The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-10-05

Tor the great metropolis. was arrang.
ed for possible revision every eight
years.
Seek place In Sun"
Constitutions are supposed TO mark
a standard OF stability and pcrma.
ncncy of individual and public right
and are valued principally for that
quality. Men who speak fllppanty
OF our constitution az 'outworn" and
obsolete" think TO give the impress
sion that the great charter has stood
sull during a period Of great progress
tn inventions and discoveries. and yet
II remains TO ~ shown II better def.
niuons Of legal and constitutional
right have thereby been evolved or
that the influence Of progress has
been such as 90 render obsolete the
work Of scarce 30 years ago. These
men would compare the constitution.
with Its enlightened amendments Of
every few years. 10 the machinery of
a past age-the cradle and the sickle
they do not reflect that the best in
the constitution is often the oldest
IL IN beginning TO be quite well
known that there Is present in public
life an element seeking to make for
itself n place in the sun" seeking
10 fortify their place in business and
Investments by means OF legislation
and constitutional provisions made to
order The modern hurry .burly" OF
"go-as you-please" business morals.
pracuced BY what is apily called big
Business. seems 10 have to degree
hypnoiized the plain citizen, but IL
would be well not TO presume too far
upon the denseness of that much.
abused bearer OF burdens as witness
the defeat 81 the New York conven.
tons proposed instrument at the
polls in 1916. But you will doubtless
say. where. then. is the danger II the
people are 10 pass upon Il? I reply.
why should intelligent people walk
into any mans trap Especially.
why. when We reflect that there is in
the constitution another perfectly
good provision for amending, which
advises the Legislature wherein the
proposition originates and gives the
people two whole years in which TO
canvass the proposition before they
are called on to vote on it's accept.
ance or rejection.
Powerful Influences
Again. we have 10 take notice OF
the powerful influence in legislation.
In congress and in the courts OF state
and nation, OF special interests. How
money can be poured out in the serv-
ice of those classes. and how the
elected representatives of the people
vie each with the other 10 do the bid.
ding OF these same classes.
Hence. | am writing to you, which
you may term a piece OF imperti-
nence or nerve: still. IL the press of
the state can not be depended upon
for initiative in such matters, to
whom shall we turn IL not to the
plain citizen7 am under a handl.
cap that confines my work TO lust
such appeals as l an trying TO make
to you. and tho | know IL is possible
you may consign my letter to the
waste basket without reading IL. /
know that few Americans in your po-
sition are destitute of the great ma.
uonal quality of fair play"
/ shall do all | can in my humble
way to defeat the joint resolution.
and l pray yosi to give the influence
OF your paper to full discussion of
the merits OF the question. At least,
you will for your fellow citizens de-
mand that the proponents of the pro
posed constitution or the proposed n.
vision state specifically wherein they
seek to amend. and IL they refuse,
you may know that the revision they
seek II inimical 10 the rights Of citi.
xens. Very respectfully and truly
yours. l.. A. VINCENT.