Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-04-08
|NEWCONST|TUT|ON
A REMEDY FOR ALL
Of NATIONS ILLS
Frank Dixon Takes Old
Document to Pieces
and Shows Wear
|HE TRIMS WITH RED
Chautauqua Lecturer Is
Plausible, But Hardly
Logical

Frank Dixon, lecturing on 9Th,
! Indispensable Tools of Democracy,
was the feature of the program Al
the chautauqua tent last night, ant
held the closest attention of his au
dience for an hour and a half. Pre-
vious to his lecture the Zedeler Sym
phonix Quintet rendered a choice
program of music. ,--
Condensed to Mr.. Dixon's owr
words his lecture lacks some of the
force it carried when more fully il.
lustrated and emphasized, but the
fundamental principles which he dis.
cussed, and which he suggested need.
ed changes for, are contained in the
hypothetical questionnaire which he
|propounded, and which he also an
swered:
"Why is it that the people of these
United States are powerless to
change the machinery of their ma
tional government without genera
tions of agitation and delay? Why is
is that they never have an opportu-
nifty to register their judgment on a
single definite national policy unless
it be expressed by amendment to the
constitution?
"Why is it that a citizen who is
compelled to pay his taxes, or serve
his country in. time of war, iss mot
compelled to cast his ballot for the
election of the men who impose these
taxes or cali him out to war?
"Why is it, tha tthe people must
accept as candidates for the presi-
dency men whom they would never
have nominated, and choose between
them, none of whom they prefer?
"Why is it that the men whom we
send to congress to make our laws
do not have the power to make
them?
"Why do we clothe our president
with powers and prerogatives that
no autocratic monarch in the civilized
world would dare assume?
".Why is it that for two-thirds of
our national life we have had gov
ernment in Washington that was par
alyzed and unable to function?
"Why is it that we are the only
democratic people on earth of any
great Importance who cannot change
our administration instantly when it
no longer commands the confidence
If the people?
= "Why is it impossible for our
statesmen in Washington to consider
any great national or international
ssue upon it's merits, without max
ng it a storm center of partisan dis
)ute?
"Why is it that in our national
responsibility is so di-
rided and confused that it is prac-
ically destroyed and no man can be
allied into judgment for anything? !
"Why do we not place our presi-
lent above the range of party pol
tics that he may be the great moral
eader of all the people, unifying
nd not a dismal farce?
"Why not more of the ablest men
f our nation, those who are most
to represent the vital in
erests of the people, serving as in
ublic life?
"Is the fault in our federal consti-
ution?
"That constitution may be divided
nto two parts:
81. Principles which define the OBJ
acts of free government, set forth
n single paragraph, the preamble, '
ogether with the liverties of the in
ividual in a free government, ex-
ressed in the first ten amendments. j
"To form a more perfect union,
stablish justice, insure domestic II
provide for the common 4
efense. promote the general welfare
nd secure the blessings of liberty, Ii
lose are the principles. Beside them Il
lace the liabilities Of the individual, Il
mong which you find freedom of Il
'orship, freedom Of the press, free Ii
unr Of speech, freedom Of assembly, Il
.eedom from unreasonable search II
nd seizure. trial4is jury ETC., and /
Continued on Page ~ II