The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-01-27
An Argument in Support Of the Proposal Pending
in the Constitutional Convention for County
Representation and the Limitation of Cook
County in Both Branches of General Assembly
In Answer to Pamphlet Published by the Citizens Com
mittee For Popular Representation
individuals Entering Society Up Share of Liberty
the Rest"


Chicago group calling themselves The Citizens Committse
for Popular Representation have issued pamphlet wherein Is
attempted prove that the proposal o county and
the limitation Cook county both branches the Legislature
is opposed the fundamental principles o American government
No facts offered support OF this sweeping statement and
attempt justify it in any made except line OF
the Constitutional history Illinois and very brief
the ordinance of 17@ for the government Of the North
west Territory and neither OF these attempts to justify the state
will stand analysis
No OF founders OF this nation did
very good they proves concusiyey
they harmony with that which the Citizens Conn
mitec Popular Representation contcndng Sixteen
be OF the Constitutional Convention Of HS that framed
present National Constitution refused sign that great document
for essentially the ideas advanced by the Citizens Committee
One OF the dssene to his Legislature the proposed Con-
stitution does provide for shred OF representation
Washington presenting the Constitution the old Com
deposited with which contained phrase
dduas entering into society must give share OF liberty
preserve the rest WHY were these words used? For the reason
that the Constitution provided many limitations upon the
ory and contained clauses that did harmonize with
theories of popular representation regardless OF all conditions and
because delegates had refused sign the Constitution
OF those limitations upon popular representation.
brief review OF what the founders OF this republic did will
prove that their great objective build the foundation OF
representative government republic would have stability and
would protect prove
posed popular representation i'll the OF equality of
representation popular basis under all The
history the times the records their Debates and the documents
they ali this There IS scarcely article in the Con
stuion that in harmony with the theory popular representa-
population alone There provide
check upon popular will many great powers lodged
represents majority the political subdivisions the nation The
great essential principle running all through their
safeguard the OF the state from falling OF hands,
and provide checks and balances upon the OF the
jority that ebulons public sentiment might overthrow
national institutions. Or state i'll other words, provide
ways maintain the wide diffusion of the power
The proposition OF the Citizens Committee for Popular Repre-
senaon would overthrow these principles for Illinois The record
of other i'll writing their Constitutions shows that their
have followed the basic principles adopted by the founders
OF the republic Every that has faced conditions similar
those in Illinois the present time have placed limitations upon
the representation of their popuous communities
The Article of Confederation
After the Declaration Of independence the general law
founders OF this Republic the Articles OF Confederation
which the Continental Congress formed Each
the Continental Congress. regardless OF size had Thus
the the founders of the Republic overturned the
fundamental principles OF American according the
Citizens Committee for Popular Representation because Delaware
with $1,000 population had the Virginia with
74760 population Under such conditions and by the
written the Ordinance of 17 for the govern
Committee violated by the proposal to limit Cook
But i'll the first paragraph of the ordinance that
temporary provision until formed of the territory
the word forever in the ordinance until Constu
adopted Under this ordinance the first Constitutional Con-
in Illinois formed in April 1918 The Constitution
adopted gave fifteen of the the following repre-
sentaton in the Legsaure