Year: 1878




Governor Irwin signed the Constitu-
tional Convention Bill on the last day of
the Legislative session, and now will fol-
low the nomination and election OF Dele
gates and the assembling of the Conven.
ton. Under the law an election will be
held on the third Wednesday in June,
1878, of Delegates to meet in Convention
to revise the Constitution Of this State
and TO frame a new Constitution. No
other question shall be submitted TO the
people or voted on at such election. The
nsHaber Of Delegates to be chosen is 1852,
apportioned as follows: 40 TO be elected
by Senatorial Districts so by Assembly
Districts; and 32 by the State st large,
eight residents of each Congressional
District. The Delegates SO chosen will
meet in Convention in the Assembly
Cham Der n. the Capitol, in the city Of
Sacramento, on the 28th day Of Septem-
Der, 1873, at noon, and organize. Dele
gates receive the same per diem and
mileage as members Of the Legislature
but, while the session is not limited as to
time, no compensation will be allowed
after one hundred days, and no pay for
any recess longer than three days at one
time. Stationery, ETC., is to be furnished
the same as to the Legislature and the
Convention shall be the judge of the cleo
tion and qualification Of its own memb bers.
The Constitution framed by such Con-
vention shall be eubmitted TO the people
for their adoption or rejection at special
election to be held on the frat Wednes-
day Of May, 1879. The said Constitution
shall be voted on as whole and no other
question shall be submitted at such spe-
cial election. Should a majority of the
whole number of votes cast at such cleo
ton be in favor Of the new Constitution,
the Governor shall by proclamation de-
clare such new Constitution to be the
Constitution of the State of California,
and that it will take effect at such time a.
the Convention may have fixed or in the
event Of no time being fixed it shall take
effect Immediately upon such proclama-
tion being made.


Such are the general provisions OF the
bill as passed and approved, and now the
trouble begins. Ten weeks from next
Wednesday the election for Delegates oc-
ours ; in the meantime some action must
be taken for the nomination ofDeegates,
and early enough to give the nominees an
opportunity of making a canvass should
they desire to do so. Last week the
JOURNAL favored a Citizens Ticket
honorable, substantial men for Delegates,
without regard TO their political affilation
upon whom all good citizens could unite
and feel that their interests and the well
fare Of the State would be securely guard
cd. Candidates receiving such endorse
ments could afford to dispense with the
routine electioneering usually INDUCED
in, and that would be decided improve
h;ent on California elections. We are
pleased to note that n large and infuen-
tial portion Of the press of this State
takes the same view of the situation rs
does the JOURNAL, and believe all will
see il in the same light upon reflection
A few Republican journalists. Jealous in
their party feelings, have objected 10
fusion with the Democracy, but when
they consider that politics forms no part
Of the issues to be decided, and that in the
union Of the better elements of all parties
is the only certain road to victory over
CoEmunism, even these, we feel satisfied,
will lay aside their political armor and
touch the elbow of their partisan oppo-
nents as they march to the polls and de-
posit common ballot ip favor of law,
order and free government. The agra
Tian agitators have forced the issue, and
the sooner good citizens throughout the
State accept the situation and meet them
on their chosen ground the better it will
be for the peace and prosperity of the
Commonwealth. Let US reason together,
adopt some plan OF action and then act
in harmony. The time is short and in
this instance delay may prove dangerous.


-