Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-10-08
The constitutional Amendments.

The fundamental law of the state of
Pennsylvania plainly prescribes the
methods of altering or amending 1t.
Article XVIII, Section /, reads: ANY
amendment or amendments to this con-
stitution may be proposed in the senate
or house of representatives, and If the
same shall be agreed to by majority
of the members elected to each house.
such proposed amendment or amend
ments shall be entered on their Jour
nails with the ayes and nays taken
thereon, and the secretary of the COM
monwealth shall cause the same to be
published three months before the next
general election in at least two news
papers in every county in which such
newspapers shall be published; and II
in the general assembly next after
wards chosen such proposed amend
ment or amendments shall be agreed
to by majority of the members elect
ed to each house the secretary of the
commonwealth shall cause the same to
be published in the manner aforesaid;
and such proposed amendment or
amendments shall be submitted to the
qualified electors of the state in such
manner and at such time at least three
months after being so agreed to by the
two houses as the general assembly
Shall prescribe; and if such amendment
or amendments shall be approved by
majority of those voting thereon.
such amendment or amendments shall
become a part of the constitution"
1t will be observed that there is
nothing equivocal or uncertain about
that. The secretary of the common
wealth is allowed no option in the mat
ter. 1t is not stated that he may cause
the same to be published. The man
datory form is employed, and it is
stated emphatically that "the secretary
of the commonwealth SHALL cause
the same to be published" The COVER
nor is no part or parcel of the proceed
ings. His name or office is not men
toned directly or by implication in the
section. But the secretary of the COM
monwealth is given part and the peo-
pie have share in the work, and the
legislature is factor, and If each of
thSoS Wv tCi lllllSS anu Il certain
result is worked out by their concur
rent action, "such amendment or
amendments shall become a part of
the constitution" The legislature NAV
fail In its part, and the purpose is de-
feated. The people may vote adverse
ly, and the work becomes abortive. But
the secretary of the commonwealth
cannot default in the performance of
his part. The constitution says he shall,
and as his oath binds him to Support,
obey and defend" the constitution, he
must fulfill his part of the routine in
the work of amending the constitution.
This is as plain as the English Ian
guage can make it. 1t is so obvious
that a blind man can see it.
But what did the present secretary of
the commonwealth do under the direc-
tion of the governor and the "power
behind the throne?" He failed to
"cause to be published three months
before the next general election" after
the form and manner prescribed, the
amendments to the constitution pro-
posed in the house of representatives
at the last session of the legislature and
agreed to by majority of the mem
bers elected to each house." These
amendments were in the interest of
honest elections. They were intended
to promote the purity of the ballot,
and because the governor and his mas
ter, the power behind the throne" is
opposed to honest elections, the secre-
tary of the commonwealth was COM
PEELED to violate his oath of office and
trample the constitution, the funda-
mental law of the state, under foot
For that crime he ought to have been
impeached. Because of that violation
of the constitution and his oath he
might be disqualified from ever again
holding office. But he will go unpun-
ished unless the people punish him at
the coming election by turning his par
ty and himself out of office, for when
he is once out he will be out forever