The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-06-20

convention. 1t will end with the spe-
cial election on the Sd of September.
There can be no conceivable objec-
ton to the most Of these amendments
The larger part of them involve no dis
puted questions. The man who does
not take the trouble to examine these
amendments for himsef ought to ac-
cept the judgment Of the delegates IN
the convention who spent five months
work upon them
But there are several amendments
of major Importance which involve
mooted questions, and about which
most voters are likely to have more or
less positive convictions. Such is the
woman's suffrage amendment and also
the liquor license, abolition Of capital
punishment, municipal government,
judicial reform and initiative and ref
erendum amendments.
Before the campaign is over these
much-discussed amendments Will
doubtless be known to the people by
their ballot numbers. The ballot is
so devised that the voter can cast a
negative or an affirmative vote upon
each amendment separately. The
amendments are placed on the ballot
in the order in which they will appear,
If incorporated in the constitution. Op-
posite each amendment is number
Woman suffrage is No. %. The liquor
license amendment has no ballot mum.
Der. That will appear at the top Of
the second column, standing alone.
This is the only one which will not
be found with number in the first
column.
The initiative and referendum will
be No. 6. "a half-million majority for
No g." This campaign cry has al
ready been raised. 1t is likely to
prove a popular slogan. Buttons with
this motto will no doubt be a common
sight. 1t is easier to say No. than
to say initiative and referendum, and
the shorter name will be a popular
favorite.
The advertisement of these amend.
ments will be so thoroughly done in
the next few weeks that copy Of
them, accompanied by concise expla
nation, will reach practically every
voter in the state. Aside from the
official advertising to be done by the
convention, much will also be done
by individual initiative. Literature
dealing with the more important of
these amendments will be distributed
everywhere. Every grange meeting
held this summer should be devoted
to discussion of these amendments.
Meetings should be held in every
county of the state, and the delegate
from that county to the convention
should be called in to tell about the
amendments and answer questions.
A bureau of speakers will be organ.
lied, and the more noted public men
of the state will be ready to respond to
invitations to address public meetings.
II the officers of any grange, CONNER.
cial, labor or civic organization in the
state will address a letter to me at
Columbus will cooperate with them
in obtaining good speaker
1t will be great thing for the state.
the educational value of the campaign
will be incalculable. Nothing but good
can come of million voters of q com
monwealth engaging in three
months discussion of the fundamental
principles of their government.
This is not politics. 1t is citizen
ship. 1t is patriotism of the highest
order, to endeavor to organize the
state on sound principles of justice
and good will. 1t is one way Christian
citizens have of helping little to an.
swer their own prayer, "Thy l.ingdom
come, Thy will be done on earth"