Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-03-02
SuFFRAcisT 4coRE9
CONSTITUTION Makers

Washington, March c.-'Tt seems to
have been the idea Of the fathers who
made the constitutions, both federal
and state, that they possessed all the
wisdom in the woGld, and that future
generations would be hpbectlo ana IN
capable of self government" said MIS-
Antoinette Funk. Of the congressional
committee OF the National Woman
Suffrage Association.
THE fathers assumed that what
they put together was 20 well nign
perfect that change would never be
necessary. and state and nation are
now suffering from graveyard rule.
The cumbersome and unfair method o.
amending the United States consfttu-
ton by a two.thirds vote OF e4ch mousse
of congress and a ratthcat1on ov
three fourths OF the states constitutes
an approximately perfect obstruction
toward progress. and as we look hope
fully toward the various states we nno
the situation etill more Desperate
There is a popular fiction that tins
people can amend their state constftu-
tons when they like, but they can NOT
they can only amend them when the
legislatures Of the various states are
willing to permit them. In some states
a resolution must pass the LEGISLATURE
both branches-by two n1fds vote
at two sessions and then must be suo-
mitted to the people to be carried py
a majority of those voting at q gen
eral election.
Il hope that Senator Cummins Will
be able to put thru his resolution TOT
an easier method of amendment. IL
is contrary 10 common sense ana to
free government to say that . ma
jority OF the people shall not rule. we
are tied and bound by the narrow
ideas and circumscribed views OF PEG.
pie who lived $50 years ago. In nine
out of ten cases II is found that these
constitutions had their origin IN the
desire Of special privilege to perpetuafe
it's so-called vested rights Men
who accumulate great wealth. ike
those who have acquired vested prop
erty rights. fear that future genera
tons will dissipate the wealth OF re-
call the privileges they have obtained.
These men tie up their wealth In huge
piles by iroQclad wills. They ne up
the people with constitutions Almost
impossible Of amendment and winch
prevent the people from obtaining
those things which new conditions anu
the progress of the country demands
Everywhere the suffrasists meet the
constitutional barrier. With ma
jority of the present voters for eauai
suffrage in most of the states we have
found it impossible 10 even secure the
submission OF an equal suffrage amend
ment because two-thirds or three
fourths Of each branch Of state ieSls-
latures is necessary. 1t Is surprising
that the suffrage movement has mace
aur headway under such conditions.
These are laws made by men, not
women, and in making them no consid-
Grafton was given 10 the rights nor
demands Of one-half Of our citizens.
1t is hard enough for people 10 SUI.
fer for their own mistakes. 1t is siili
harder for them to suffer for the mis-
takes and shortcomings Of others Ihe
time is close at hand when the great
rule Of democracy must prevail ana
when the people themselves must de-
eide the question OF suffrage. They
are no longer willing to be bound by
the powers given by constitutions to
LEGISLATURES controlled and manipu-
lated by political machines and politician
hosseso