The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-05-06
GOVERNOR DECLINES
TO CALL LEGISLATURE
Insists That Action on National Suf.
fraoe Amendment Should Be by
Referendum.

burlington, May 4.-The following
is The letter received by Mrs Lillian
H. Olzendam of the Vermont Equal
Suffrage association in which Gov
Percival w. Clement refuses to call
a specia, session OF the Legislature
and gives his reasons therefor;
Governor Clements Letter
My dear Mrs. 0iZendam:
wish to commend the manner in
which the arrangements were plan
ned and executed with reference to
the delegations which appeared at
the State House Wednesday, April 81.
to express Their reasons for request
ing the calling of the Vermont Leg
islature in special session to consid-
e.. the ratification of the 18th amend
ment to the federal constitution.
Our State constitution is based up
on the fact thai all power and author
ity emapate frcm the sovereign peo-
PIE. The LEGISLATURE has no other
right for its existence and has no au-
thor.ty except that bestowed upon it
by the constitution. The federal con
sitution provides that the State Leg
isla.ure shall be the organization
which shall approve or reject for the
States, amendments proposed to the
federal constitution, Our State con.
sti'ution also provides that the Leg.
lislature of Vermont is the organiza-
ton authorized to mako amendments
10 the State constitution, but requires
that such action shall be exercised
only within certain limitation, both
in regard TO time and mode of ap,
proyal; and the fede al constitution
is not in conflict with our State con
stitution in this particular.
believe that our legislators in
the past have on occasion yioated
their oaths OF Office by ratifying
amendmen's to the Federal Constitu-
tion without referendum to the peo
pie. 1t is true that they acted with
in the strict letter Of their authority
under the Federal Cons tuition, but in
effect they altered and infringed the
CONSTITUTION OF Vermont in contraven
tion Of lis express terms, thereby yot-
ing away nights OF Vermonters which
have been held sacred for moe than
cne hundred and twenty-five years, ]
resent that action and believe a feel
ing Of resentment is general in Vey.
Imoni.
If government by the people Is to
endure in this land, the action of the
Legislature in thus overriding the
constitution Of the State must cease
The preservation Of our constitu
Ition tnviolate, except as changed by Q
vote of the sovereign people them
selves, is vastly more important fol
the stability of our government thar
is the question of suffrage, or any
other question OF amendment to the
constitution Of Vermont, or tc, the
Federal Constitution
have taken no pubic position fol
lor age.ns. granting to women the
privilege Of voting, but adhere to ny
sincere conviction that the decision
cf this important question be submit
ted by referendum to the people.
! am pleased to express my graf.
tude to the suffragists of Vermont fo
the interests they manifest in thei
campaign and for the dignity Will
which it IS being conducted, but ente
tanning the views which have hereil
expressed, and lacking any assur
ance that the present Legislator
woud submit this question to vot
of the people of Vermont. | mus
therefore, deny your request for
special session.
Yours very truly,
Governor
Pe.cival w. Clement.