The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-12-31
LESSON FOR OTHER STATES IN
ILLINOIS REJECTED CON-
STITuTION

Illinois emphatic, almost contemp-
| tuous, reputation OF the new con-
stitution just submitted to popular
vote, while seemingly a local issue.
has aroused widespread interest and
editorial discussion throughout the
country. The explanation apparent
~ lies in the growing tendency, which
the San Antonio Light points out, to
raise the cry, "Give us a new Consti-
tuition" THE fever of dissatisfaction
with the old seems to be contagious"
the Light says. THE existing consti-
tutions of various states are being as
sailed. Nowhere, one might conclude
after reading about the many projects
OF this kind, Is everybody satisfied
with the organic law of his particular
state" And the Illinois experience
teaches valuable lessons in connec-
ton with constitutional revision.
The most vital points in the lessons
thus taught, in general editorial Opin-
ion, IS, first, the faIlacy of incoTpor-
ating IN the organic charter matters
which should be subjects for statu-
tory enactment, and second, the fact
that the better way to revise consti-
tutions, after all, seems to be to sim
plify amendment of the old rather
than to substitute an undigested and
untried new.
Illinois has proved again" the
Duluth Herald announces that about
the hardest job in American civic ex-
perience is 10 exchange old constitu-
tions for new ones" The convention
presented a document which the Bal
timore News believes was "a very
good constitution" proposing many
excellent ard needed reforms" yet it
received an adverse vote ranging from
. to 1 in rural districts to 30 to l in
urban communities. No similar de-
bacle in popular rejection is recalled
in the history Of constitution nnaking
in this country" says the ST. Louis
Globe Democrat, and indeed An ad-
verse majority 80 overwhelming
seems to the Syracuse Herald like a
farCfsal sequel to the three years OF
discussion, meditation and hard labor
devoted to the framing OF the new or
s&rsic law"
The personnel of the constitutional
convention. popularity dubbed the
Con Con-, was regarded as excep-
tioEally competent" the Springfield
(Mass) Republican reports, but lit is
not unlikely that it would have Jared
wider representation of points OF
view" for radical opposition seems
to have been strengthened by some
feeling that the convention was dom
mated by a class" Certainly such a
body should not have produced a do
cument that could so down to such
SYNONYMOUS defeat, the South Bend
Tribune thinks, and 1t is almost ridic-
ulous that members of such con-
Vention should shoot so wide Of the
mark that the vote should amount to
reputation of their sense and judg
ment.''
"What allied the proposed consti-
tution?" the Decatur Review wants to
know. any things. as the editors Of
the country analyze it. Primarily it
Impressed people as something which
had been carefully and discreetly
framed on them" according to the
diagnosis OF the Chicago Tribune.
THE idea OF new taxes scared the
great mass Of citizenship which pays
the other mans taxes--the landlords
the butchers-and the bakers-but
does not want to see a tax bin. The
authority granted the legislature to
reform tax laws was a powder key.
All citizens saw themselves paying
something directly for the upkeep of
the state. Nothing, as it were, do
ing" To the Kansas City Times,
also, that ''one word" explains it
taxation. ''In an endeavor to please
all factions it submitted. along with
provision for an income on intangibles,
\ provision calling for a tax on all
net incomes regardless OF sizs." and.