The Washington herald., 1916-05-07
OPPOSE CHANGES
| in CONSTITUTION
Prominent Lawyers and
Statesmen Organize Body to
Resist Amendments.
UPHOLD SUPREME LAW
Declare Document Is Sacred and that
Attempts to Amend 1t Strike at
Basis of Government.

A group Of prominent lawyers and
statesmen gathered around the banquet
board at Rauscher's last night to cele-
brate the formal organizing, after two
years of preparation, of the National AS
ISOLATION for Constitutional Government.
The avowed purpose OF the organization
Is the maintenance of the Constitution of
the United States as 1t was conceived
originally, and to oppose bitterly. through
the influence of its 400 members, any at
tempt either in Congress or in the States
to get through any proposed amend
ments
The officers of the organization are:
David Jayne Hill, former Ambassador to
Germany. president: Col Archibald Hop
kins, of Washington, first vice president;
Sidney c. Eastman, of Chicago. second
lngton, treasurer, and Charles Key Dean.
of Washington, recording secretary.
The constitution as 1t was conceived
originally was the theme of the speakers
at the banquet. They were: Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge, OF Massachusetts,;
former Representative Harry St. George
Tucker, of Virginia; former Judge Will
lam B. Sanders. of Ohio: Col. Archibald
Hopkins. former Judge Charles B. Howry.
of the United States Court of Claims. and
Sidney c. Eastman. President Hill was
toa astmaster
President Hill explained the aims and
purposes of the organization and its in
ception, which he said was caused by
the constant and dangerous attacks made
to amend the constitution and menace
the safety of the republic He cited the
rights to property holders embodied in
the constitution and asserted that the
success and prosperity OF the United
States is due to the solid basis of self
government-the people being sovereign.
"If this conviction universally pre-
vailed" he said, there would be no rea-
son for the existence Of this association.
but unfortunately 1t is scornfully rejected
and violently opposed. Whatever a ma
Jority Of the people may wish. It is con-
tended, that majority has the right to
have, regardless of the minority. All
fundamental compacts are, therefore, un-
necessary and obstructive to the will of
the people. The people by direct action.
should from day to day. by majority.
vote what they desire, and this should be
fnal, for their will is law
IF this were a mere individual and
sporadic opinion It would be of no i'm
portance. What renders it a menace
to the republic is that those who hold
it are not only organized but are num-
erously supported"
Senator Lodge made a sweeping in
dictment against Socialists, who he as
the original constitution of the United
States. He cited numerous proposed
amendments which he said were intro
duced by Socialists. These amendments
included government manufacture OF fer
tilizer ana government ownership and
operation of a merchant marine
Senator Lodge said that he had to smile
when he heard people say that the con-
sS1tution was the work OF plutocrats.
Among those present were: Alexander
G. Bell. DR.. R. S. Woodward, Melville
Church, Albert Douglass. F. w. Hackett,
Francis B. Loomis. James Brown Scott
Hennen Jennings, II! X Porter, T. S.
Hopkins, John B. Larner, Gen. r. l.
Hoxie, Truxtun Beale, NJ. o. Leighton,
Henry L. Ward, william H. Dennis, John
E. Wilder, r. A. Rice, Ten Eyck Wen
Charles E. Allen, A. Lisner DR.. William
s. Washburn, Charles n. Gregory
Thomas J. O'Brien, Dr. H. w. Wiley
Perry Belmont. H. B. F. Macfarland
Gen. J. P. Sanger. Admiral W. H. Brown
son, Admiral A. A. Staunton, Ira E. Ben.
nett w s. Penheld, Gen. William Gro
zier, Admiral Seaton Schroeder, Charlie:
Henry Butler, Gen. c. o. Schwan, Gov
William Merriam, Alpheus H Snow
Judge W. B. Lamar. Mr.. Paul Bartlett
Wade H. ellis, Charles w. Needham, DR.
]. F. Jameson, DR.. Merrill Gates. Ad-
miral c. H T. Moore, DR.. Charles D.
Hazen, Perry S. Heath, Richard w
Flournoy, William NJ. Ritter Charles Ray
Dean. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. Hon
William B. Sanders, Hon. Charles B
Howry, Hon. H. Saint George Tuder
Hon Sidney c. Eastman, Gen. NJ. v. O.
woodruff, Hon. David K. Watson, Col
R. NJ. Thompson. Judge William NJ
Maury, Hon. A. j. Montague, DR.. Roland
Cotton Smith. Col. Archibald Hopkins
and Hen. David Jane Hill.