Year: 1878

The Constitutional Convention election
is over and although we, in this isolated
section, know nothing positively of the
result in the State, it is safe to assume
that not more than a one-third vote has
been polled. II the opinions of large
number of newspapers in all parts of the
State amount to anything the Constitu-
tionai Convention will be under the di-
rect control Of Railroad, Bank, Land and
other Ring monopoies. This impression
prevails to considerable cxtent among
the people already, as they claim that
menopolies controlled the nominations
and it make, no difference which ticket
has been elected. This may to some ex-
tent account tor the light vote. 1t is
fact that no ticket nominated suited any
one throughout. Each contained some
good names and each some objec-
tionable names. But the election being
over, the successful candidates will be
known in few days and the press Will be
9lied with discussions on tho matters liza
ble to come before the Convention. This
will continue until the sitting of said
Convention in September. Then comes
the usual comments upon that body, its
action as whole and the action Of its
individual members. One hundred days
will thus be consumed, after which the
Constitution as promulgated by the Con-
vention is to be subm.tted to the people
for their ratification or rejection at anoth-
er special election in May next.


The Constitutional Convention act pro-
vides tha: the new Constitution shall be
submitted as n whole, and if it is so sub
mitted a reasonably full vote will proba-
bly, compass its defeat. One voter will
object to one clause, another to another,
and so on through the entire instrument,
each voting against the whole because of
the single Objectionable feature. On the
other hand. the apathy shown by the
"dear people" in the choice of Delegates
TO the Convention is most likely to be re-
pcated at the special election when the
Constitution is submitted. 1t is reasona-
bic to suppose that the same influences
which have been charged with controlling
the nomination and election of Delegates
If successful therein-will continue to
control their action in Convention, in
in which event the Constitution must
prove eminently satisfactory to that class.
Such being the fact, will not the same
monopoies exercise sufficient influence
to get their Constitution adopted ? They
certainly will, if the great mass of voters
take no more interest in the next 'Consti-
tutional election than they have in the
one just passed.


Not knowing as yet who has or has not
been elected, the above ideps are simply
thrown out to awaken some interest in the
people generally on this important mat
ter. OF course it would be folly TO state
positively that monopolies will control the
Convention, but that seems to be the pre-
vailing opinion. Even if they do, it is
not saying that there will not be many
men in that body beyond the reach of
their blighting influence. Let the people
take some interest in the matter, watch
the proceedings closely, and when the
time comes TO vote upon the adoption or
rejection of the new Cor stitution, be pre-
pared to do so intclligently. Don't wait
until the eve Of the election and then 90
about asking what the election is for
Commence now, read the papers and
keep posted upon what is being done in
the matter.