Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1911-10-10
THE BLUE BALLOT PROPOSITION AS EXPLAINED
BY HON. FRANK SPRINGER A LEARNED AND
PROMINENT ATTORNEY Of SAN MIGUEL COUNTY

~ ~ PROCLAMATION NNtniulnkNs
THIS blac ballot amendment. which
W" are thus required IA vote upon g.
designed 10 change tine article OF the
constitution a. nov adopted In regard
10 the method of making umund-
inents o. DO In the future IN" theory
of the .uustitution. as already ap.
proved ht the people. b. that when.
ever there shall arise q pronounced
ana wid'prrad desire for change.
prevalent through the stntc. and in
which the ur0pie OF the state are gem
orally Interested. 80 that this demand
represents beyond question the settled
public opinion of the state. such a.
change can boz had by vote OF two
thirds OF inr legislature ratified bA
majofit, "I the votes cast upun the
question az general election in at
least holi tb" counties. provided that
such mnjuri, shall represent an uf-
nrmativr vote of at least 80 pet ccur
oi thos" voting 80 tho election
That L. Goo Say. " q change s gen.
orally desired los the people of the
whole state with sufficient earnest.
ness that tNp-thirds 90 III i.gislu-
turr ANA 40 per cent of those VINO
vote upon other questions. 90. iu n.
yor OF a. and that 90 Der cont l. d.,
majority uf those voting upun 10 boo
halt the counties. such chuusc cam
be made within the timc of one lcais.
laturr and one general election
Amendments may also bc proposed
ba a majority OF the legislature aud
similarity ratified ono, in cieht
years, hut thr plan have stated.
except ns to csrt.in matters Of suf-
irage that are specially excepted ap-
piles 10 all times and lil subjects Tho
number 81 amendments that can bo
proposed nt onr time ~ limited 10
tarcc. and tn, must 10, pee stated that
the voters MAY volt. upon them seq.
afatciy Thorc dor- not appear Co boz
anything unreasonable or impo-.ihi.
in this ana a,k YOU 10 bear 90 in
mind IN connection with what b. loV
proposed and N1.t has been dome
in other statrs
The blue ballot amendment pro-
posses 10 substitute Tor tails al rnfirrl,
different method OF changing tho
constitution. Dos Which any legislature.
80 any time. 3, majority vote. may
propose 49, MANY amendments ~ 10
choustS, ana that these MAY Boz sun.
miited to the people. cithtr at a gen.
"ral election. when other matters are
voted upon, ur Jt special election 60
b. held for that purpose alone and
that ans amendment so proposed and
submitted. " ratlhcd by majority OF
those voting upon u. M matter how
small that sot, may be-. shull become
a. NO.
this proposition has been called oae to
provide Tor the ca~, dm' ndmrat uf
tn constitution. and THIS term Is be-.
ina medc the most Of bv ~ authors
nnd promoters, who expect that many
people Wiil favor l ul account ~ this
name, without tasting the trouble CO.
nnd out for themselves what ~ really
means
TN" Republican platform has de-.
ciar"d against this proposed amend
nrnt. urging an voters Go stand 1N
tho constitution. lust ~ it Nas rntihed
by the people to vote against the
blue ballot amendment. aud 90 rcly ON
the provisions now in the constitution
Tor us tuturo amendment. whvncy or
" may bo deemed nccr-ury This has
realty by the Republican platform.
but IN my opinion n should have boon
made so. because the issue has brcu
squarvk forced upon a. o., the p,mu-
Gratis AZ political ISSUE u tIDU aud
there H. 80 avoiding ~ It. O. prW-
ocratic proposal out aud out devised
by fcW ~ their leaders for th, pun.
posc OF accomplishing in one way
what they failed % do iH another.
a1d Il IN now taken up aud endorsed
as u distinct party ciaim by their state
convention. ~ h. th, same old night
upon which they haN. been twice de-
feated. hut under another name. when
tac constitution was submitted Go she
people for ratihcattun. the Democrat,
party, Ia convention held 80 Santa
Pc, formally ana definitely opposed o.
because among other things IL did not
contain some provisions Tor which "a,
party had contondcd in tho election oi
delesates to thu constitutional CON
yentiou, and on which it had ,crn dee
feated 10 the extent 81 tWo 60 one oi
the delegates. Whiir uot making a
= ute upon tho constitution O. test 81
party fraity. Il nevertheless gave thir-
teen reasons upon wh,Dt % urged the
voters to reject t pn this PROPOSE
tlun b vas defeated by the largest
majority rvrr given iu Sew Mexico
upon contested issue Then the do
| feated leaders transferred their acti.'
lties e. Washington. and hy the aid OF
| the Democrats 300 congress succeeded
| In forcing MS Go vote again upon what
TX the same old proposition In ncv
| form which has been twice turned
| down by thu people ~ New M"xic,
| by tremendous and decisive ma iori
| ties True IL ducs not contain. %
| specihc terms the details ~ thos
twice defeated coutcniions. bat IN Ia
guisc ~ sli,terlng generality u IN
drriakes to provide q quick and easl
wa, b, which they can be rcyive>
and put through a. a matter % part
politics. whenever the chances pf th
samo may give them q temporar
majority
The blue ballot amendment In
nut shell, proposes that the constitu
tlon may he changed. nsw provision
inserted or old ones repealed, 40 an
time and In any number. hy q mer
majority of those Who take enough m
teren to vote upon it That is 10 sa'
that constitutional provisions lnVol'
| lna tha fttuIunA.ufuI fvuk I.fHua az utl