Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1914 — A NEW CONSTITUTION FOR INDIANA [ARTICLE]

A NEW CONSTITUTION FOR INDIANA

Thl* Great Issue to Be Determined by the Voters at the November Election. The voters of Indiana will be called upon at the election of November 3rd to pass upon the question of calling a convention to revise the present state constitution. The most vital question that confronts the state to-day is this question of a new constitution. To vote Intelligently on it will require a careful study of the situation in Indiana on the part of the voters. It is important that they should have full infonpation as to the conditions imposed on the people by the present constitution and of the opportunities afforded by constitutional revision to better the situation. ,

The question will be put up to the voters by independent ballot on plain white paper 4 inches square contain ing the words, “ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION Ibt THE YEAR 1915?” In order to carry the proposition, a majority of all voters of the state voting at this election must vote “YES.” The normal vote in Indianh for candidates is about 700,000. 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 dp hot 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 secure 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 Tuesday after the first Monday in 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 by 100 voters of the district. No political party shall be permitted to nominate candidates. The election shall be non-partisan in every particular.

'1 he purpose of the act is plainly to secure a delegate convention which will be fairly of all the people of the state and to remove the necessity of serving partisan interests. It is to be fundamentally a people’s convention. The delegates elected .shall meet in Indianapolis on the first Monday in 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 new Constitution for the State of Indiana as such Convention may deem proper and which new Constitution shall be submitted to the vote of the people of the 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 separately or together, as to the 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 movement 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 functions.