The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-07
NO LAW EXPERIMENTS.
ROOT WARNS CONVENTION
Urges Fewer Elective Officials, Conservation of Re-
sources, Four Year Term for Governor and
Protection of Individual Rights

jccta 10 he presented further jhan TO say
that we have before us In our own
country signal examples of great bust
ness organizations for production ami
commerce. through which conservation
of resources, economy Of expenditure
and effectiveness OF action have been
attained to very high degree /: aud cti-
Gems concerned In the great business of
government may well learn lessen
from these examples.
The fundamental principle to he
applied I take TO be that responsibility
and power shall always 60 together.
Responsibility without power can never
be Justly enforced, and power without
responsibility can never he duly con-
trolled.
"In all our iabors let us keep in
mind that 1t is our duty. SO far as our
|. powers go. to preserve as well az to i'm
prove. While we seek to adapt the
machinery of government to changing
conditions. We are still 10 preserve the
great body Of rights and liberties which
have grown through many centuries OF
political and juridical development, and
under which we have 20 long been
blessed by peace, order. Justice and In
dividual liberty and opportunity
1T Is not for us 20 tear down in
stitutions based upon the customs and
growing out of the life Of the people
whom we serve merely for the purpose
Of substituting in their place creations
OF our own devlslne, however confident
We may feel in the success Of the ex-
perimen.s We may contemplate.
Pleads for Fcarlessnes-.
no wise legislator will undervllue
the power for peace and order and prog
| ress which lies In the traditions of re-
| spect. the conformity Of custom and the
| habit OF obedience among n people tow
! ard their own established, though per-
haps Illogical institutions. Where
changes are needed they should be- made
! fearlessly and thoroughly. but In such
| n manner. with such relation 10 existing
| custom and opinion as To he natural
developments from the life OF the peo-
pie of the state: and in Il state with
| such history rs ours the burden Of
| proof rests always upon The advocate e
| OF change.
| There Ia one other duty which a con-
| stitutional convention must always con-
| template. although the consistency of our
J people to the political Ideals they have
long followed may make it unnecessary
| for us to give much OF our time 20 It's
! consideration
| at Is the proper office 90 constitu-
ton not merely 20 provide the frame
work OF government. but to declare the
principles Of political morality and tbs
rules OF right conduct which are to cou-
troll the State IN is relations 20 he
| individual citizen. In that field the
action OF "a constitutional convention j.
quite unlike ordinary legislation.
TN entering upon the performance Of
that solemn and lofty duty let Va soeh
for a new birth in our souls uf unseliish
patriotism and strive for the power ot
clear vision and right thinking. ",
have in America one unchangng guide
IN the political philosophy OF thai grea,
instrument which gave birth 20 The
nation. All men, says the Declaration
OF Independence, AR" endowed by their
Creator with inalienable rights Gov.
ernments are Instituted 10 secure these
rights