The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-09-08

manhood staring you in the face, with
the twentieth century and it's prob
lens on your souls? Let's all be
worthy of that high calling. 1t is
worthy with all of history back of US
to declare that we have no Job? Why,
the greatest thing in the world is hon.
esty--it is to express in language the
soul, the meaning, the purpose and
ideals ofthis Commonwealth NOW
not in 1875. If you haven't grown
any since 1875, don't stand in the way
Of those who have"
DR.. Black began by telling some
thing of the history of the movement,
starting with the bar association,
looking toward better judiciary sys-
tenn. This was followed by the State
Teachers Association in 1914, which
took action in the interests of more
efficient work in the way of educa-
ton. An effort was made to get the
political parties to put planks in their
platforms, but this was difficult at
that time. The friends of the propo-
sition worked on and finally brought
about a combination Of the various
organizations favoring a new consti-
|
State Bar Association, State Medical
Association, State Bankers Associa-
ton, the farmer, the stock raiser, the
women's clubs and the Federation of
Labor--fourteen organizations in all.
The speaker was elected president of
this Constitutional Commission, which
framed the amendment that was voted
on by the people in the November
election of 1920 The vote stood 1884,
437 for and 317815 against, or ma
jority of 1892 in favor of conven-
ton. rE
81 do not like to hear men talking
about this convention as if it was some
upstart thing that has no history"
exclaimed DIR. Black. ut was born
in the conscience and the soul of the
people, who lay nearest to the heart
of its childhood and of its future.
There never was more serious call
made for men and women to come to-
gether in solemn conference on great
issues than are now reposed upon us.
"After the amendment providing
for the constitution at the general
election had been adopted by the peo-
pie the question whether the conven-
ton should be held was submitted to
the people at a special election August
2, 1921. / understand from those IA
miliar with the history that a special
election never calls out large body
of voters, but it was put over and
without any log rolling AS presi-
dent of the state association for the
new constitution, I did not make a
single speech in order to help the
cause It was reposed upon the con-
science and the will of the people of
this state. 1t carried by a vote Of
1885 to 127, 130, or by a majority
of 48,225. In 1875 the call for the
convention received only 283 majority
. on total vote of 222,315. - ~
"Then the next thing was the uomi.
nation of the bipartisan delegates to
the convention in the senatorial dis
tricts,, as provided by law, Their, tht
: political parties got busy--thess poll
: ticians--because there was SO pei
day, or because there was some a0thel
reason in the minds of men. confess
: very modestly that was not one Of
the nominees, and of those who hao
been most active in the promotion Of
named as nominees.
1.-THE convention is here. Why did
not the people go to the polls to elect
, the men and women who were to be in
, this convention, Because it was moi
, necessary. One was Democrat, the
other a Republican, and nobody has
voted for anybody except the men and
women of his own party. And so we
are here as bipartisan group of mer
and women, chosen to a great and re-
sponsible office, and think it is the
ambition of this body to continue at
the job to which the people have called
us, faithfully, until we have done our
level best. i
Lets not lose faith in the dignity
of the call that has been made upon
US. Let's not for a moment lose the
sense of responsibility. For the com.
ing time with our minds back on the
past we may rise to the visions ahead
We must be responsible and careful
, and no man can do his duty here who
is not doing it with the sense that
three million people are waiting on his
action and that the future is in the
balances of his judgment. OF course
| am opposed to any proposal to ad-
journ. This going back to the people
don't mean anything. If you cross
your legs on the table, light your pipe
and talk to Brother Smith about it he
is simply going to say. 'uh, huh,' and
that is the voice of the people, and
you might just as well sit down where
you are and make your judgment as to
your responsibility in this matter and
that you are going to have to answer
to the people and to your God.
"You know the people of this state
} and you run around among them. Is
} there single solitary man in this con-
, vention who can sit down and tell any
body else what this convention is and
what is its sense of responsibility OF
! what its forces are and what its ulti-
mate judgment is going to be? Not
; soul. We are here to speak honest
: ly, humanity. philosophically and re.
ligiously in statesmanlike way in
reference to the things that have been
! committed to us. Let US not dilly-
daily. have not taken up much OF
, the time of this convention, but
! have been as much associated with the