Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-29
FRAME BASIC.
LAW WITH NO
PARTYSP|Ru
Chairman Pleads for Un
hampered Action on
State Constitution.

Frank L. Smith of the Illinois Re-
publican state central committee
today expressed the hope that the
Illinois constitutional convention
may be organized without holding
a party caucus.
II, however, q majority Of the
delegates to the convention signify
their desire for a party caucus,
Chairman Smith says he will feel
it his duty to call it.
His opinion was expressed In a
letter to H. E. Torrance and Charles
H. Ireland, delegates to the con-
vention from the Sixteenth legisla-
tive district. The letter follows:
1T is my earnest hope that when
the members gather at Springfield,
organization of the constitutional
convention may be effected prompt
ly and without either sectional or
partisan wrangle. The sincerity
Of the purposes Of the convention
and the public confidence to be ac-
corded it and its work will be
largely determined by the manner
in which such organization is
achieved,
Party Responsible Yet.
II realize that responsibility for
a new constitution rests upon the
Republican party. This, because
such an overwhelming majority of
the members Of the convention are
Republicans. BUT the view Of each
of these is now that of an official Of
the state, and good state Official
knows no politics in the perform
ance of his legal duties.
Everyone who sits in the con-
ventiOn should remember that first
Of all the public welfare is to be
served; that it il the purpose Of
the convention to propose q new
constitution which will protect the
inherent and natural rights Of ev-
cry individual and do common JUS
tice without unduly promoting the
privileges Of one party. community
or class, or unfairly restricting the
aspirations of another. Our con-
stitution is our fundamental law
and it is inevitable that it shall be
as just to q Democrat or one Of
any other political faith as it Is to
the Republican.
No District Shall Lead.
These generalities arc in the
way OF emphasizing the point that
constitution-making is not parti-
san undertaking. Neither is 1t the
undertaking of any community less
than the whole state. Therefore,
may / suggest that the organiza-
ton of the convention offers no fair
occasion to play partisan politics,
nor any fair occasion, either, to
play internal or locality politics.
Another thing suggests itself.
The constitution which will come
cut of the convention will have to
be submitted to the whole people
OF the state for their approval. For
the delegates of our party, or any
substantial fraction of them, to do
anything which will invite parti-
san opposition as such. or locality
opposition as such, will, to my
mind, be most unwise. There should
be no real conflict of interest either
as to party or az to community In
the sort of fundamental law va
ought to have.
viii Respect Wishes.
"In this relation then, and speak
ing as a citizen and as Republi-
can, I would like to have the con-
vention organize itself without the
Intervention of q party caucus. II
however. q majority Of the dele
gates think q caucus tc be essen
tial and shall petition me to call
one, it seems to me that it will be
my duty, as chairman. to do so. In
| the event, though, that caucus IL
held, / will use all the influence
! have to bring about IN organiza-
ton of the convention which will
not be partisan in effect and which
will be acceptable to all parties
and to all localities.
"You will understand. Of course
that the only purpose Of this lettel
| ia to make my own attitude clear
But do earnestly hope that thu
convention will be able to settle
down to business without delay ant
without arousing any bitterness
which will endanger public approx
al Of its work when that work 1!
finally submitted to the people II
the form of q new constitution"
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