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The [[Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1917–1918]] was the major political event of McCall's tenure. The convention proposed a number of reforms, most of which were adopted by the voters. State commissions and agencies were streamlined, and [[initiative and referenda|initiative and referendum]] measures were added to [[Massachusetts State Constitution|the state constitution]]. Elections for statewide offices were changed from annual to biennial, beginning in 1920. Legislative reforms proposed by McCall to the state legislature were only partially adopted; proposals reforming state insurance and the public pension program were left in the legislature, and his proposal to abolish capital punishment also failed.<ref name=Gentile837/>
Anticipating [[American entry into World War I]] in early 1917, McCall formed the Massachusetts Public Safety Commission,<ref>Lyman, p. 3</ref> an emergency response and relief organization that was the first of its type in the nation.<ref name=MacDonald105>MacDonald, p. 105</ref> Coordinating a wide array of public and charitable organizations and major businesses, the commission played a significant role in providing relief and other services until it was disbanded in 1918.<ref>See Lyman for a description of the commission activities.</ref> One of its most important actions was coordinating the state's response to the [[Halifax Explosion]] of December 6, 1917. With only fragmentary reports received early after a blast devastated the [[Nova Scotia]] city of [[History of Halifax (former city)|Halifax]], McCall called the committee into action, and offered unlimited assistance to the stricken city.<ref name=MacDonald105/> The state organized a major relief train (even before the full extent of the disaster was known) that was among the first to reach Halifax, and the committee's representatives assisted in organizing relief activities on the ground.<ref>MacDonald, pp. 105-106, 142, 173-183</ref> Temporary housing built in Halifax was named in McCall's honor,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://novascotia.ca/archives/explosion/archives.asp?ID=66|title=Visit of Governor Samuel W. McCall of Massachusetts to Halifax, November 8-10, 1918|publisher=Nova Scotia Archives|accessdate=2016-06-30}}</ref> and the state's relief efforts continue to be recognized today by Nova Scotia's annual [[Boston Christmas Tree|gift of a
In 1918, McCall decided not to run for reelection, and again stood for the United States Senate. In a party nomination rematch with Weeks, he abandoned the campaign after it became clear the conservative Crane wing of the party was standing with Weeks. The seat ended up being won by ex-Governor Walsh in a Democratic upset.<ref>Sobel, pp. 109-110</ref> In the general election, McCall refused to campaign on Weeks' behalf, a move that contributed to the end of his political career. In 1920, he was nominated by President [[Woodrow Wilson]] for a seat on the [[United States Tariff Commission]]; the nomination was rejected by the Republican-controlled Senate.<ref name=Gentile837>Gentile, p. 837</ref>
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