South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-31
STATE MACHINERY
IS HELD OBSOLETE
Herbert BigeIow of Ohio Tells
High School Audience Why
Indiana Needs a New Con-
StitutiOn.

The need OF new constitution in
Indiana was urged last night by Her
bert Bigelow. president OF the con-
stitutional convention held in Column
bus O., two years ago. Mr.. Bigelow
talked TO over 500 people in the audi
forum OF the high school
The state needs a new constitution.
he said, because through il. IL pat
termed along the lines of the one in
Ohio, it viii be a factor toward the
development OF better citizens
throughout the state. II through a
new constitution. the voters Of the
state OF Indiana obtain the initiative
and referendum, as is the case IN
Ohio he held that big questions OF
the day viii be taken out Of the hands
Of politicians
And when people are able 10 take
questions out Of party politics, they
then begin TO think moro and dis
Cuss these questions and gain a bet
ter understanding Of them" he said.
The consequence is that they get the
finest trst Of self government they
could wish for. And the best gov
eminent is that which develops in the
average citizen the ability OF self gov
eminent
New New Machinery.
The people OF Indiana are sorely-
in need of a new governmental ma
chinery They need governmental
machinery that is not run and con
trolled by politicians. They want "A
machinery Of government that Will
arouse the same interest IN them as
a baseball game. One IN which the
voter after casting his ballot viii
await the outcome with the same zesr
and interest that he does the score
OF ball game. Not one where 10
casts his vote and then rushes out
to ball game, regardless OF the out
come, feeling that his vote will have
no bearing anyway. When once the
citizens get that kind Of a govern
ment he becomes a good citizen. A
direct voice in the governmental at
,airS Of his state develops his sense
OF responsibility and good citizenship
to that degree where he will be an
utterly new type Of citizen"
The weakness of the present state
constitution Mr. BigelOw held is its
amending powers. These are such
he held, that they defeat the very end
which the voter believes they are
made for. The amending powers OF
constitution he held are its bull
warks. a constitution can't be
made" he said 1T must grow. but
it can't unless the method OF amend
ment is easy 10 adapt itself 20 the
change OF public thought and change
of civic conditions" This is where
Bigelow held the Indiana constitu-
tional amending powers are weak
Nothing, he said. can be referred 10
the people. All must go by way OF
the legislature. Here he said a prop
osition can be defeated by a one-third
majOrity plus one vote even though
il gets a two-thirds vote four differ
ent times in both houses.
In Ohio we don't have TO go TO the
legislature if we want something or
don't like something il did" Bigelow
continued "A petition signed BIZ six
per cent Of the voters of the state can
demand a popular vote on any bill tho
public may desire. This is the work
ing Of the initiative an referendum.
ii enables the city 10 go its own way
and do as Ii pleases IL il doesn't like
the way the legislature has done"
Continuing he said. They speak
of the sovereignty of the voter He
is sovereign until he votes. After
that the power of sovereignty lies In
the hands Of the men ne helped elect
or those known as bosses The wav
the Indiana constitution now is vote
in Indiana is nothing more than an
act Of resignation"
Charles WeiGler presided at tho
meeting and introduced the speaker.
In his remarks Weidler attacked Tom
Taggart and Homer Cook. alleging
that these two men virtually con-
trOlled the affairs OF the state legisla-
ture and put over legislation for the
benefit OF their own ends Weidlers
talk was a sort Of preface for the
speech that followed nv BigelOw