The Rice belt journal., 1920-10-16
THE PROPOSED
CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION

To the Editor of the Rice Belt Journal:
It has occurred to me that it might
be a matter of some interest and Of
some profit to some Of your readers
to submit few observations in con-
nection with the proposed Constitu.
tional Convention, since the voters OF
the State will be called upon at the
General Election to be held on Tues.
day. November End to decide upon
the opposition of holding such Con
stitutionaI Convention.
The particular purpose have IN
mind is a general explanation OF Act
No. 1870 of 1920, under which this
proposition will be submitted to the
voters of the State, rather than any
particular argument for or against the
holding of such convention. The
provisions of this Act fully define the
personel of the convention, the methed
of selecting delegates thereto, and the
powers of the Convention assembled
and should be well understood in order
| to vote intelligently upon the propo
sition; and feeling that perhaps this
ACT is not as welr understood as it
should be | contribute this simple ex
planation of it's workings.
The Act provides that all electors
in favor of such proposition shall vote
For a Constitutional Convention in
accordance with Act No. 1S0 of 1920,
and all wro are opposed to such prop
Iosition shall vote Against Consti
ltutional Convention in accordance witt
Act No. $50 of 1920"
The Act provides that the proposed
Convention shall be composed OF one
hundred forty six (146) delegates t.
be selected as follows: One hundred
eighteen (11S) will be elected by the
people from the Parishes as now pro
vided for the representation Of tht
Parishes in the House of Representa-
ftives. Under this provision Jefferson
Davis Parish, thereof, will elect on
DELEGATE to this Convention, just a
she has one member in the lowe
house of the General Assembly; Six
teen (16) delegates shall be elected b.
Congressional Districts; that is to sa,
two (2) delegates will be elected iron
each of the eight (8) Congressional
Districts in the State in the manne
which l will later explain; and the re
naming twelve (12) delegates will b
appointed by the Governor. ALI tn
delegates to the Convention shal
possess the qualifications prescribe
for membership in the lower house O
the General Assembly.
The One hundred eighteen l11S
delegates elected from the various
Parishes will be selected in the follow
ing manner; The various parties a
party primaries to be held on Noven
ber End will nominate their DELEGATE
Ito the Constitutional Convention
These party nominees will be vote
upon at a special election called b
4 the Governor and held under the gel
eral election laws on December lat
1920; this special election to be hel
on December 14th, will of course, /
8 dependent upon whether or not til
holding of such convention is carr
ed in the election to be held on N
vember End.
The sixteen (16) delegates to be s
lected by Congressional Districts WI
be elected in the following manner
The various political parties at par
primaries to be held on November 2r
viii nominate delegates to party CO
ventions to be held in the various Co
4 gressional Districts on November lot
1890. These delegates in these sever
Congressional District Conventions a
sembled will nominate two (2) del
gates to the proposed Constitution
Convention md these conventil
nominees win devoted upon by Il
people at a special election to be ca
ed and held on December 14th aS
above stated for election of Pari
delegates. The convention for this Go
gressional District will be held at La
81 Charles on November 18th and jeff
+ son Davis Parish at the party prima
Ito be held on November End will ele
five (5) delegates to this district ct
Iyention at Lake Charles.
As to the power of the Constitute
al Convention the Act provides Il
1.-THE Convention shall have power
frame and adopt, without sabmissi
to the people, new constitution
4 the State" The convention, howey
will be, prohibited from enacting a
provisions whereby, (a) the bonded
other indebtness of the State or q
subdivision shall be affected; (b) I
terms of office of any officer, Sta
district, parochial or municipal, 81
be reduced or shortened, or the sal
thereof reduced prior to the expirat
of the term for which they were ell
led: and (c) The State Capital may
removed from Baton Rouge
The Convention, if the proposit
carries, will convene in Baton R0
III - AHnpah 1901