Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-08

pPrS, VINO tnlnk tney REPRESENT PiN
eress. These cure-all laws, substitute
for the inspired principles of our gov
ernment, are the product of compost
discomfort and cultivate d self-pit
until it becomes dangerous obsessio
| masquerading as modern thought.
ohio's case is peculiarly perniciou
and instructive.
In the November number of tn
| North American Review ex-Secretar.
| OF State Daniel ]. Ryan of Ohio, turn
the light upon the processes of con
stitution- making in that state in
period when both the Republican anr
the Democratic parties truekled to th'
Socialists, the single takers, the eX'
tremists among the labor leaders ane
all other varieties of discomfort. II
the first place the constitutional con
vention was called by means of
time-worn trick in ballot printing.
Buried in the sheet two feet long was
single line: Constitutional Con-
vention-Yes." Every Democrat and
Republican who cast straight bal
lot voted for the convention, and
there seems no doubt that four out of
each five voters did not read the
Joker"
During the campaign no newspaper
discussed a constitutional convention
and no Republican or Democratic
speaker referred to the matter. But
the Socialists, the single takers, the
trade unionists and other radicals
agitated persistently for the eonven-
ton. The ballot did present the
question squarely. though obscurely;
but the question as put in this way
was generally disregarded which
strengthens the conviction that the
convention was OBJ
tanned by ruse. MrsRyan does not
hesitate to say it was "a fraud upon
the majority of voters in Ohio
When it came to the election of
delegates TO the convention less than
rs per cent of the voters of the state
Nominations were b.
petition and sthe result was a medic
ere, unorganized and chaotic mass
nearly every unit of which had some
fad, reform or idea of his own to in
ject into the basic law" Forty-two
We're proposed and
four of them were adopted by
the voters. Then, il may be said,
the voters are responsible if bad
We're grated upon the
But constitutional
is supposed to be an au-
gust deliberative body, and the aver
age voter is disposed to do its bid
ding. Certainly he regards it as
fount of wisdom.
Most of the amendments adopted
are not fundamentally harmful and
have to do with domestic affairs. Mr..
Ryan deals intimately with the two
relating to the initiative
and referendum and to the welfare OF
because they interest
and affect not only the people of Ohio
but of the whole country" Under the
new Constitution legislation may BE-
initiated by only per cent. of the
number of votes cast for governor at
the last election. Arizona, Nevada
and New Mexico require 10 per
cent; Oklahoma and Oregon. s.;
North and South Dakota, 5. If the
refuses to enact the law
in Ohio 3 per cent. of the
voters can submit it to the people.
The effect must be to destroy the in
dependence of the General Assembly.
Six per cent. of the voters may also
refer to the people any law originat-
ing in and enacted by the General
Assembly Ten per cent. of the vot-
ers may propose an amendment to the
Constitution and submit it to the peo-
pie or the fraction Of them that go to
the polls. Publication of the pro-
posal for five weeks only is necessary.
1t is already the purpose of the single
takers to avail themselves of this OPP
portunity. -
The Welfare of Employees" amend
ment has a most vicious clause in the
tail of it, as will be noted: Laws
may be passed fixing and regulating
the hours of labor, establishing a
minimum wage and providing for the
comfort, health, safety and general
welfare of all employees; and no
other provision of the Constitution
shall impair or limit this power" OF
the astounding inhibition Mr.. Ryan
says that never before has it been
contemplated that all the constitu-
tional guarantees to personal ano
property rights should be made en-
tirely subject to the police power
The Ohio radicals reckoned without
.ho fo,,r4aantb aD,anannant tn tho Fed l.