The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-10-26
~ RALPH A. RANcK.


To the Voters of Wayne County:
BY your vote or failure to vote At
the coming election on the question,
Arc you in favor OF q constitutional
convention in the year 1882" you will
help decide an issue which concerns
vitality the welfare and progress of
our state.
The present constitution Of Indiana
was written in 1851. The changes of
sixty-three years make Y hopelessly
out Of date. It is wholly inadequate
to meet the conditions of today. Eek
Derience has shown that our constitu-
ton is practically unavoidable. Only
twice in sixty-three years-in 1873 and
In 18S1-have amendments been car
ried, and in both instances they were
ment has been before the people the
last seventeen years and failed every
time.
That new organic law is Indiana
greatest present need Is fully admitted
on every side. All political parties
have gone on record in their state
platforms, or have otherwise expressed
themselves in favor of a constitution
viduals, however, who profess to be.
lieve, and are seeking to make others
believe that the cost incident to the
securing of a new constitution would
be enormous and would necessitate q
burdensome tax levy; that any neces
sary amendment to the constitution OF
Indiana may be made in the regular
manner provided, without material ex
20 %h0 ko<o fn1 1no ~
the amendment argument is shown by
the fact that experience has proven
our constitution to be practically I'M
amendable. The cost argument il
clearly not made in good faith by al
constitution. The special interests
who are Butterfly opposed to this
movement do not care a straw about
the cost Such an argument is con
venient mask to conceal their rea
objections But it will undoubtedly t
few penurious souls who fail to SCI
the vast material, social and politfca
benefits to come from an adjustment
OF the organic law Of the state to NEE
modern needs of government and SO
ciety.
Cost Insignificant.
The actual cost of holding consti
tutional convention is really insignifi
! cant compared to the benefits to b.
derived. The experience OF our sfste.
state, Ohio, in constitutional revision
testifies to the correctness Of THU
statement. The people of Ohio revised
their constitution in 1912 against tn
strenuous objections Of men VIII
counted only the money cost. Tn
total cost of the Ohio convention
amounted to $267 ,716.11. The expens
of the special election to ratify tn
constitution and to pass on the amend
ments submitted amounted to 1904
956 go, making a total cost to secur
a new constitution $472,672.31. Gov
ernor Cox of Ohio state that the e.
pense of administering the govern
ment of that state during the first yea
under the new constitution was 81
900 900 less than the previous veal
or eight times the cost of securing tn
| constitution.
This decrease in expenditures 70
purposes of state administration wa
the result Of economics and Of NOR
efficient administration made possibl
by the improved new constitution
What Ohio has done, we here in Ind
ana can do.
The material benefits to come fror
constitutional revision in Indiana O
the financial side alone would be S
enormous as to sink the cost into ii
Significance. A proper re-adjustmen
of our taxation system would effect
saving many times greater than this i
| q single year, and at the same tim
would place our enormous burden
where it properly belongs. Agalns
the tax situation alone the expens
argument is no consideration at al
The present unnecessary cost impose
upon the people of Indiana by in
| efficient and extravagant state gov
eminent, inevitable under cur made
Quate constitution, makes even an ez
aggerated estimate of the cost of
new constitution look small indeed.
Gives Home Rule.
| The improvement of our municipa