was one of the principa
opponents of the measure that was III
/ during the 1917 session.