The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-17
Constitutional Contention
 Plan Rejected By House
Resolution Submitting Pro- poSaI to Electors of State Is Defeated By a Vote of 70 to 22 at Afternoon Session of House
Ny FRED H. GORMLEY
 Montgomery Bureau Tho Age Herald
 22i-2 First National Bank BuiIdins

1 Montgomery, September 16. Specially proposal for the submission of the subject of holding a constitutional con- vention in 1922 to the voters at special election next year was defeated by an over ] whelming vote in the house of representatives Thursday aft ernoon. Seventy members of the house voted against con- vention, while only twenty-two could be mustered by propo- nents of the measure.
 The issue came up for decision on the joint resolution of MT. Carniey April. It has been known for forty |eight hours that the majority of the legislature was opposed to the conv >n- ton, and that there was no hope of
 
 himself did not urge the submission cf the subject. He placed it in his call |at the request of large number of citizens and in his message told the legislature he merely asked that the voters be trusted to decide the ma .ter for themselves, in v;ew Of the fact hat many had already urged it.
 Judge A. $. Van de Graff of Tusca- loosa, Thomas b. Orr of Albertyille Ind Oscar l.. Tompkins of Dothan urged the submission of the question, declaring that the last convention had one big problem for solution which took it's entire time and prevented the proper consideration being given to other inn portant measures, the result being that the present constitution is not suffi- ciently elastic to give the state the Benefits which are demanded in this twentieth century.
 The speakers frankly referred to the recent issues brought about by the rat ification of the nineteenth amendment and declared changes should be made by the enlargement of the property Qualifications and the attenuation ofl sections of the constitution which re- strict suffrage.
 SPEAK IN OPPOSITION
 Addresses in opposition to the con- vention were made by E. NJ. Baker of Dekalb, w. J. Manly of Choctaw and George Ross of Jefferson. They in sisted that this is not the time to sub init to the people such an issue or to hold a convention, contending that re- adjustments following the war have not been completed, and that if the convention should be held, the constitution framed probably would not meet the needs of the state as fully as would one written at time when conditions were ,or- nal and the minds of the people were not Filled with the vagaries of the present day.
 J. A. Carnley of Coffee, author of the resolution and the man who made the fight for the convention at the last regular session. urged the house 10 submit the issue 10 the people, declar- Ing that they alone are the ones who they could be trusted to do the right should pass upon the matter and hat thing. He enumerated some of lthe re- strictions of the constitution and in sisted that changed conditions demand another constitution, if the people who have been the rulers in Alabama are to continue to be the masters of he Stdle government and are to obtain the protection to which they are entitled. The opposition had their machinery in working order. They had caucused he forehand, Noses had been counted At first the majority agreed not to discus, the. issGe whatever but to hear the argu- nents of those who fayored the coneen- ton and to vote against the resolution. At the last moment it was decided best to explain the position of the opposition in order that their constituents migh: 
 HOW THEY VOTED Those who voted to submit the issue to the people were Speaker Lynne. Adams, Austin. Barganier. Bracken, i 9arnley. Crump, Dickson. Ellis tElfnorel. 1 fite. Harrison. Howle. Ingram. Milford.
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