Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-25
FIRST STEP TOWARD
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Governor Sprouts Commission, Though
an instrument Of Delay VIII
Make Some Progress


stitution of the state and to suggest such
notifications in the constitution as 1t
decides are advisable.
1t should be noted, in the first place,
that the Commission OH Constitutional
Amendment and Revision is frankly ad-
mitted to be device for delay The
Governor was understood TO favor an
early revision when he took office. 1t is
probable that if his personal preferences
had prevailed lie would have had the
Legislature call constitutional conven-
ton and arrange for the election Of
delegates by popular vote at the earliest
convenient date so that the work could
be undertaken without unnecessary de-
lay.
Every time. however, that it has been
proposed that the constitution, adopted
in 1873 forty-six years ago, should be
modernized, it has been argued that we
should wait until the "wave of radical
ism" had subsidized, lest provisions should
be inserted in it which would be dis
pleasing to the conservatives. The OBJ
iectors were not quite so frank as to
put their case so badly as this, but it
amounted to the same thing.
Governor SprouI was sought out by
the "conserv atives" as soon as he let it
be known that he favored constitutional
revision. They presented their argu-
ments in favor Of further postponeinent.
Bolshevist theories were in the air. 1t
was undesirable that any of them should
get into "the fundamental law" of the
state. Labor, reacting against the re-
strictions forced by the war, was
anxious to secure for itself privileges
hitherto denied. 80 let US wait little
longer in the hope that when revision
is finally made it can be directed and
controlled by conservative influences.
The Governor yielded, and the plan
for commission was devised. This
newspaper said at the time that it was
merely a device to secure delay. This
is now admitted Oh all sides. Indeed,
the Governor DELAYED more than five
months i'll naming the commission after
he had secured authority from the Leg
islature TO appoint it.
The "goodly company Of trusty and
loval Pennsylvanians" who constitute the
commission will enter upon their task
with full knowledge Of what they are
expected to do. Radicalism will have
about as much chance with them as the
proverbial SNOWFALL in the neither re-
pions. And they will doubtless represent
the majority sentiment of the state; for
PENNSYLVANIA is known for its conserv-
atism, even though Roosevelt carried it
in 1912 against both Taft and Wilson.
There is no widespread demand FOR q
radical constitution. The men and
women chosen to make the preliminary
revision are the representatives Of thosa
influences which have hitherto prevented
anv kind of revision. They win go no
further than undoubted public sentiment
will force them to go.
We shall not know, however, whether
| they will go as far as the state as whole
| desires until the result Of their delib-
erations is submitted to constitutional
convention made up Of delegates elected
by the people.
Such a convention should be provided
! for by the Legislature to be elected next
| November. All shades Of opinion should
| be represented in the convention in
order that the issues may be threshed
out in debate and settled by a vote of
| the majority.
In no other way can we get consti-
tuition which embodes the views of the
| present generation.
We have lived for forty-six years
| under a body Of laws framed by men Of
two generations ago. Much has hap
pened in the nearly half century
| which has passed. Theories which were
accepted as sound then have been modi-
fled by the experience of the years.
A whole body of public service corpo-
ration law has grown up in the interval.
The theory Of home rule for cities was
not even formulated in 1873. The city
manager had not been heard of. The
| interstate commerce laws were in their
| infancy, and the relation of intrastate
to interstate transportation lines had not
occupied the attention of lawyers. The
employe in 1873 assumed all the risks
of his employment. We have learned
since then that it is not good social pol
! lev to permit a man to run such risks
without provision for compensation when
| he suffers the consequences of hazard
Gus occupation. The exploitation of
children went on without let or him
drance, and women had no industrial pro-
lection against unscrupulous employers.
Many more changes might be cited.
The Legislature, in its effort to pass
modern laws, has been hampered by the
limitations Of an outgrown constitution.
The people of the state know this. If
they are represented in constitutional
convention they will demand that the
hands Of the Legislature be united SO
that it may pass those laws which an
awakened social conscience insists upon.
If the commission which the Governor
has just named does not propose to en-
large the powers of the Legislature to
deal with these subjects, 1t Is likely that
the convention, when ard If called, will