The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-05-25
SMALL CHANCE FOR
DELEGATES TO AGREE
TO SUBMIT WORK
Opposition Strong Against
Letting People Decide on
Constitution
FEAR EXPRESSED THAT
1T WOULD BE REJECTED
Petitions from All Over
State Appear to Be Re-
Giving Scant Notice

To submit or not to submit-that IS
the question which is puzzling the
well informed citizens of the state
relative to the new constitution now
being framed BY the convention. The
question was live one before the
convention some time ago but has APP.
parently dropped out Of sight recent
ly and we haven't heard much about
the matter.
One OF the delegates from Natchito-
iehes, who has favored submission got
busy last week and made pool Of
the delegates on the issue, only to
find that the opposition against sub
mission was strong so strong in fact
that it is now doubtful If the people
win be given the opportunity Of voting
on ratification or rejection.
The Natchitoches man found, out
Of 1O2 delegates, only 2s fayoring the
plan and "A against. The remaining
"A were not asked or refused to COM
NIT themselves on the question. How
ever, the IA opposing is majority Of
one against submission, and If they
stand together when the question is
finally forced to the front they will
win on roll call.
It appears that the mainstay Of the
opposition to submission is the fear
that the constitution will be rejected
by the people and that all the work
ana all the expense viii have been
made in vain. This is the spirit &C
tuating some of the opposing delegates
but some Of them may weaken when
the firing gets hot an see the thing
i in a better light and with a vtrile
bunch fighting for submission the
tide Of victory may be turned, de-
spite the well known opposition OF
the governor. A few delegates-may
be quite a number oppose submits
sion on the grounds that people are
not competent to Judge Of the merits
or dement's Of the new constitution
and will be swayed by prejudice and
vote against the instrument. o.
course these delegates keep theil
opinion to themselves and only give
utterance to it in low whispers, fol
they realize that such an opinion
would be quite unpopular indeed
among the people they represent
In the meantime, however, there i
a growing disposition among the PEG
, ple u the state to demand submis
/ sion. and to that end petitions, nunner
ously signed, have been gotten up il
many communities asking the dele
gates TO agree for submission. In
few instances these petitions almos
border on a demand. The newspaper
az the state, except IN few instances
are outspoken in faToring submission
those delegates whom from the in
} ceution 81 the convention favored let
ting the people PASS On the completes
: work have been busy all the tim
J Numbering the facts home to tn
( weak-kneed and the strong opponents
: Whether their arguments will produc
: any results is a matter stiil in th
! offing but is bound to come to
r showdown pretty soon, as the III
g Of the convention is rapidly DRAWN
E ID 1 close and some definite actio
. must be taken on it soon, There s.
be no beating the devil around tn
bush for an indefinite period and IN
delegates will have to come out
the open and indicate where the
J stand.