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The Evening Argus
Rock Island, Rock Island County County, Illinois
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Illinois legislature debates timing for constitutional convention delegate election and meeting, with Democrat Mr. Epler proposing November election to save costs. Reluctance to officially canvass vote on calling convention, amid doubts on public support.
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At the opening of the legislature a few of the rampant radicals attempted to rush through a bill ordering the election of delegates in May and the meeting of the convention in June. Mr. Epler, Democrat, showed that such a course would involve a heavy expense for a special election; that not one in twenty of the people would, at that time participate in the election, and it would therefore, call out no expression of the people generally in the choice of delegates; and that, for the convention to meet in June would be at a time when the delegates could not as well give their attention to the matter as to meet in the winter. He therefore introduced a bill to hold the election for delegates at the annual election next November, thus saving the expense of a special election,—and for the convention to meet in the winter following. It is now probable that this course will be adopted.
Another question is now before the legislature, viz: whether the people really voted to have any convention at all. The Springfield correspondent of the Chicago Times, under date of the 23d, says:
There appears to be a great reluctance in radical circles here to have the votes cast on the question of calling a constitutional convention officially canvassed. There is no provision in the constitution or laws of the state providing for an official canvass of this vote, and the senate passed a resolution providing for a joint committee to canvass the vote. In the house, this senate resolution came up to-day, and, after a short struggle, was referred to the committee on judiciary. The reported majority in favor of calling the convention is very small, and this squirming against an official canvass has awakened very grave apprehensions that the vote of the people was not in favor of calling a convention.
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Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Springfield
Event Date
Under Date Of The 23d
Key Persons
Outcome
it is now probable that this course will be adopted.
Event Details
At the opening of the legislature a few of the rampant radicals attempted to rush through a bill ordering the election of delegates in May and the meeting of the convention in June. Mr. Epler, Democrat, showed that such a course would involve a heavy expense for a special election; that not one in twenty of the people would, at that time participate in the election, and it would therefore, call out no expression of the people generally in the choice of delegates; and that, for the convention to meet in June would be at a time when the delegates could not as well give their attention to the matter as to meet in the winter. He therefore introduced a bill to hold the election for delegates at the annual election next November, thus saving the expense of a special election,—and for the convention to meet in the winter following. Another question is now before the legislature, viz: whether the people really voted to have any convention at all. There appears to be a great reluctance in radical circles here to have the votes cast on the question of calling a constitutional convention officially canvassed. There is no provision in the constitution or laws of the state providing for an official canvass of this vote, and the senate passed a resolution providing for a joint committee to canvass the vote. In the house, this senate resolution came up to-day, and, after a short struggle, was referred to the committee on judiciary. The reported majority in favor of calling the convention is very small, and this squirming against an official canvass has awakened very grave apprehensions that the vote of the people was not in favor of calling a convention.