Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-12-10
Constitution Assures the
Sovereignty of the People
By Hon.
Frank Springer.

for themselves. they delivered them
selves hand and foot ana for all time,
10 the control OF the peoples elected
Iagents. These charges are stock
catch phrases, thai iv0k startling IN
bold newspaper headlines. and have
some Influence with those who never
read any farther. But TO thoueht-
full observer they do not ia this case
ring true or sincere and if we could
look into the minds of the persons
who make them, we should see that
their real crouch against the majority
in The convention is, that 1t did not
put into the constitution some evl-
dence Of corporate domination which
they could use as n valid argument
against it, No, this Is politics. pure
and simple; II is merely playing the
game And II is refreshing 70 one
who, though q life long republican
has never been bitter partisan, to
see so many fair-mindcd and patriotic
men in the democratic party VINO 40
not take a hand, but VIII accept the
constitution as q fair and reasonable
compromise Of diverse views. 1t Is
immensely to their credit, as citizens
of the commonwealth, that they take
this position, as il Is also 20 the credit
OF the majority whose action made II
possible for them to do so.
When the critics, IN saring head
lines. bewah the Surrender OF the
peoples rights. the one ana only
thing they specify ~ that tho con-
vention refused to adopt the new fad
of direct legislation as q panaeea Tor
all ills, but WAS content 70 follow the
principles of the federal government,
and OF over 90 per cent Of the other
states. This issue may be safely lett
To the sober second thought Of the
people. The way it is stated Is mis-
leading ana untrue. The people sur
render no rights. They remain SOW
creign and supreme 1t is only
question as TO how their sovereign
powers can be most efficiently ana
prudently exercised The whole de-
velopment OF modern society ana in
dustry Is founded upon the idea OF
division Of labor, by which each mem
Der of the community gives attention
10 the things for which he has capac-
ity or opportunity, and delegates the
rest to others. II q man wants 70
build a house, he employs q carpeh-
ter, because better fitted for 1t By
training and experience. and he tries
to select one who will do a good job,
land do it honestly. II his child Is H.
he calls in the physician in whose
SIKH he confides. If his legal rights
are In danger, he resorts 10 the lawyer
whom he trusts. If he holds stock in
"a railroad or factory he does not un-
dertake TO run the business himself,
but joins with others in electing di-
rectors and managers who under
stand il, holds them responsible for
results, and votes them out If they fail
to make good. In short, he selects
other men whom he trusts, for the
things which they can do better than
ne. or which are not convenient for
him, and he does not, in daily life, un-
dertake TO do these things himself lie
spends a good part OF his life IN Sc
lecting other men to do something
for him which he cannot do himself,
or do as well. Hence the thing which
he studies earliest. and deepest, and
Longest, is his fellow man To know
something about his fellow citizens
with whom he has to deal in the mani
fold affairs OF life, whether they are
capable, honest and trustworthy Is a
matter of daily necessity In all these
things, the most solemn, serious, and
ltinually the one function which by his
necessities and his experience he Is
best qualified for, viz. to choose the
proper man r. therefore. with all
this practical education in the judg-
ing and selecting of men, he Is not
liable by his vote TO choose proper men
to make his laws, IN deliheration with
other men similarly chosen, how can
he be expected to do better making
them himself? Or.if it must be said,
as the proposition assumes. that men,
however good, become bad as soon as
elected to the legislature, then we had
better admit that civilized society Is "a
failure, and 20 back TO barbarism,
where every man Is a law unto him
self
Nothing Is perfect In this world
Evils and abuses will creep in now, as
lalways. The way to combat them is
not with fads and panaceas, but by
the citizen doing his own duty, in the
Thing whereof he knows, and with in
telgent use OF his sovereign power
electing competent and trustworthy
men to public office.
Burlington, Iowa, December /, 1910.