Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-22

AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION

AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
As The basis of an argument in support of the pro-
posed Socialist plan Ct amending the state constitution
the Grand Forks American. Socialist, makes the amaz-
Ing statement that under the present constitution that
document may be amended solely by the legislature.
Lest there be- any mistake we quote verbatim from an
editorial i'll Mondays iSsue of the Socialist paper:
IL You vote for the sixth proposed amend.
.nent you viii vote 10 place tho constitution In
the hansas OF the people; if sou vote against it,
or II you don't vote Gu 1t, you will leave 1t where
1t b noNr-in tho hands Of the Legislature.
In the past, the privtlcgc of repeating or
amending any part Of the state constitution was
enjoyed solely by the legislature. .....
...........in the provision that two-thirds of
the legislature can amend the constitution at
any time 1t secs fit, the intent is plainly con.
veycd that the constitution shall be a plastic in.
10 trust our fundamental Law in the hands of
an elected body Is, therefore, to this extent dan
gerous. ............ the constitution, in the
haPds of an celcted body, becomes an instrument
of sheer obstruction. .........
On the other hand, a change really needed
and desired by the people will come much sooner
when the will of the people can be brought to
bear upon 1t directly, than when it is left wholly
in the hands of an elected body subject to the
influence of adverse interests.
II you think it better to have the state con-
sutuuon in the hands of the people than to leave
it In the keeping Of the legislature vote for the
sizth Of the proposed amendments.
All of this remarkable conglomeration is SO directly
contrary to facts which are within the knowledge of
every fairly well informed school boy that ordinarily it
would not merit attention. But within some three weeks
proposed changes in the fundamental law of the state
are to be passed on by the voters. many Of whom have
had no special occasion to familiarize themselves with
constitutional questions. It is important that they in
form themselves. and that they do not permit themselves
to be misted as to the facts either by the ignorance or
the design Of others. For this reason, therefore, The
Herald, submits the following facts, which can be veri.
fled by reference to the latest state Blue book or any
late compilation of the state laws:
Two methods of amending the state constitution are
provided. and in each Of these the decision is made by
the people. and not by the legislature. One Of these is
ret forth in Section ZOE Of Article Is of the original con.
stitution. and the other in Article is Of the amendments
WITHOUT going into the verbiage Of the section, the
first provides that an amendment
Shall be proposed by either house Of the assembly;
Shall be agreed to by a majority vote in both houses:
Shalt be advertised for three months before the next
regular election; -
Shall be approved by a two-thirds vote in each house
AZ Ia 1.-THE next assembly;
And shall be voted on by the people at the time and
In the manner provided by the legislature.
The action Of the people is final. and If a majority
Of the qualified electors voting on the proposition, approve.
the proposed amendment becomes a part of the consti-
tuition.
The second method provides that the proposed
amendment
May be initatcd by the petition Of rs per cent Of all
the legal voters in not less than half the counties Of the
state:
Shall be published for three months:
Shall be voted on by the people at the next general
election:
II approved by "a majority Of all the legal votes cast
At such general election" it shall be submitted to the
next legislature:
II approved by a majority Of all the members. elected
= each house it shall become a law;
Re not approved it shalt again submitted to the
people, whose approval or rejection at that time shall
sbs final.
No other method Of amending our constitution exists
Under either method the decision is left to the people,
Esaud under the second It is the people who propose az
4SlI - decide. and under that method they can amend
gfksdx eonstitution without the assistance Of the legisla-
tars. and4 a spite Of II.
sss#KlAThsvery fact that the people are now about to vote
NS6HE%acen1titutiona changes ~dt,poses eonclusively Of the
mi statement that the right Is amend Is vested in the
SsiSt S1te&ars.
TILL TIE VOICE or JACOB
3hS ut of the latest German note suggests that
SStbS lhsnds mAy a $ths hands o. Esau,s the voice IL
SSsss Set Jaccb NJ - stven y unAsrsfand init
E487 &@e3As A. - nes5 sovsrnnne -. representative. this time.
soses1lpa pssIiss plt fran this anss.d new soy-
s<Ssk sprsss1tns Il s. ssllishssasA andS nbsl1lg come