Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-09-05
FEAR LETHARGY OF
VOTERS MAY |NJURE
CON-CON ELECTION
ALL POLITICAL FACTIONS LOOK
WITH FEAR ON LACK OF INTER.
EST IN ELECTION OF NEXT
WEDNESDAY.

Political headquarters Of all parties
look with serious doubts upon the pub
lie lethargy toward next Wednesday, S
constitutional convention primary
While many quarters are evokins con
siderable interest in the delegate race
especially the qualifying heat, reports
are pouring into Ottawa headquarters
that all over there is a general inclind'
ton among the voters to let the pri'
mary 90 by default and who ever can
unscramble the most ballots come
home winner at the primary.
Candidates themselves. while not
evidencing apathy toward the primary
are far from doing their bit in mus
tering large backing for next Wed
nesday Campaigning, with possibly
the exception of one or two candl'
dates. is of the listless sort, with nc
attempt being made to build good
strong fences for rousing big vote
at the primary,
There Is an eXceouon TO this con
dition found among the hencemen OF
Glenn Weese. soldier aspirant for dete
gate honors. His workers are ener
getically working in and out Of the
vote centerS Of the county, enlistina
backing for their candidate. The same
sort of pep Is not manifest in other
camps. Wiseacres in the pOlitica
game announce that if there is bic
turnout "Wednesday it will be almost
entirely to the efforts Of Weese and
his lieutenants that the voters partici
pated in the election at all. In the
Charles Woodward camp there is a
strong force of leaders lining up the
cities and town. for their man, but in
Ottawa little Or nothing has be- n
heard Of the William Seaman cam
paien.
On the Democratic side there is no
need of a skirmish, as only two candi-
dates-B. j. Stanley and j. J. Con
way-iiled for nomination.
l ~ ''iii'is~ ~ iiliot anu T'b7'i'''''' =
election ON Nov. are two of the most
important matters ever put up TO the
voters OF the county. should the
lethargy continue until after the
smoke of battle is cleared up, there
will be nothing to the credit of the
electors. but, on the other hand, il
the thing goes through on a slip-shod,
haphazard basis much will be scored
against their records as dement's. To
make the constitutional convention a
success requires that everybody with
the right of franchise participate in
not only the election OF Nov. 4, but
the more important event on next
Wednesday, when the right men
should be nominated To nominate
the right men requires large vote
To get the two delegates most ac
ceptable for drafting a new consti H.
ton in Illinois serious thought is nee.
essary before the ballot is used as Il
club to drive out the inCapables.
Ottawa has two candidates in the
race. and which of the aspirants Will
receive the larger shower of affections
from the voters is. Of course. only
problematical. Both are highly ef
ficient. Each for the first time il
suing for public favor. The results in
the home bailiwick, where they ar.
best known. will be interesting to fol
low.
The convention Is to meet at Spring
field next January, The purpose is tt
redraft the constitution Of the state
to meet changed conditions. The pres
ent constitution of the state was
drafted in 1870. There have been 6
few changes adopted at various elec
tions by way of amendment, but the
claim is advanced that it takes toe
long to change the constitution in thi.
way, and to meet present conditions
and meet the needs OF Chicago as wei
as the country districts of the state
there should be a complete revision o
the constitution.
After the delegates have held this
convention. which may take five or si'
months. the pnopUSed draft of the con
stitutiOn must be submitted to the peo
pie for a vote at general election
II the delegates do not do good worl
the people can reject the proposed
constitution. There are many peopl,
who believe the people are likely t
reject anything done. because of IT,
belief that corporate interests an,
others will insist upon so man.
changes going in the people generall
| out in the state will not tolerate II.
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