The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-24
IN SENATE.
FRIDAY. Jan. %. 1850 a. N.

FRIDAY. Jan. %, 1850 a. n.
cossTITUTIoEAL CONVENTION.
Lieutenant Governor Manson said: The
Senator fr IN Posey mas the floor on the
special ord'r.
Mr.. MAY: think the question of call
ing q Constitutional Convention has been
settled in way binding upon majority OF
the members of the General Assembly. In
a country OF this kind, where all our State
and National Governments are djssimilar In
many respects to the Government OF Ea-
gland, l should regret 70 see our country
retrograde By adopting the institutions of
England. For instance, hope ii will never
come to pass in this country that representa-
tives shall be elected from districts out of
which they reside. as members of ParIia-
ment are elected While the Senator from
Wayne [Mr. Foulkel in many of his argu-
ments is in advance of the times, in other
propositions he is behind the times For
instance, he Is in advance of the times when
he urges that there ought 10 be q provision
IN the Constitution for woman suffrage. hi
model Government Of England mas neve
attempted to 90 so far as that.
Mr.. F0ULKE (interruphrg): Is the SEN
stor not aware that IN England women are
entitled to vote IN all municipal elections?
Mr.. MAY: Women in this State are al
lowed to vote in district school meetings,
but not in matters of National Importance.
And i am opposed 10 following the civil
service system OF the English Government.
The intention OF American institutions is
that the people are sovereigns-that they
sbsli choose their officers from time to time,
ard their tenure OF Office is not to be per-
retGsl can see but two or three argu-
II ents urged by the Senator from Wayne in
favor OF his bill for Constitutional Conven-
ton. You might engraft into 8 new Consti-
tuition prohibitory amendment, but unless
the people elect Legislatures in accord with
that provision, no such legislation would be
enacted. Can you show me when the Gen.
eral Assembly has acted under the new pro-
visions of the Constitution in regard TO fees
ard salaries? The same thing may be said
O. wcman's Suffrage were Constitutional
provisions enacted. On these propositions
the Senator Is II advance OF the times. The
question of calling Constitutional Conven-
ton hes been settled by the people at the
polls, and / think the peoples voice para
mount to the Legislature. / don't care how
plsusibie the arguments are IL favor OF il,
II the people are against IL We ought TO stand
BY the people, who have voted against ii.
u is the duty of every Democratic Senator.
who reprents Democratic constituency, or
who is identified with the party, to vote
against the bill calling this constitutional
Convention. The only question is what is
the sentiment oil the people of Indians, and
having found that out. 1t is our duty to
hb6e by il. For that reason | propose to
vote against this bill. I know my psople
are opposed to it, and that is about the only
reason l baye for saying what I have said.
j believe ii is the 6usv of Senators to place
themselves on record on .'is proposition.
Mr.. MAGEE: The pos .on the two po-
Htlcal parties ind themselves in shows with
what facility We can change our opinions
upon important questions. Four years ago
Democratic members favored the calling OF
Constitutional Convention. but the Repub-
lean members and they were in the ma
JoTity, opposed it. Two years ago, with
that facility which has always characterized
that psrty tor changing its front, ii favored
the calling OF Constitutional Convention
and the Democrats opposed it. In the lsst
campaign It was direct issue made with
the people, and upon that there has been q
judgment. This argument for convention
is like the argument OF an attorney who,
after judgment, insists there has been some
error In the Judgment and wants TO reopen
IL. On this side we are assured we have the
communication of the people. The people
Of Indiana, by over p 600 majority in a
vote of nearly 800, 900, have declared they
do not want Constitutional Convention.
While agree with the Senator from Wayne
(Hr. Foulke) in q great many propositions
he stated yesterday, there are great many
In which / disagree. / never thought we
needed q Constitutional Convention. The
trainers OF that instrument wisely put upon
IL provision that viii meet every demand
the progress or development of the State
may require.
If the material PROCESS and development
OF the State should make new demand
upon the people, and If the Constitution
don't quite cover these new interests, we can
propose by action here in the General As
Yembly such amendments as will meet the
immediate and necessary want. This Con-
stitution was made two generations ago.
At that time there was no corporation
wealth scarcely in the State. and as yet no
one has complained that the provisions OF
this instrument are not equal to any
emergency in relation to the care of those
great interests.
don't see any good result that can come
from calling Constitutional Convention.
The people are familiar with our present
Constitution, and the practice and forms
under 1t which have been maintained for
the past thirty-three years, and il we wipe
out this old instrument under which we
have progressed from a people of less thar
loO0o0 to over 100000, We might enter
upon radical reforms which would take
another generation to settle.
Now i wish TO call the attention OF the
Senate to a question of dollars and cents.
had statement prepared for me by the
Auditor OF state, and while / would not
base the calling OF Constitutional Conven-
ticu upon mere money consideration, yet
lthinE that ought 10 have some weight with
members of this General Assembly. The
comparative cost of q Constitutional Con-
vention. which do not believe is one OF the
demands OF the hour. is Sl62. $50 We have
already torn out some of the bsrbarisms OF
the present Constitution, and I hope If
viii be left to q Democratic Legislature
10 strike out the word sshlacku where II
occurs N .he Constitution, as the browning
nct of the democratic party. / think | am
~ liberal ia my political views as any Re-
ppolican l ever met. l believe in the broad
est liberty TO every man. l believe every
man ID this county ought to have the pro.
lection OF the law, no matter what his social
condition or what the color of his skin The
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