Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-15

nublic mind is no different from that OF the
neonle of Pennsylvania in '76, in so, in 81
or in '73, 1t affords no justification what
ever to the Legislature and the Governor 10
withhold from the people their inherent
right to alter, reform or abolish their gov
ernment' and to substitute therefor an IRE
sponsible commission of citizens TO prepare
q constitution for the whole people Wheh
I saw an irresponsible commission 40
not wish to be understood as rejecting upon
the persons who comprise that commission.
I sneak of IL as being irresponsible for the
reason that it is about to revise the work OF
tbe neople without any direct authority from
the peonle or without any direct RESPONSE
bility to the people.
The constitution as it now exists is the
direct voice of the people. 1t speaks the
peoples will to every department OF govern
ment. Yet this commission, without the
peopIe's direct consent, is undertaking to
alter the voice of the people with regard to
their rights, their liberties and their gov
ernment.
1t Is an innovation in constitution making
that should challenge the attention and the
serious consideration of the free men OF
Pennsylvania. 1t strikes at the foundation
of all their liberties inasmuch as it infringes
unon their sovereignty 1t violates that
nrincinle enumerated in the Bill of Rights
which declares that "all power Is inherent
in the people" for it assumes the power TO
alter even the peoples Bill of Rights with
ont ever having received from the people
directly the authority to revise that or any
other article in the constitution.
The Supreme Court of the state is open.
1t is the peoples refuge when the Legis-
lature and the executive overstep their con :
stitutional powers. It's authoritative and
final Judgment should be had upon the act
by which the Legislature has authorized and
| the Governor has appointed the unusual
| and unprecedented' commission to revise the
| constitution.
The question involved is far too important
for the people servilely to acquiesce in the
| action of the Legislature and the Governor.
| It is by tame submission to such innovations
unon their rights and liberties that free peo-
| nie are ultimately enslaved by the power OF
government. When, therefore, the free peo
nle Of PENNSYLVANIA have notice that this
| innovation has been introduced because the
men whom they ntrusted with the power OF
! Government feel that it would not now be
| safe To allow them to exercise their sovereign
! right TO hold a convention, it behOOves them
10 defend their sovereignty by every Lawful
means. 1t is their constitution that has beer
committed into the hands Of commission
for alteration and change. 1t is their rights
and their liberties and their government that
that commission is to deal with. And they
will only prove themselves worthy of thu
great blessings of liberty which they hav,
Inherited from their forefathers if they shal
resist with all of their power this first at
tempt to take from them their inherent rgh
to a voice through representatives of thei
own choosing, in any body which is created
by law to reform or alter their constitution
ROBERT BRANNAN.
Philadeiphis, December y.