The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1911-02-15
WOULD
OFFSET
MARSHALL
TIMES BUREAU,
AT STATE CAPITAL.

TIMES BUREAU.
AT STATE CAPITAL.
indianapolis. Ind. Feb. Ex-senator
Will R. Wood of Lafayette. the repub-
fican floor leader of the senate, late
yesterday afternoon introduced a bill
calling for cons titutional convention
to be held next October. It provides
that a special election shall be held
next September for the purpose of
electing delegates to the constitutional
convention. The convention shall have
the right to frame a new constitution
or amend the present constitution.
This bill by Wood is intended to OFF,
set the proposition of Governor Mar
shall for the present Legislature to
adopt a new constitution. Wood de-
clares Marshalls plan is not fair to all
the people.
The right of the people at any time
to change the method and form of theis
government, as secured to them by the
Declaration of Independence and the
bill of rights is given by Governor Mar
shall as the grounds which he bases
the assertion that the present general
ass emily may adopt an act providing
for new constitution, which shall be-
come effective and operative If the peo-
pie OF the state, at a subsequent cleo
ton decide in favor OF its ratification
I'm preparing for the step on which
we have embarked" said the governor,
~ examined the constitution of the
| state as adopted in 1916, and found it
| provided that every twelve years vote
| of the people should be taken to de-
termine whether or not they wished a
new constitution. Up to the sitting of
| the constitutional convention in 1851.
i 7 10 nd hoo fol
The general assembly. acting on its
own initiative in 1851 provided for a
constitutional convention without a
vote having been taken, and when that
| convention sat, one of the first ques-
tons which it took up was the consti-
| tutionality of its own existence
1T finally decided that 1t had full
power and right to exist as such con-
| vention and to act such. because
the Declaration Of Independence and
| the language of the bill of rights.
| which provided that the right of the
| people at any time to change their
| methods and form of government
] should be supreme. On this assumption
| the convention began and completed its
/ work.
I'm It's. consideration a question was
presented as to whether the constitu-
vide that it should never be changed or
amended except on petition of the peo-
pie for constitutional convention, and
the convention then in session declined
to- incorporate that provision on the
| theory that IL would be contrary to the
provisions under which the convention
| was then sitting and acting. and which
| was the source of all power. holding
expressly the right of the people to
| change their government whenever
| they saw fit to do So
/ with this in mind. the consritu-
| tional convention at that time included
in the bill of rights. under which we
are now operating, a clause specifically
declaring that the people have at all
times an indefensfble right to alter and
i reform their government Under this
right, we have proceeded here to pre-
sent to the eople of the state new
constitution for their ratification or re-
lection. according to their rights.
| THE supreme court from the begin
| ming of Its existence, has held consist
emily that the general assembly has the
| power to enact any legislation not ex-
pressly forbidden by the constitution
Had we any need of further right fol
our proposed action than what is con-
tanned in the constitution and Declare
ton of Independence and the bill oil
rights, we would have power to take
this proposed step, because the consti-
tuition does not forbid that such a ster
shall be taken. The constitution doe.
not prohibit the general assembly from
proposing a new constitution for the
consideration of the people"
Il Tho governor said that the move
ment was not projected as a party
mea sure,
This will only become a party meas
ure," he said, in the event one or TIL,
other of the parties. in the next state
stitution in its convention and the 9th
, err opposes it. 1t is not for me, wht
} presented the matter to the general as
sembly to say what the political par
, ties. either of them may do in tn
campaign of next year. 1 presente'
the matter to the general assembly be
cause / believe it to be right, and l an
prepared to defend 1t, either as a part.
measure or simply as a proposition t.
be put up to the people. regardless o
party
while I proposed the changes to tn
{: general assembly, it cannot be sal
: that they are my changes, or that tn
I plan is mine. The whole constitute
the result of mature and deliberat
e thought on the part of a great man
9 men, among them lawyers whose opin
Y highly. These lawyers, some of whoi