Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1920-03-06
CON CON PRESIDENT
PREDICTS DEFEAT
OF CHICAGO HOBBY

cages but with no idea or taxing all
the income and benefits derived from
the holders of those notes and mort
cages Mr.. Brooks said he believed
some more equitable means of taxa
ton than now used. could be created
to obtain more effective results Nh.
Clauden asked Mr. Woodward to have
printed in the dailies of Ottawa Min
ncSOta tax commissions report show
ing the workings OF "A new system OF
taxation in operation in that state
w. r. Foster, as usual. did a little
keynoting and hit popular chord
when he said every man in Illinois
should pay his prOpOrtionate share Of
the expenses Of operating the state
government He recommended a tax
man who refused or neglected to eX-
crcise his right Of franchise. He said
a stated sum should be fixed for vot-
ing and that amount greatly enlarged
where mon ignored their duties and
did not go to the polls on election day.
Mr. Foster was loudly applauded at
the conclusion OF his brief speech.
Mr.. Williams of StreatOr thought a
i state income tax would be double tax
alton and that should be carefully
avoided, Mr.. Saunders approved a
plan for taxing all mortgages and
trust deeds onc-half of one per cent
and paying the amounts to the record
or when the Instruments were filed,
the tax to cover the life of the instru-
ment Senator Essington admitted
Illinois taxing laws in need of a lot
Of changes. He said he believed, how
ever, that the proposition was one for
the legislature to deal with. and was
not of much concern to the constitu-
tional convention.
Mr. Woodward's Speech
Mr.. Woodward expressed regret
that Mr. Rothman could not be pres
cnt. Mr.. ROthman he informed his
audience. was an expert not only in
the technique. but in the philosophy
of taxation
familiar with the complicated prob
lens entering into tax laws. He stat
cd, however. that for the purpose Of
the constitutional convention he con
ccived that taxation should be consid
cred principally in its broad, general
and large aspects; that the constitu-
ton should not go into refinement of
detail on this or on any other sub
jcct
This lead the speaker to a discuss
ion Of a popular msconc option of the
function and province OF IA constitu
tional convention. Before the con.
oil
newspapers of the state started to
spread insidious propaganda to poison
the minds of the people against tho
work of the convention This prop
uganda he stated was for the purpose
of poisoning the public mind against
the work of the convention in that it
was apparent that the convention
would never surrender to autOcratic
and mob rule; that the convention in
the Judgment of the speaker would
adopt the |. & r.. particularly in the
form advocated by the proponents of
the measure.
He then wanted his audience to
grasp clearly the distinction between
legislative and constitutional matters.
He illu Grated the distinction by stat
ing, in the first place. what is not the
province OF constitutions. He stated
that constitutions properly should con
tain the prevailing doctrines relating
to humanitarian, social and economic
subjects; that the prevailing opinion
on those subjects depended upon the
condition of society: that social forces
are not stable. but are always fluid;
that the social and economic opinions
OF today are.not the social or econOm-
ic opinions of yesterday or of tomor-
row; that the constitution must be so
framed that the government may al
ways be in position to respond to so
cial ald economic views. He stated.
therefore. that the public must not
look to the constitution for anything
on Workmen's compensation, the eight
hour Law. minimum wage. high-heeled
shoes or any similar social or human.
itarian legislation.
He stated that the guiding
and leading principles back OF consti-
tuition making. \ constitution, he
said should contain only the great
master truths OF politics; that it
should contain only those element
1 tt'9 t'ii uHhti Nll'H SpN
ernmental powers are exercised. that
a constitution should not be utilized
as an experiment station or as a lab
oratory TO test out social or political
thcroies. but should contain only
those principles. which through long
series of years, have been demonstrate
ed to be successful and to be ncces-
sary for the protection Of the people
in their natural and inherent rights as
individuals. and to protect them
against any arbitrary act on the part
of any officer or department Of the
government. Tho this end the ConSti-
tuition must always contain a bill of
rights protecting life liberty and prop
erty assuring the freedom of the
press, the freedom of worship. the
right to grand jury, the right of the
accused in criminal cases the sacred
ness of the obligation of contracts.
the right of peaccable assembly and
other fundamental rights which are
the heritage of centuries of struggle
on the part of the English speaking
nations. He then stated that the gov
eminent should he so organized into
its three departments. co-ordinated
hut Independent. the one serving as
a check on the other for the proven.
tion of arbitrary power
The general principles above allud-
pU n a nd 6icrucSpI ,rcrc ,p,I;,,IIc