The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-08
THE STATE CONSTITUTION.
No Amendment Unless ny . Majority
or tho voters.


| To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN---sr: The
Constitution is the fundamental law OF the
State. 1t should be drawn with wisdom
and elaboration and once adopted should
not be changed without the most careful
consideration.
The present Constitution was adopted
November 8, 1894 During the twenty
years that have passed twenty-five
amendments have been made. The method
was always the same:
proposed amendment was introduced
In the Legislature Members voted for
1t without understanding 1t, saying TT
really doesn't matter. for the whole sub
ject will be reviewed by the next Legisla-
ture." and so 1t was approved.
1t came up again. and members said /:
| 'Ths previous Legislature approved OF
II; probably It Is well enough. and anyway
| II must go to the people. let the people
rule" and so II was approved again.
1t then went to the people and they
said: I'VE cannot bother with this; two
Legislatures have approved OF IT, and II
must be all right" and then. more than
half the voters not voting at all one way
or tho other, the amendment was adopted
simply because more voted for II than
voted against It,
In 1912 the number OF votes cast was
15G7.l55 In 1913 tho vote on one Of the
proposed amendments was For, 1891 ;
against. 255.539. Therefore 92l,645 cleo
tors did not vote.
In other words out OF every fifteen
voters in the State in 1912 only four voted
in favor OF a proposed amendment in 1913
and only two voted against It, while nine
refused to express an opinion.
Obviously the amendment of the Con-
stltution Is not taken seriously Nine
electors out OF fifteen take the pains to
go to the polls and express their choice
between the various candidates for Alder
man. Assemblyman. Senator. and so on.
as though this was OF the highest i'm
portance. but although at the polls. with
all conveniences at hand. will not take
the necessary thirty seconds TO express
an opinion on the amendment of the
fundamental law.
The time has come for a change. The
constitutional convention should revise the
article regarding amendments so that
hereafter no amendment proposed by the
Legislature shall be adopted unless a ma
jorty OF all voters vote on 1t. and ma
jorty OF those so voting shah vote in
favor OF H.
Then IL there were 500 0o0 voters the
closest possible division under which an
amendment could be adopted would be
For..... ''''''.'....'.'''''' fOo'oOl
Against ..'''.'.. ''.......'.....'' 100000
Not voting .,.... ............'.''.. I99.'ss
Toial. ..............'...'' s'.'.''l eoo'ooo
Under the present method IL two voters
vote for an amendment and one against
i. and 1.599997 do not vote at all, the
amendment would be adopted
II was once suggested that no amend
ment should be adopted unless a majority
OF all the voters In the state voted In
favor Of II, but that might be going 100
far IN the present Indifferent state Of
public opinion. one other suggestion was
made when the convention Of 1894 was in
session. That was that there should be
compulsory voting on an amendment
Yes, No or Blank-before the elector
could procure another ballot and vote
for candidates for tho various offices
This was objected to on the ground that
IL would cause confusion. delay the cleo
doubt II would. My own suggestion. not
original with me ~ course, for II was
discussed twenty years ago, is, think.
he conservative and the practical one.
NEW York. December :. W. II. ).