The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1916-11-04
Success of SeIf-Government Rec
quires All Who Have the Right,
Should Vote on All Constitu-
tionaI Amendments That
Are Submitted.
VOTERS TO RULE, MUST VOTE
Tax Amendment That Is to Be Voted
On Election Day One of the Most
Important That Has Ever Been Pro-
posed to Illinois Voters.
REw

When the American citizen elects
officials to administer public affairs,
he gives much thought and attention
to his vote, say those interested in the
tax amendment.
But, more important, from time to
time, he is called on to establish,
or recast, the form Of government it
self This he does by making, revis-
ing or amending the constitution of
his state.
This right to pass upon the constitu-
ton, and on constitutional amend
ments, is the point at which the peo-
pie can make themselves most dis
tinctly and most effectively felt in the
matter of government. 1t is the
greatest referendum"
1t is unfortunate that American
prosperity has tendency to make the
people frivolous and disregardful of
the graver concerns of government.
Too many think-when they take time
to think-as they are prospecting, that
all is well with them. They are dis
inclined even to give thought to
changes in the method of government.
They lose sight of the fact that the
present prosperity of the country has
been brought about by the studious
devotion Of the people to the details
of government in the past.
The changes that have become nee
essary in our method of government
are largely due to the wisdom of the
plans of those who, in former years,
devoted themselves to constitution
making. 1t was not expected that the
Illinois constitutions of 1918, 1S4S and
1870 were to last forever. They were
the preliminary steps Of building up
the state. And, these first efforts have
succeeded even beyond the most vi
sionary dreams of those who framed
them
The 1870 constitution of Illinois has
developed our financial and material
resources. The new conditions brought
about by 1t require that it be amended
to provide for them. Among the most
conspicuous of these is the matter of
public revenue.
The needs of the state and its mu-
inequalities have outgrown conditions
as they existed even as late as 1870.
The requirement that all property pay
a uniform tax" was put into the con-
stitution when IL was possible to as
sess all property uniformly because
all property was uniformly visible and
equally easy of assessment. The crea-
ton of new-intangible-v has
brought about conditions which re-
quire that the constitution be changed
so that invisible values will be made to
pay taxes in proportion to their income
and their ability to bear taxation. At
the same time the tax on them has
got to be adjusted to the tax rates on
similar classes of property in other
states.
The Tax Amendment to the consti-
fers to voters an opportunity to act
in the very highest matter of self-gov-
eminent. Voters should express them
selves. II they are in favor of the
amendment they should vote for It,
If they are not in favor of it they
should vote against it. The voter
should throw off his inertia and take
hold of the affairs of his state and
make himself felt.
There is much complaint about tax
ation-and much that rightly may be
complained of. And now is the time
for the voter to express himself in
favor of reform by marking his ballot
Eyes"
To fail to vote is to abandon the
greatest fundamental right of citizen
ship.