Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 239, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1914 — THE MOVEMENT FOE A NEW CONSTITUTION [ARTICLE]

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

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.