The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-02-20
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1883
This Business of Ratifying

There is more to this business of ratifylng the Blaine resolution repeating the Sth Amendment than may appear at casual glance. It won't be accomplished with the the Norris lame-duck amendment in the Constitution. For the repealer specifically declares that ratification shall be by state con- ventions and not by state legislatures. No constitutional amendment has ever yet been ratified or rejected in this manner, although the Constitution of the United States pro- vides for it. That was preeauton on the part of the carly fathers of the nation
 The whole thing can be simpllfied greatly. though. if the states in which Legislature are now assembled take prompt action Ina. depends of course, upon the action taken by the House of Representatives today. But it seems safe to say that when this editorial is read the House will have also passed the Blaine resolution. It will be promptly sub mitted to the states, say the officials whose duty it is-to do this. Thereupon each and every one of the 43 states where General Assemblies are now convened should decide how, when. and where their states conven- tions shall be held.
 This in itself IS task. as we have noth ing to go by. Already the Connecticut Leg islature has been given bill dealing with the state conventions. However. this would allow delegates to it to be selected as one of our state senators and representatives now. If we find fault with our present system of representation certainly the same complaint would be found with any convention chosen in the same fashion. If delegates to repre- sentative state convention are to be elected they must actually represent the people and not towns or districts in which there arc population discrepancies. Shouldn't Hart fosd's 5000 residents have more delegates than Unions l96. We certainly think so.
 However. delegates can be elected by towns. by districts. senatorial or congress sional, or any otber way the Legislature may decree. How then shall these delegates be nominatedi Certainly on a non-artlsan basis, but exactly howl Where will the convention be, held and when? We natur- ally would designate Hartford as the Capl- ta and also the most centrally located. We would also suggest convention for next fall. It would not conflict with state elec- ton and would be soon enough. All this means work for the legislators. They must prepare bills to enable them 10 call such convention and they must appropriate money for holding it. And should Congress decide that it has the power of calling the conven- tions the resulting strife may well postpone all state action on the repealer.
 Four years are being mentioned as min mum for repeal of the 18th Amendment. It could actually be accomplished by l934. With President-elect Roosevelt shaking big stick over the nation we certainly hope that 1894 will see the end of the 8tb Amend ment. If we continue to regard the return of liquor sales under state control as pri- marily revenue measure we can accomplish 1t in one year. And there is no reason why states and the federal government shouldn't look to the revenue aspect of liquor manufac- ture and sales as a deficit deieater. It might also balance inc budget better than means now suggested