The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-11-08
IS
TO Be REVISED
Farmers Seem to Have Swung Vote
Sufficiently to Have Secured
Majority for the Cues
ton.
TRIED IT FOR YEARS
Question Comes Up Every Ten Years
and Until This Time There Has
Been No veee for Re-
vision.

Everybody in Keokuk who got a
constitutional amendment ballot last
Tuesday hold up their hands.
In several Of the wards in the city
the little yellow ballot seemed to be
among the missing and voters either
forgot to vote it or didn't receive it
| to vote
However, it appears that the con-
stitution Of the state of Iowa is
about to be revised Incomplete re-
ers of the state have swung the
county, with the votes of Keokuk and
Fort Madison, voted against the
measure, but it is believed that there
I to be heard from to give a majority
for. the measure
The Hawk-Eye of yesterday says:
'The constitution of Iowa will be
, revised, at least that is the indica-
ton from incomplete returns. After
bobbing up every ten years in ma
| century and each time being bowled
tutional revision proposition appears
to have won out last Tuesday. AL
| though the vote Of Des Moines and
| fifty-six other Iowa counties have not
been heard from on the constitutional
amendment plan, the majority OF 49,
| S44 in forty-two counties reporting
the affirmative scores make it likely
that the legislature will call revi-
sion convention.
"The Des Moines county vote win
be counted Monday, and it is prob
able that many of the other fifty-six
counties will be heard from early in
the week. The interest that Burlius-
ton and other Des Moines commune
ties took in the revision question re-
mains mooted question and one
that awaits the official canvass to
settle. County Attorney Weber has
predicted that less than fifty votes
were cast, either for or against the
proposition. Other well informed
politicians believe that the official
count will show that good deal Of
interest was taken and that the vote
will prove their contention.
Farmers Want Revision.
Tin forty-two counties a total vote
of 104299 was registered for a re-
vision and $685. against 1t. Polk
county, Woodbury. and other counties
with big cities voted for the conven-
ton, yet the farmers are given credit
for carrying the measure.
Farm bureaus throughout the state
we're interested in seeing changes
made In the constitution affecting
collective bargaining, farm credits,
soil conservation and farm tenant
laws.
"The farmers won the victory IN a
five days fight The Iowa Farm Blu
reau federation got busy five days
| before election and sent letters out
| urging a vote for the proposal. The
Iowa Farmers union united forces
| with the bureau men and hurry-up
statewide propaganda was set in mo-
ton. The results prove that 1t was
| effective.
| ~But the fight of the farm organiza-
lions has in reality just begun. The
real purpose of the convention. as
far as the farmers are concerned, Is
to secure specifically the right of
farmers to collective bargaining. The
present constitution is hazy in this
matter and the officials Of the 1ed-
Grafton and of the union have felt
| that some trouble might be caused
the farmers now striking, because of
| this. ''.
Suffrage and Prohibition Settled.
1.-THE convention will open the way
| for the discussion of every subject
except those covered by the national
constitution.
~For instance, woman suffrage and
prohibition cannot be affected by the
Iowa constitutional convention.
1.-THE question Of good roads, state
roads, will undoubtedly come up, as
will taxation and limitations OF In
debtedness for state and cities.
! Under the constitutional provision
providing for the convention to re-
wise the constitution, the legislature
must fix by law method OF elect1ng
delegates to the convention. 1t also
will fix the time for electing the
delegates and for holding the conyen-
| ton. It also will determine the tins
for voting on the adoption or re1ec.
ton of the revised constitution agreed
on by the convention. This could De
| at a general election"