The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-07-15

Absent.
Rutland, July Governor PEREZ
val W Clement again refused to cal
q special session Of the Vermont Leg
islature to ratify the federal amend
ment for woman suffrage, and in {
formal proclamation, made public to
day. gives his reasons therefor.
I He calls attention TO the fact that
the present Legislature was electsc
before the question Of ratifying the
federal amendment had arisen, that
the people Of Vermont have had nc
opportunity to express themselves in
regard TO the question and that the
proposed federal amendment clearly
invades the constitution Of Vermont
Governor Clement proposes that the
matter be taken up by the Legislature
Of 1921 and urges the voters TO re.
quire candidates for the House and
Senate to declare themselves thereon
He refers pointedly to the income tax
aithdihtHbg NihNhf ht says was W.
bied through Congress and the state
legislatures by federal agents" also to
the prohibition amendment, which he
declares "was forced through by pow
erful and irresponsible organization,
(evidently the Anti-Saloon League)
Operating through paid agents with
unlimited funds"
He declares further that the issue
is one of principle, not Of political
expediency, and serves notice on all
state officers, apparently on the lieu
tenant governor and his deputies, that
ne proposes ito go and come" as his
"duey calls, both within and without
the state of Vermont" and that il any
action is taken contrary to the terms
Of the proclamation, the officer so act
ing will do so regardless of our
Fundamental law and his oath to sup
port it" and con his town responsible
ity" for which he will be held answer
able to the freemen of the state"
The proclamation is as follows:
Under date of June 18th, 1919, |
received from Frank L. Polk, Acting
Secretary Of State. at Washington, a
communication enclosing a certified
copy of a resolution of The Congress
Of the United States Of America, en-
tnIed Joint Resolution Proposing an
to the Constitution. Ex-
tending the Right Of Suffrage to
Women, with request that it be sub
mitted to the Legislature of Vermont
for such action as may be had.
81 have received requests and petit
tons from individuals, residing both
within and without the State, asking
me to call a special session of the
Legislature of Vermont 20 ratify this
and from others not to call
a session for that purpose. Numerous
political and other organizations have
made similar requests. The import
ance of this matter demands full
of the facts to the voters
,f the State and a statement Of my
''The Constitution Of Vermont has
lad the sanction of use and approval
'or more than l40 years. Careful
provision is made in that Constitution
o insure extended consideration and
in making changes affect
ng its provisions and for direct sub
mission to the freemen Of the State.
The legislature may propose changes
,ut Section 6 Of Chapter 2 Of the Con-
,titution, providing the powers of the
legislature, says: They shall have no
power to add to, alter, abolish or in
ringe any part Of this Constitution
Section 81 of this same Chapter
Ieclares that this Constitution ought
lot to be violated on any pretense
whatsoever The proposed nineteenth
.mendment TO the Federal Constitu-
ion would in fact. II adopted make
adical changes in the Constitution of
rermont and in our form Of govern
nent
The provisions for changes in the
'ederal Constitution to which we Yer
ionters are loyal subscribers, are in
onfiict with those laid down in the
Of Vermont. The Federal
constitution provides that proposals
1r change therein shall, If favorable 4
etion IS taken thereon BY Tho Con q
ress. be- submitted to the Legislatures {
f the several States for their action,
IA the Supreme Court Of the United
tates has IN a recent decision, Hawks o
s smith. June ist. 1920, declared: y
The referendum provisions q {
te constitutions and statutes Gan J
s le applied. consistently with the Z
uion of the United States, ln
.e -f-an or rejection q amend
ants 10 IT, v
srIhs decisicn leaves the people az '
e mercy Ct any group q men. who 9
~ lobby a proposal FOR change 70 v
Ia E-.lr-si Constitution through Con- J