The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-12-02

only reason for advocating a new
Constitution Is to incorporate Prohi-
bition and Equal Suffrage. Even II
these two clauses cannot be inserted,
or If they be settled otherwise prior
to the adoption of new Constitution.
there would still be ample grounds
for insisting on a new Constitution.
For example, the Constitution should
provide new system of taxation to
take the place of the present crude
system which is unjust. unscientific
and is universally evaded, resulting
in great oppression on some, and en-.
couraging us to become falsifiers. per.
juring ourselves in order to obtain
mere semblance Of justice.
Should Allow Home Rule.
We need a constitution which will
allow home rule for cities; also to
permit an increase Of Indebtedness Of
cities for the purchase and installa,
ton OF public service utilities which
pay their own way.
We need a constitution which will
provide for the adoption of the merit
system to the civil service; which will
allowing the state to make an appeal
as well as the defendant, which will
allow judicial examinations to be made
of persons accused of crime; to pro.
vide qualifications for the admission
of attorneys to practice law, in ad.
dition to proving good moral char.
acter; to permit legislative sessions
when necessary; and to provide for
short ballot, by which purely admin.
istrative officers shall be appointed
by the governor or mayor. and not re.
quire the voters to pass upon SO many
candidates that a sound judgment be.
comes impossible.
Also cities should be permitted to
be administered by the manager sys.
tenn, rather than by mayors and coun-
ellis, and other elective officers.
Our present constitution permits
foreigners to vote in all of our elect
ions even though they may never be.
come citizens; this should be changed
to permit only bonified citizens to ex-
ercise the rights of citizenship
And means should be provided to
make amendments to the constitution,
when the people so desire. without the
present cumbersome method which in.
wolves long delays.
The present agitation for new con-
stitution is entirely non-partisan, but
1t is rather bipartisan. The Republi-
can and the Progressive party plat
forms have declared for a new con-
stitution, and our present Democratic
governor has declared for it, and he
will SO recommend to the legislature
which meets this winter, and in this
connection he publicly asserts that
New questions have arisen that can
not be solved under the present in
strument, and new conditions make it
necessary for the people to assert
rights they cannot exercise there
under"
Serves Ends of People
What is government for if it is not
to serve the purposes of the people?"
The new incoming state administra-
ton is committed to number of re-
forms that can be achieved only
through new constitution These
have to do with taxation reforms, the
budget system, and the reduction Of
constitutional Offices all desirable
ends, for good government
The only argument against a new.
constitution that is advanced by the
better element, is that of the cost,
which will probably be about one mil
lion dollars, but the saving to the
state and the people generally will
more than Offset this expense in a
short time.
l trust that we will do all in our
power to authorize a new constitu-
ton; that we will work to have the
best and most able men appointed to
the constitutional convention: and
finally that we will encourage the vot-
ers to lend their assistance to the
adoption of the new organic law.