The Advocate and news., 1898-09-21

was plainly stated In the convention that
framed our national constitutions de-
sire to copy as nearly as practicable the
British House of Lords as a check by the
rich upon undesirable legislation OF the
people. One large house fresh from the
people might pass laws in the real inter
est of the common people; and to pre-
vent this awful possibility we must have
n Senate-a more select body elected for
a longer term. The Legislature should
consist of but one house, thoroughly rep
resentative and coming fresh from the
people. Let Kansas lead In this reform,
which constitutional convention could
adopt
E, The terms of judges should be no
longer than those of other officers The
theory that longer terms will keep judges
out of politics and prevent partisan bias
has not been approved by actual facts.
Judges have no more right than Gov
ernOrs to be independent Of the popular
will-that Is, Of public opinion. The old
idea that makes judges sort of sancti-
fed, priestly class who are not to be as
other men, but to be awful In their far
away ness, Is not only bosh but bore to
the judges themselves. Learned judges
have said to themselves, "- this
judicial dignity" and have taken to rid
ing wheels. One or two within my
knowledge have thrown aside the "er-
mine" to kiss pretty girls at picnics.
remember one Justice Of the United
States Supreme court who, while circuit
Judge, was on an excursion with some
friends, and remarked that when the
train crossed a certain State line he
would be permitted to be human once
more He was as happy as a schoolbOy
when friend at the card table delicately
limited that the State line had been
crossed by remarking, ITS your deal,
Dave!" / know a distinguished jurist
who at first refused to be nominated by
his party because a Judge was expected
to be like a --- preacher" These
gentlemen who look so solemn and ter
rible on the bench are human, and most
of them wish they could be allowed to
seem so. Let's have constitutional con-
vention and take the straight-jackets off
the judiciary. Give the boys chance.
The objections usually urged are the
expense and the danger to prohibition.
II the convention cost $500 day and sat
a hundred days the expense would be
about cents to each inhabitant, or
about Is cents TO each voter in the State
think we could stand that, especially In
these years OF prosperity. Republicans
assure us we are prosperous, but they
object to having the citizen set groaning
under the onerous burdent Of Is cents
taxes!
AS to prohibition, it seems to me prohi-
bitionists should reflect whether there
may not be truth In the old lines:
He either fears his fate too much
Or his deserts are small,
Who daTes not put It to the touch
TO gain or lose 1t all.
But must a million and half Of people
be imprisoned forever within an out
grown constitution lest hundred sots
might be able to drink themselves to
death and become decent? Have the
sober and Industrious no rights the pro-
hibitionists are bound to respect? Are
the idle. dudish sons of men who would
deem It disgraceful for their children to
work to have temptation kept out OF
their feeble way at the expense OF stagna-
tiol. to the entire population of pro-
gressiye State? Teach these scions OF
plated nobility to be men, instead OF
protecting" the delicate things by con-
vertlng the whole State into an asylum
for the feeble-minded. The new constl-
tuition would have to be voted upon by
the people, and what the people wanted
would have to be and ought to be. That
is true democracy.
But, remember, the present proposl-
ticn Is not to call convention. 1t Is
only that the people shall be permitted to
vote on the question whether conven-
ticn shall be called II the coming Legis-
lature should submit the proposition, 1t
would be voted on in 1900; and, II car
ried the Legislature Of 1901 would pro-
vide for the convention, which would
probably sit that year Then the pro-
posed constitution would probably be