The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1914-09-18
A NEW CONSTITUTION
FOR INDIANA

a NEW CONoIlTUjlON
FOR INDIANA
This Great Issue 70 Be Determines
by the Voters At the November
Election.
The voters OF Indiana will be calico
upon at the election OF November 3rt
TO pass upon the question OF callins
a convention to revise the preseai
state constitution. The most vital ques
ton that confronts the state to-day Ii
this question Of a new constitution
To vote intelligently on IT VIII re
quire a careful study Of the situation
in Indiana on the part -'cf the voters
Ii is important that, they should have
full information as to the conditions
imposed on the people by the present
constitution and Of the opportunities
afforded, by constitutional revision to
better the situation.
The question will be put up to the
voters by independent ballot on plain
white paper inches square contain
ing the words, ARE YOU IN FAVOR
OF A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVEN.
TION. IN THE YEAR 1882"
In order to carry the proposi
ton, a majority Of all voters of the
state voting at this election must
vote YES" The normal vote in In.
diana FOR oopd;1atac 10 about 7a0 000
OF this number at least&35O. DOL must
vote YES" to carry the question, re-
gardless Of the number Of mo-
votes. In effect, those who do not
vote at all on the proposition are
counted against the convention. The
ignorant and Indifferent voter thus
constitutes a tremendous handicap on
the movement to secure constitution
al revision 1t is not, therefore. too
much to ask that eyery>yoter seek to
prepare himself to vote. on the ques-
tion and with full understanding of
his act.
The. legislative AL. also provides in
detail for the next three steps to-
ward revision in the seyent that the
vote OF November 3rd carries. A spe-
cial election will be held on the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in
March, 1915, for the election Of dele
gates to the convention. These will
be loo in number, apportioned
the state in the same man
ner as members of the General As
sembly. now are apportioned. Any
qualified voter may be a candidate
for delegate from his district by fling
> petition signed by 100 voters of
fhe district. No politicalaparty shall
be permitted to nominate ~6andidates
The election shall be Hon-partisan In
every particular.
The purpose of the act is plainly
to secure delegate convention
which will be fairly representative of
aQ the people Of the state and to re-
move the necessity of serving parti-
san interests. 1t is to be funda-
a peoples convention.
The delegates elected shall meet
n indianapolis on the first Monday
"a May, 1919, and
shall constitute Convention
for. the pWrese of making such
amendments, alterations and
changes In the present Constitu-
tion of the State of Indiana or
the making of an entirely new
Constitution for the State of In
diana as such Convention may
( deem proper and which new
Constitution shall be submitted
to the vote Of the people of the
State OF Indiana to be by them
ratified or rejected {. said
Convention may submit one or
more amendments or one or more
sections OF the proposed Consti-
tuition. as distinct propositions,
to be voted upon by the people
separately or together, as to the
Convention seems expedient."
The members Of the convention
hall receive . per diem Of ten dollars
'er day and mileage, and shall not
emain in session longer than one
undred and eighty $50 days. Sun
-ays excepted.
IL Is to be noted that this move
nent for \ new constitution Is not
n any way connected with the pro-
'osed new constitution OF 1s11--the
o-called Marshall Constitution"-l
Ihich was written by the Legislature
I that year. This Marshall Consti-
ltion", which was copy of the pres
Mt constitution, with % Articles
mended, was never submitted 10 the
eople for adoption or rejection. for
he reason that its presentation by
he Legislature WAS declared uncon.
titutional on the ground that the
legislature was without authority.
The important fact OF the present
}pvement for a new constitution ia
II confides wholly in the PEOPLE.
8mes from ne partisan source. II
directed at no party or faction
ts advocates are appealing TO no
rejudices nor 10 any special inter-
SITS. They are using only educational
leans. IL offers a rare opportunity
,r the people OF Indiana TO acouaint
With the big fundamental
lcts OF their state government. and
} make their influence felt In shan.