Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 239, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1914 — Page 3

A NEW CONSTIPATION FOR INDIAMA

Thte Arete toaue to Be Bsterjrihwd toy th® Voter® at the NeveariNr V Eiectioa. 1 IZ . - The voters at InftaM will be called «p®u at th® election <rf November tod to paw upon the qptettan of calling a oonv«ption to rtefoe the present ateta constitution. Th® most vital question that ohnfronta the state to-day is this Question of a new constitution. To vote Urteiiisently oi It will retain a careful study of the situation in Indiana on the part of the voters. * la important that they should have fan information a* to the conditions tabooed on the people by the present eonstitotixm and of the opportunities afforded hy constitutional revision to better the situation. The Question will be put up to the voters by independent ballot on plain white paper 4 tnohes square containing «he words, "ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN THE YEAR 1115?" In order to -carry the proposition, a majority of all voters of the state voting at this election must vote "YE9.” The normal vote in Indiana for candidates is about 700,0(10. Of this number at least 350,001 must vote "YES” to carry the question, regardless of the number of "NO” votes. In effect, those who do not ' vote at all on the proposition are counted against the convention. The ignorant and indifferent voter thus constitutes a tremendous handicap on the movement to seoure constitutional revision. It is not, therefore, too much to ask that every voter seek to prepare himself to vote on the question and with full understanding of his act. The legislative act also provides in detail for the next three steps toward revision in the event that the vote of November 3rd carries. A special election will be held on the first i Tuesday after the first Monday in J March, 1915, for the election of delegates to the convention. These will be 150 in number, apportioned throughout the state in the same manner as members of the General Assembly now are apportioned. Any qualified voter may be a candidate for delegate from his district by filing a petition signed hy 100 voters of the district No political party shall be permitted to nominate candidates. The election shall be nonpartisan in , every particular. ’■ The purpose of the act is plainly ■to secure a delegate convention i which will be fairly representative of all the people of the state and to remove the necessity of serving parti- “ san Interests. It is to be fundamentally a people’s convention. | The delegates elected shall meet tn Indianapolis on the first Monday to May, 1915, and ! "shall constitute a Convention . for the purpose of making such amendments, alterations and changes in the present Constitution of the State of Indiana or the making of an entirely neyr Constitution for the State of In- 2 ”' dlana as such Convention may deem proper and which new Constitution shall be submitted to the vote of the people of the i State of Indiana to be by them • ratified or rejected . . . said Convention may submit one or '! more amendments or one or more < sections of the proposed Constitution, as distinct propositions, ! to be voted upon by the people g separately or together, as to the p Convention seems expedient.” The members of the convention ( shall receive a per diem of ten dollars per day and mileage, and shall not remain in session longer than one hundred and eighty (180) days, Sundays excepted. It is to be noted that this move- | ment for a new constitution is not in any way connected with the proposed new constitution of 1911—the so-called "Marshall Constitution"— which was written by the Legislature of that year. This "Marshall Constitution”, which was a copy of the present constitution, with 23 Articles amended, was never submitted to the people for adoption or rejection, for the reason that its presentation by the Legislature was declared unconstitutional on the ground that the Legislature was without authority. • The important fact of the present movement for a new constitution is that it confides wholly In the people. It comes from no partisan source. It is directed at no party or faction. Its advocates are appealing to no prejudices nor to any special interests. They are using only educational means. It offers a rare opportunity for the people of Indiana to acquaint themselves with the big fundamental facts of their state government, and to make their Influence felt in shaping and directing its future funotions.

POLITICAL PARTIES AND A NEW CONSTITUTION

Parties and Leaders Alike Express a Favorable Attitude Toward the Proposition. One of the moot encouraging and significant facts In connection with the movement for a constitutional convention for Indiana Is the favorable attitude of the political parties and the responsible leaders. Governor Ra&ton in his message to the Legislature tn I<lß said: , *ln my opening campaign ' speech last fall, I stated that i WMto I pessonaSy favored a con-

stitutional convention, I had no authority to commit my party to such a movement, but that without regard to my individual" ' views, I would, in the event of my election, make such recommendations as to the advisability of calling a convention as I believed fairly represented the views of the people. ■ V What then are the views of the people on this spbjeetf The Democratic Legislature in 1911 believed that the present constitution of Indiana did not meet the requirements of the people, and so holding it prepared for submission to the voters of Indiana a new constitution. The Progressive and Republican parties, in their respective platforms of 1912, declared in favor of a constitutional convention. Unless the Democratic legislature of 1911 and the Progressive and Republican parties were all mistaken, the people of Indiana are in need of and want a new constitution. Is it styspae tfj&at they should desire an up-to-datW organic law? Their present constitution was adopted more than sixty years ago. Since then the development x of our state has been marvelous. Its population has greatly increased and its intellectual, social and material progress have multiplied many Told. New questions have arisen that cannot be solved under the present instrument, and new conditions make it necessary for the people to assert rights they cannot exercise thereunder. What is a government for if it is not to serve the purpose of the people? Thomas Jefferson believed so strongly that this was the object of government that he maintained that a constitution should contain a provision for its revision every twenty years. There have been but few, if any men in this state whd excelled the late Governor Isaac P. Gray in ability accurately to interpret public sentiment. In his message to the legislature more than twenty years ago he strongly advocated the calling of a constitutional convention. < I have thus briefly stated the facts that I believe show that the people want a new constitution, and personally I favor a constitutional convention.” This legislature, which was strongly Democratic, passed the Act submitting the question of calling a constitutional convention to the people, and the Democratic state platform of 1914 Says: “We approve the action of the last General Assembly in making provision that the people may declare whether they desire a convention to frame a new constitution for Indiana.” The Republican state platform of 1914 declares: "We reiterate our former declaration in favor of the revision of the constitution of th® state by constitutional convention consisting of representatives elected by the people, the new constitution so prepared to be submitted to the people for ratification or rejection.” And the 1914 platform of the Progressive party of Indiana says: "We emphasize the necessity of calling a constitutional convention and urge the people to vote therefore at the coming election.” The present situation in Indiana surely justifies every claim put forward in the above statements as to the need of a new constitution. This demand is a logical protest against toe continuance of a situation which makes progress in the political development of the state impossible. It is unmistakable evidence of the growing spirit of progress in state and local government.

THE MOVEMENT FOE A NEW CONSTITUTION

Only One Issue Involved at This Timo —Shall a Convention Be Called? J It should be borne clearly In mind that the movement commonly X referred to as a movement for a new constitution, which will be determined at the election this fall, to volves but a single issue at this Huge. The one question is, as the ballot Will read: ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN THE YEAR 1915? A fair determination of this main Issue should not be prejudiced in any part of the public mind by the overenthusiastic advocacy or opposition which may be urged concerning any special issue. All sueh special issues can only be determined later by ths constitutional convention, in case the people vote to call one. We are confronted now with the single broad question as to whether or not the people of Indiana want and need an up-to-date organic law. It was this general demand that was expressed by Governor Ralston when he recommended specifically, in his message to the Legislature of 1913, that a constitutiional convention be cabled. It was the recognition of this demand which caused the Legislature to submit the question to the people. And it was further recognised, and even emphasised, by political conventions, when they approved In state platforms the calling of a eonstitatlohal convention. Of course, various needs to be eto

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

fcodled in luwVWed eonstitn , tion wm be taaMsmOy urged during the course of the campaign. These proposals wffl receive discriminating consideration by the people, being, variously favored and opposed. But' there are fundamental needs upon* which all can practically agree. There 1 are others upon which toe moot vital dlfferences of opinion may exist, each and every one having its particular advocates as well as its opponents. There is no marked line of division separating these various elesssnts. 1 Let the educational treatment ot all of those matters continue throughout the campaign! It will surely tend, toward an awakened citizenship. But let no one expect to determine in advance what the convention will dp. Some of the matters which are being most prominently mentioned now for the consideration of the convention are: improvements .in our tax system; also in our qualifications for suffrage and in the conduct of elections; submitting equal suffrage; safe-guarding legislation and popular government by initiative, referendum and recall; changing the terms of legislators and of. officers generally} making voting more effective by direct and mandatory primary elections and by proportional representation; simplifying our administrative machinery by the short ballot; establishing qualifications for lawyers; bringing about the simplification ot our court procedure; making some labor reforms possible, such as workmen’s compensation and effective arbitration of labor disputes; taking the liquor problem out of politics and legislation; assuring a modem system of municipal government by providing for home rule for cities. These and others are being earnestly and fairly discussed. • All advocates of an up-to-date revision of the constitution may Join in the movement for a constitutional convention without discord ds to details. A non-partisan convention of delegates representing the whole people will pass upon all our specific needs later. It should be especially emphasized and remembered that this convention will submit separately all contested issues, to be determined by the people, each upon its own merits. By this means we shall have truly a people's constitution.

THE CHANGES OF 63 YEARS IN INDIANA

Mow They Have Made Our State Constitution Unequal to the Demands Put Upon It. It is no accident of polities or legislation that the question of calling a constitutional convention is upon us at this time. The present demand for a new constitution is a wholly natural expression of the expanding progressive sentiment in the stale and in our local communties. Our first constitution, adopted tn 181®, was discarded at the end <4 thirty-five years because outgrown to a generation of progress, and ow present constitution, adopted in 18SI, made to satisfy the needs and conditions of the middle of the nineteenth century. Now shall wo of the second decade of the twentieth century show less courage and progressive spirit in meeting the conditions that confront us? What fundamental changes have been wrought during the past 88 years of epoch making history may well give the people of Indiana occasion for profound thought. Our population has more than trebled. We have developed from an agricultural people to a cosmopolitan commonwealth, largely industrial In 1861 our largest city was New Albany, with only 7,786 inhabitants. Madison was second with 7,714. Indianapolis had 7,68®. There were only nine cities of more than 3,008 people. Today most of the counties of the state can boast a matropoUs greater than these frontier towns, and almost onehalf of our entire population is in towns and cities. The city of to dianapoUs contains about onedhMd the entire population of the state when our present constitution was ■adopted. This tendency from conn try to city Is rapidly increasing. From IMO to 19M ogr dty population 'increased 30.5%, white our rural population decreased 5.5%. * During those 83 years our factory laborers have increased from 14,483 to over 218,000; our annual manti factoring output, from 818,082,555 to 8570,000,000; our investment in manufacturing plants, from 37,750,403 to more than 3350,000,000. The so-called plants of 1861 consisted principally of small individual shope and mills. The total state tex levied at that time was >450,481.78. It now exceeds 8®,350,000. The 812 miles of railroad which existed in IMO, 134 miles of which had been constructed the preceding year, have expanded to a network of steam and electric lines threading every portion of the state. Indeed, the past 83 years hare taken us from the realm of the stage coach and the tow-path canal, and the accompanying simple life of that day, to a highly complex state of society, ‘calling for adequate machinery of organisation to direct it Our immeasurable progress in education, science, inventions and wealth has wotted problems that could not haM -been foreseen to Mil. The iMvttbWe logic of growth and Change hge compound goveromoat to nwintep > self with the mogt thtiiikto and MO- - rtiationn of bmmjm! and peep toty rights. Ttrnra W » Mtoftol M public utilities then, ft is a mod MM one MV. Wo wore Ml trunk-

V-e This week’s exhibi- rl a .'\ tion of Wooltex /ILJna k_ V presents the new 1 L ■ I I 1 11* i / I * / IL. in women’s /I ' /-1 tailored garments. I / topyrirht 1914 . _ W The H. BUck Co. " L Copmrbt 191* 4/ I The H. Black Ccu ' ’ This is Wooltex Week and our windows i and apparel sections are displaying in a ; most attractive manner, the various de- £ I lightful models in Wooltex coats, suits and skirts. Included in the display are the six beautiful garments illustrated in the Wooltex announcement in the current issue of the Saturday Evening Post. This is the time when the most satisfying selections can be made. *•' The various styles are displayed in a manner to show off all their exceptional merits and to give the fullest opportunity to compare and decide which of the many different styles are most becoming to you. We invite you to come and view the exhibition, whether you-areteady to make your purchases at this time or not. THE G. E MURRAY CO. The Store That Sells Wooltex Coats 1 " * . • -■' "■ . ’. . •**- \ A-.

led with toe floating foreign vote, and the machinery of elections was Mmparatively simple. Our present bffed of safeguarding the suffrage eauid net have been foreseen. Our antiquated general property tax, which was then fairly suitable to toe Sitoflle property forms of that day, is wholly inadequate now. The problems of city government, then of little moment, concern us tremendously today. These and other vital matters are Involved In the matter of calling a constitutional convention to bring our constitution up to date. We shall have toe opportunity this fall in voting for a constitutional convention to register a demand for modern forms of government

PUBLIC SALE. Of livery stock, at Remington, Indiana. As I am going to move away I will sell at public auction on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1914, commencing at 1 o’clock p. m., all my livery stock, consisting of horses, carriages, buggies, dray, hacks, harness, robes, blankets, stable tools, clippers, office furniture and fixtures, hay and feed. 17 sets good single harness; 8 sets good double harness; a number of good leather nets, some never used; 50 good leather halters; a number of blankets and robes. Terms— A credit of 10 months with interest at 6 per cent; under $lO cash; 2 per cent off for cash. ED SUTHERLAND; Col. W. H. Kenyon, Auct. Geo. A. Chappell, Clerk. There are between 20,000 and 21,000 registered in Lake county this year. This is from 1,500 to 2,000 less than were registered two years ago. During the depression - "of the past year many have left the factory districts of the Calumet region. (REPUBLICAN) Whs sot now? L ■ . ■

We want every lady and girl over 10 years of age to register at our store. You may in that way and at no cost ; whatever get that beautiful little Malleable Range in our*win-dow.—-E. D. Rhoades & Son. Order your Galling Cards at The Republican office

■ A Saving of I JS tn Fuel pn BbL JrIHET Wnh Soft Coal, Slack |H or Lignite. You get back the original cost of your stove in the fuel money saved each winter. Could you ask for more? Here is the Guarantee on ■ t,-. Cole’s Original || Hot Blast Heater ■ Backed Up in Every Particular by the Makens "I—A saving of one-third in fuel over any lower; draft stove of the same size, with soft coal, slack or lignite. “2— That Cole’s Hot Blast will use less hard coal hmm for heating a given space than any base burner Emß made with the same size fire pot. "3— That the rooms can be heated from one to two < hours each morning with the soft coal or hard coal put in the stove the evening before. "4— That the stove will hold fire with soft coal from Saturday night until Monday morning. “5—A uniform heat day and night, with soft coal, hard coal or lignite. “6—That every stove will remain absolutely air-tight as long as used. “7—That the feed-door is and will remain smoke and “B—That the Anti-Puffing Draft will prevent puffing. “All we ask is that the stove shall be operated according to directions and connected with a fflaßßEgßßib good flue. . “(Signed) COLE MANUFACTURING CO.” Not Inc. (Makers of the Original Patented Hot Blast Stove.) This Guarantee can not be made on any otKet Beatinn stove. a If you want economy and real home comfort, come in kt sell you one of these stoves* S* th z ?“**• ,9ch •*•••• <«»««• witAoat it WMjy Warner Bros.

Lafayette Germans forwarded IL' 000 in cash Tuesday to the German ambassador at Washington to be sent to the fatherland for the relief of wives and orphans of the European war. The society announced that another SI,OOO would be sent in a short time. Money was raised by popular subscription.