The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-27
Their Vote May Be Necessary
To Push Thru Resolution.
MINORITY LEADERS FAVOR IT
Constitutional Convention Idea
Is Given Their Approval.
Straw Poll of Legislature Indi-
Gates Early Passage.

The Democrat minority in the state
legislature may save Governor Aliens
constitutional convention. 1t is appar-
ent to all observers that the real fight
for the passage of the resolution must
be made in the house. Fifteen Bour-
bon votes in the lower legislative body
will go long way toward putting
over the necessary two-thirds vote for.
the adoption of the measure. Many
of the strong Democrat leaders of the
state have endorsed the constitutional
convention plan and an effort will be
made to swing the minority behind
Governor Aliens program.
1t is possible that the fight on the
amendment may be made as early as
next week There is but slight pros
pect that the feature proposal of the
state administration will be given con-
sideration during the present week
Yet Governor Allen is anxious that
the decks be cleared as early as pos
sible and that the administration poll
cies be brought up for final roll call.
Neither the administration nor the
auti-constitutional convention workers
have been able to secure a definite poll
of the house membership. 1t is con-
coded, tho, that the real fight will be
in this body.
Leaders Endorse 1t.
During the last week Henderson S.
Martin, former chairman of the Demo-
crat state committee and more recently
his partys nominee for congress in
the Second district. has endorsed the
plan for a convention to draft a new
state constitution. Congressman Jouett
Shouse of the Seventh district has
also given approval of the plan. These
endorsements are expected to aid
greatly in the administration work
of lining the legislative minority
squarely behind the constitutional con-
Vention project Both the house and
senate are overwhelmingly Republican.
But in a close fight the minority votes
may be of untold value in deciding
the contest.
Several of the Democrat legislators
are openly in favor of the plan to sub
init constitutional convention prop
osition to the voters: Other members
of the minority who are expected to
vote for the resolution have not OPEN
ly declared their position. With the
minority voting for the measure
friends of the administration are GER
tain the measure can be pushed thru
the house and senate on final roll call.
Straw Forecast Is Favorable.
In the senate twenty-eight votes are
necessary to carry the resolution. A
total of eighty-three votes must be
registered for the resolution in the
house in order to submit the measure
TO the voters. Two years ago the
house passed the resolution by an
overwhelming majority. There are
forty-four of the 1917 house members
in the present session. In the senate
the amendment secured twenty-six
votes-just two short of the necessary
two-thirds. Several members who two
years ago opposed the drafting of a
new constitution are this year favor
able to the resolution. 1t is believed
the measure will find its way thru the
senate with probably two votes to
spare. Should the endorsements of
Democrat leaders have the expected
effect. the amendment may find COM
paratively easy sailing in both houses
A rather close poll of the house and
senate may be completed in a few
days. 1t is the plan of friends of the
administration to follow the taking of
the poll-especially if it is favorable
to the proposal-with the earliest
possible consideration of the resolu-
ton. 1t is probable that the consti-
tUtional convention project may be
Considered in advance of the amend
ment permitting the state to engage in
permanent highway building.