Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-04-19

The following speech made by
Governor Richie at the Jefferson
ian banquet, follows out the line
of argument made in his inaugur-
al address, and also largely re-
produces his article recently pub
llshed in the Worlds Work:
The American people are at the
threshold OF great struggle 1t is
not a struggle OF the ambitions OF
men, although we will witness that in
che months between now and Novem-
Pier. 1t is vastly greater than that,
because the fortunes OF man are small
n the face of principles which are
fundamental and which are in peril.
1t is not struggle to help main
cain the peace OF the world, although
we fought to secure it. 1t is not a
struggle to help rehahilitate Europe,
although until that Is done the mar
Kets OF the world will not open again
4or our supplies.
In both or these things, doubtless,
!; lot fulfill it, we cannot present our
selves to the world as capable of full
Killing, until here at home we once
moro bow to American ideals and to
the enduring truth of American in
situations.
To keep our American ideals, to
preserve our American institutions,
that is the struggle; for without these
no high purpose, either at home OF
abroad, ever has been or ever can be
accomplished by this country.
1t is the struggle not of individuals
but of the States. 1t is the struggle
: of the States, notbeca use they neeo
attain new administrative activities
nor add to their functions Of govern
ment, but because they are fast los.
.ng rights which are fundamental anc
without which our form of govern
ment cannot endure. 1t is the strug.
lyle of the States to keep what OF
those rights they still have and to gel
back, if they can, those they have
lost.
For a long time the people of the
States retained their rights pretty
we'll. For a long time we believed
that that nation is governed hes,
which is governed least. For long
{ me we Of a country of 100000
people rejecting differing conditions
and opinions everywhere Throughout
vast area Of 5000 miles from Sea
to sea, believed that national unit!
and national harmony We're only pos
slble so long as the nation kept with
in the limits of its domain and lef
The States free within the limits o.
theirs.
We scarcely realize now that thu
Twelfth Amendment to the Fedora
Constitution was adopted in 1904
md that from then until 1913 not an
other amendment to our organic Law
was adopted, save only the three
which followed the Civil War.
Theer was period of more than ;
century, and it was the period which
witnessed the growth and development
of our country into the greatest ma
ton of the world.
We grew from Is States to Al
States. Foreign possessions were al
ded to our domain. The sailboat wa
superseded by the ocean liner Thu
stage coach became the trans-conti
mental railway. Mores gave us tn
telegraph, Bell the telephone and tn
Wrights We're just completing thei
conquest of the air. In business, il
agriculture in medicine, in science
and inventive genius we became un
surpassed.
Yet with the single exception o
writing into the Constitution the three
political amendments which reflected
the issues settled on the battlefield
of the Civil War, we did it all withou
one change in our Constitution as i
existed in 1S04-over Century be
fore.
But the seeds of Capitalization hat
been planted land they grew by VIVA
they fed on. 1t was not difficult.
Thirty-six States can impose thei
will in constitutional questions on tn
other IL. And not the people OF thos'
States mind you, but just major:t!
of the Legislatures in each of thos'
. States; and you have a majority O.
the Legislatures in each of SO State
] if you can get the vote of 2,316 mem
: bers.
Think what that means! Twenty
!: three hundred men or women out o.
: 100000 people can write into tn
: Const tuition of the land any amend
ment that they choose to ratify, will
!: no appeal to the people from theil
?
that they are conspicuous, those q,
: 500 representatives are harrassed by
the threats and the Establishments Of
organized m:norities until their viii
and their sense Of right crumple ant
fall helpless to the ground.
If I had my way, there is one con.
stitutional amendment which shoulC
be adopted, and none other SHOULD be
considered until that became part Of
our organic law. It is an amendment
which would provide that no further
amendments to the Constitution shall
be made unless each State is given
the right to referendum to the peo-
pie upon the action of it's Legislature
in ratifying any proposed amend
ment.
The Constitution is the form of
Government which the people Of this
country adopted for themselves. The
people ought to be permitted to
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