Pueblo chieftain., 1921-02-12
The Constitutional Convention

The Colorado senate has adopted resolution for
the calling of constitutional convention in this state
and probable that the house of representatives
will join in approval of this proposition, which has
already been approved by the governor, informally.
1t is time therefore, for the people to consider why
this convention necessary and what 1t is hoped 10
gain as result Of the revision of the constitution oil
the state
The Colorado constitution as originally adopted at
the time of the admission of Colorado to the unisn was
generally regarded model constitution 1t was salts
factory both in what it contained and what 1T did not
contain and for many it served the uses OF the
people admirably.
The passage of the years. however, necessarily
brought many changes in the conditions of the people
Some constitutional provisions that suitable to
smaller community under pioneer conditions were not
satisfactory to much larger community In other
matters changes wrought by the general progress
of civilization As result of these changes, it became
necessary to amend the constitution, and usual
under such conditions these amendments were neces-
sary in the nature of patches, and these patches or
amendments, brought about inconsistencies of
Hess importance and seriously detraccd from the unity
Iof the whole.
A much greater injury to the constitution came
from a popular misunderstanding Of the true purpose
and meaning of constitution. The makers of the
Colorado constitution had clearly in mind the great
which arc to give power to the accommodation the
people, and to restrict the powers of the government in
order to protect popular liberties The first is
tal to the rule of the maiority the second is necessary
to protect the rights of the minority against abuses of
power
Strictly speaking nothing else than these two
things has any proper place in constitution, and when
constitution contains nothing more than what right
full, belongs in it, it very much 10 the public interest
that it shall be amended rarely and only when the pco
ples will for such amendment thoroly Established
But there always is tendency in the peoEIe's
minds toward two constitutional evils One of these
the evil of putting into the constitution great many
hings that do not properly belong there The other
the ev-largey the result the other-of making the
constitution easily amendabc that it is easy both
get things into the constitution and 10 get things out
of it.
Having established b, the constitution the ncccs-
sary grant of power the branches of govern
ment, legislative executive and Judicial and having
plainly stated the reservations and restrictions
sary protect the minority from the majority, and TO
safeguard the liberties of all the people, constitution
makers should follow the good example of the original
writers of the Colorado constitution and allow the
legislators 10 make the laws, and change the laws
without attempting to make part of the constiu-
tion body of law, differing from the legislative
statutes chiefly in the difficulty with which it may be
changed and distinguished from the statutes in its
subject matter.
1t is probable that a majority of the constitutional
convention, when that convention is held. will be
lawyers, and it is well that such should be the case
But the people generally should have a voice in deter
mining the structure of their fundamental law and an