The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1914-09-17
Amendments No. 7 and s.

Amendments No. Z and s.
Jefferson City, Sept. 12th.-Th
sixth of the series of arguments o
the measures to be submitted to vot
at the coming election, was today is
sued by Secretary of State Corneliu
Roach. Those wishing to vote in
telligently on Amendments Sever
and Eight should preserve this article
The sole purpose in giving these ar
guments is to furnish information Il
the voter, and the Secretary of Stat
is in no way responsible for assertions
made on either side of any subjec
discussed.
The champions of Amendment No
7give the following reasons why the
measure should be adopted:
This amendment will enable the
State Legislature to pass bill which
will pension the worthy blind. Other
States are doing this, and it has been
proven that the small cost to the state
is more than made up in the fact that
the small allowance helps them to
pay guides to assist in going to work
they are qualified TO do. 1t does not
mean maintaining them in luxurious
idleness, but gives them a minimum
income that enables them to help
themselves.
The movement has been Endorsed
by the Central Trades and Labor
Unions, the Conference of Charities
and Corrections, and many other
leading organizations.
If through no cause Of your own,
you were to become suddenly blind
how would you support yourself?
Suppose you were dependent on your
income, as blind people usually are,
what kind of living could you earn?
believe, if you will answer these
questions in your mind, you will
readily understand the need of your
vote and support in this movement.
Opposing Argument.
The reasons given by the opponents
of Amendment No. 7 why it should
be voted down are as follows:
This amendment should not be
adopted because it is paternalistic.
The Government has discharged its
duty when it guarantees peace, liber-
ty and equal opportunity 10 all alike.
A system of pensions has always
proved bad thing, for as soon as
one class is pensioned another ap-
plies. We hear of pensions for
soldiers, for police, for firemen, for
preachers, for teachers, and so on.
Where will it end? Ii such a propo-
sition as this carries, our children and
grandchildren will be paying pensions
for all kinds and classes Of people
without number, thus ultimately tax
ing the people into poverty and the
Government into bankruptcy. A
pension system is death to self reli-
ance. Rob humanity of its self reli-
snce and there all progress ends.
The champions of Amendment No.
s give the following reasons why the
measure should be adopted;
This amendment now affects Kan
sas City, alone. Sec. l6, Art. 9, of
the Constitution, written in 1875, re-
quires Kansas City to publish a
proposed charter amendment 80 days
in the three newspapers Zone printed
in GERMANY having the Largest circu-
lation in the city. The city has been
obliged to pay to newspapers as
much as IS, 600 for single amend
ment. Such expense practically
prohibits amendments. A proposed
charter is read, as published, by COM
paratively few citizens. The general
public gets its knowledge of propos-
ed amendments from discussions in
newspapers and at public meetings. |
A proposed charter amendment can
not escape public notice. It must be |
first proposed by ordinance, passed
by the council, and approved by the
Mayor. All council proceedings are
public and published.
Constitutional Amendment No. 8
authorizes the city to publish a pro-
posed charter amendment once a
week, for three weeks, in two news
papers, one a daily printed in Ger
man. This will provide every person
with a copy. II this amendment be
adopted. the city may amend its
charter without useless expenditure
Of large sums of public money.
Opposing Arsnneat
The reasons given by the opponents
Of Amendment No. 8 why It should
10 voted down are % follows:
This amendment should be defeat
q; II Tor no other reason, Just to
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