The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-07-20
Receives Favorable Comment
From Reputable Newspapers
FULL OF LOGIC AND FORCE
LEARNED SENATOR SHOWS FAM.
ILiARITY WITH IMPORTANT
SUBJECT.

Of New Mexico and Arizona. The prin.
opal objection to the Now Mexico
constitution is that the power of
amendment is not suf'i 'iertly elastic
that amendments viii be too difficult
to obtain. With the criticism | am
unable to agree. 1t seems to me that
the proposed constitution of New
Mexico, like that of Arizona, may he
Justly criticized for ignoring the
principle that constitutions are made
TO declare and establish fundamental
law as distinguished from ordinary
legislation. Both constitutions exhibit
an unfortunte tendency to deal over.
much with mere details which should
have been left to legislation. That,
however, is an incident with which
we should not, ! think, undertake to
deal. Legislative acts should be ca
pable of being readily changed to
suit the sometimes rapidly changing
needs of the community, but consti-
tutions are, or should be, declarations
Of the permanent, settled, broadly
fundamental policies of the state
not to be lightly altered upon the
mere caprice of the moment, but on.
ly after the most serious and DELHI
crate consideration.
Prof Stimson admirably states the
distinction, as follows:
THE Constitution is the permanent
will of the people: the law is but the
temporary act OF their representatives
who have only such power as the
people choose to give them"
II the Constitution of the United
States had provided for its own
amendment as easily as some few of
the State constitutions provide, that
great instrument would long since
have become a medley of incongru.
Gus provisions and patchwork of the
shifting foibles of every generation.
A written constitution means nothing
unless II means stability and perma-
nency. 1t is the fundamental law, the
foundation upon which rests the
whole superstructure of the state
and, like the foundation of great
buildink, the continual tearing out of
stone here and the insertion of an
other there win threaten the integrity
nj the whole structure. TO call a
constitution which may change with
every shifting breath of popular
emotion fundamental law" is per
version of language. Such constitu.
ton is not to be likened to the foun,
dation of an edifice, but rather to
the weathercock upon the steeple
that simply registers the direction OF
each passing breeze.
The objections to the New Mexico
constitution, compared with the Ari
iona constitution, are not 10 my
mind, of serious character and
shall not spend further time in thei
discussion, but confine myself 10 tn,
Arizona constitution; and inasmuch a
the features of that instrument whicl
seem to me Objectionable are Illustra
tive Of what | conceive to be an ur
wise dangerous, and growing ter
dency toward the gradual Drealdn
down OF the American system Of go,
eminent throughout the country
shall discuss the subject in a soE,
what general way ! am aware Of Ia
fact that it is not fashionable TO lin
fault with any of the new-fangled 7,
i'tcal fads which are being rattle
Unexpectedly advocated under III
claim of restoring a government /
the people. Anyone who doubts Il
wisdom OF the initiative and refere
dun, the recall. or the direct primad
is at once set down by certain sci
constituted guardians of the people