The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-09-16
ADHERENCE TO
CONSTITUTION
Is ADVOCATED
Benton Baker, Speaking at
Kiwanis Club Luncheon
Tells of Origin
DUTIES OF CITIZENS

the United States was urged by ben
ton Baker in an address before the
kiwanis club at the regular weekly
luncheon held Monday at the Nc
Kenzie hotel. Judge Sveinbjorn
Johnson of the supreme court also
briefly gave observations as "a part
of the "Constitution Week program
of the club
Mr.. Baker, at the outset, described
the constitutional convention OF
1887 which, he said. "was made up
OF practical men who had eXperlen-
ced persecution, tyranny and OPP
PRESTON the bitter struggles OF
pioneer people for existence and the
freedom of the great out doors OF
natural America; men who we're IN
tent upon laying a permanent foun-
dation for balanced government
Profit From History
These men, he said, profiting from
their experiences and lessons OF
history, set about the construction
of a system Of checks and balances.
On this foundation Of government,
the thirteen original colonies ex-
banded to the greatest nation on
earth. Mr.. Baker said.
"We' have grown accustomed IN
America to thinking of our written
constitutions as giving as fixed
points by which we can safely
steer" ne said. believing that our
constitutional form Of government is
founded in wisdom and based on
righteousness we have taken its per
manencc more or less for granted
and have fancied ourselves immune
from that appetite for organic
change which Lecky declared to be
one Of the worst diseases that can
afflict people Yet when we con-
slider the comparative ease with
which the last four amendments to
the federal constitution were adopt
ed and the far reaching changes they
have wrought in our national life.
we are compelled to ask ourselves
how far this confidence is justified.
In the light of current history can
we be mistaken in thinking that here
two forces are stirring which must
make the organic law of the future
UllleTeHt lnlIlS from INC olSah's
law of today.
"Let me remind you," he said.
"that the last Congress. following
in this respect the example of those
which Immediately preceded it, pro-
duced no less than 100 bills and
joint resolutions proposing to amend
the constitution. They followed, it
is true, in the wake Of no less than
1854 others which had been intro
duced since the first Congress be-
gan its sitting, but exceeded in num-
Der those of any other Congress
save the Seth, which met when men
were busy devising plans to avert
the oncoming Civil War. No doubt
many of these proposals were trial
balloons, and the total loses some
thing of its portent when duplica-
tions are considered But any fair
estimate of the public temper must
include also those amendments spOn-
sored by unofficial groups and or
CARNATIONS that have not found as
, yet a congressional godfather
Duties Of Citizens
The necessity for citizens taking
an active part in governmental al
fairs was urged by Mr.. Baker
civilian Penn once quantity said
Governments. like clocks, go from
the motion men give them; and a:
I governments are made and movet
by men. so by them they are ruineC
too. Wherefore governments ratneI
depend upon men than men upol
governments"
"After being drafted to speak here
today | went to very old and
very good friend who was born. b.
the way, in foreign land, and ask
ed him how he would like to hav
I the topic of the day presented. II
said that he came to America whe
he was a boy and had lived her
ever since that he early took a
interest in politics; clean polite:
I he said, and | believe him. He sal
] that he didn't know of any othe
] country that he liked SO well blu
that his feelings very nearly az
preached disgust whenever h
+. thought of that element Of our eli,
I izenry who bear the label of 10
percent American but maintain a
/, attitude of Indifference and smu
complacency in matters pertainin
to politics. Language is not stron
] enough to express this gentleman
: contempt for that element of aloe
] and self-csteemed individuals VIII
abhor the dirt and contamination c
American politics.
at is we'll known that there al
many so-called respectable either
of our community who do lip-servic
to the flag. say much of Stacker
. and bolsheviki and glory in parade
, who will not stand for election
office or participate in the CORE
ton of the abuses and evils of OF
election machinery; will not desie
. to attend political conventions
to assist in conducting honest ele
tons, in short ignore their prma
obligations as citizens. Are SUI
the really worthy citizens of Il
republic?
'Let me quote from an address
Judge Martin J. Wade delivered la
week in Minneapolis: Do we ha'
any notion that this country can
run by SO percent of the voters VIII
the so percent who went to the pol
in the 1920 election included maj
If not most Of those whom we wou
exclude from voting if it were
our power?
"Eyery hack driver, demagog
and ward heeler-those who went