South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-02
THE CONSTTTUTIOSAL MOVE
MINT.

The decision OF the United States su-
preme court confirming the holdings
OF the Indiana courts with regard to
the submission OF the sO-Called Tom
Marshall constitution 10 the people
for adoption. removes the last vestige
OF doubt as 10 the necessary course TO
pursue II a new fundamental law is
ever 20 be had in this state.
Amendment TO the constitution as a
whole is out OF the question. for that
~ exactly what the Marshall consti-
tuition attempted 10 do. When the
trainers of the present document neg
lected 10 make provision therein for
revision. or new constitution making.
they left the state so far as future con
stttutions are concerned. virtually IN a
condition OF anarchy. as they found it.
Sfth no machinery for overcoming
that condition. Happily. however, the
state legislature. last winter. found an
orderlT way out by resorting TO the
referendum, and. If the people want
. new constitution they can have it by
merely saying so.
This act Of the last legislature is at
present receiving bout as much at
tentiOn as any law passed by that
body. Agencies throughout the state
with some special consideration 10 ad-
vance are interesting themselves in
the election TO be held mex year. and
the influences that will favor a ma
iority vote for a constitutional con-
vention promise to wax great.
The Anti-Saloon league. for instance,
is to be in the saddle for a cOnstitu-
tiona1 convention with the end in view
OF having a prohibition provision in
corporated into the states funda-
mental law.
The proposed federation Of Indiana
progressive democrats suggested at
the Peoples Rule league dinner at
Moose hall. Saturday night, will make
new constitution getting a funda-
mental feature OF it's work. A more
direct primary. state wide. and the
initiative referendum and recall, are
the principal provisions these people
are after.
At Indianapolis there is a Constitu-
tional Equality league that will work
for success in this fundamental vote,
and we presume there are others OF
which we have never heard.
1t looks as though the demand for
a constitutional convention might win.
almost TO a certainty. The only thing
likely to prevent it is hat it requires
a majority vote Of all who vote at the
e.ection. Which IS a state and con-
s~ressionaI election. and not merely a
majority OF those who vote for or
against the measure.
Then there are half a dozen other
referendums that must be voted on,
which may cause this one to be over
looked in some instances. a feature
that is giving those hoping for sue
cess for their movement. their chief
concern.
But the Marshall constitution is def
nitely out OF the way now. and steps
toward a constitutional convention
have placed il we'll under way. Let
the agencies that favor IL proceed. \
new constitution. properly constructed.
Will be good for the state. whether all
the l6oa VI iucSe SpcCidl deSutleS get
recognition or not
Upon the ashes OF the Marshall en-
de0vOr let it be hoped that a new con
ststutfon will be reared Phoenixlike-
or something 10 that effect.-that will
- a credit 10 the state. and that will
be as good or better than what the
ex-governor would have given us. this
IS a. to the interest that
he aroused in spite of his failure.