Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-13
Hendricks Speaks.

INDIaNAPoLIs, Aug. 12.--Mr. Hendricks
opened his campaign to-day at Marion, Grant
county. He began his speech by saying that
as governor he had recommended the changing
OF State elections from October to November,
but the legislature had coupled with his pro-
position q registration law which he did NO.
recommend aud which he deemed unfortunate.
Such laws should be left TO the discretion OF
the legislature and not placed in the constitu-
tion. very large body of the
peOple opposed the amendments on that
account. The vote upon them WAS had last
April. plurality was for the amendments
but not q majority of the voters os the State,
not msjnrity or the voters who voted at that
election. Upon case that came up from
Floyd county, the supreme court decided hat
the amendments had not been adopted. Upon
the question of law the Democratic judges
were equally divided, and the decision was pro-
nouRc=d by Judge Biddle, who Ia
not Democrat but independent
in politics. The Republican leaders have hoped
and Iaoored TO make political capital out of
that decision, 10 that they will fail, The
court Is the accepted tribunal under our coz.
stitution and laws for the ssttlem aut of such
questions. Ia the cause of good and stable
government the people vii sustain the
court. think the court was right. So you
co not think SOP are you willing that our
constitution and form of STATE government
saal! be changed by less than half the people.
The legislature that represents all The people
csnnot put over us any Law except by vote of
Il majority of ali the members elected. Of the
one hundred members Of the House fully fifty
one, and OF tue fifty senators twenty-siX must
vote for q Law before it can
be over US. full majority of
all the people, through their representatives.,
must assent before it eau be over as. A. full
Is,rrf rfrr., all .lx,-, -,
resentatives, mnes assent heforea law can be
made or changed.
Would you have the State government itself
liable to change by tee less expression of the
will OF the people? The constitution protects
our magnificent school fund from any loss
Can that be changed by less that half OF the
people?
By constitutional provisions we are made
secure IN all our personal and domestic rights.
Who demands modification unless full half
of the people consent?
In the constitution Of the United States our
Fathers expressed their appreciation of the high
importance of the stability and the perform.
ance of constitutional law. Tha. great instru-
ment can be amended only by two thirds Of
both branches of Congress-, and By the
legislature of three-foprths of the States. No
change in either the State or federal constitu-
ton should te possible, except upon the ma
ture judgement and deliberate action
OF tho people. 1t is better that we
bear for awhile the Inconvenience of frequent
elections, rather than impair the stability of
our institutions. II a proposed change of
government is not Of sufficient public interest
Co command the approval of at least halt the
voters, the necessity for its adoption cannot be
very pressing. Take time foE deliheration.
Strike off objectionable provisions. Allow I'll
people to consider 1t again. If then adopted,
it will almost certainly be right.
In this case thousands of the people arc
afraid of the registration Law. They have
heard that in other looa lities that law is used
as an instrument of fraud and corruption and
they would rather not imbed 1t in the copsti.
tuition, but leave it to legislative discretion.