GIFT OF V > Some America s Exe SOME MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE BY EDWARD JONES COX Published by J. F. ROWKTf PRESS Los Angeles, Cal. 1919 ) Ij Copyright, 1919 *$ V by EDWARD JONES COX Newtonville, Mass. AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED TO MY BROTHERS, CHARLES M. Cox, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND JOHN W. Cox, OF CORONADO, CALIFORNIA, BY THE AUTHOR, EDWARD JONES Cox Introductory It may be that the author, a retired Boston teacher, gets the temerity to criticize the Constitution from the fact that, in the old days of the Dedham, Mass., High School, the civil government taught there consisted in committing the Constitution to memory, amendments and all. While some are proposing much more radical changes than are to be found suggested here, we all wish to attain the same object, namely, to remove the barnacles from the Ship of State. The President, whom we have come to feel is our most direct representative, needs to be re- lieved of certain restraints ; Congress needs to be re- strained from extravagance, and unwisdom, and to be composed of a much higher class of men than of late years ; and the courts need to be made instrumentalities of justice and equity, instead of so much precedent, techni- cality and injunction, and declaring laws to be unconstitu- tional. As one author says, "You attribute too much pene- tration to our judiciary. You imagine that official deco- ration increases human sagacity and sharpens the percep- tion. It is quite the other way. Badges of office have the effect of inflating egotism to such a degree that judg- ment is corrupted." The problem of making the courts places where nothing but even-handed justice is dispensed, needs to be taken up with extreme seriousness, and the too long-suffering patience of the American people with things they know to be wrong, needs to give way to a determination to have things right. We are living in an interesting time. The other na- tions of the world seem to have set America up on a pedestal of appreciation, for our part in the Great War, and it is a proud moment in the life of our country, which has so few things in its history to be ashamed of. And 5 SOME: MOTDS IN AMERICA'S EYE now, through the influence of President Wilson, has come about the formation of the League of Nations. This "carries the frontier of American Democracy over- seas. We must now fight against ignorance and disease, poverty and injustice, greed and tyranny, all over the world, a task calling for pioneers and crusaders, and the whole army of American citizenship." All nations seem to look to us for help, and the great, sympathetic repub- lic responds willingly, with glad heart and full hands, as fast as possible. But, at such a time, when we are in the limelight of approval, it is plainly our duty to deserve this by eradi- cating any faults of our own. Let us undertake this in the real American spirit. THE AMERICAN SPIRIT When America goes forth to battle, 'Tis because she's forced to right some wrong. When her cannon roar and muskets rattle, 'Tis because some tyrant's reigned too long. She can't bear to see oppression crushing Worthy manhood, wheresoever found, To the rescue all her power goes rushing, Till all shackled peoples are unbound. Bounteous Nature gave us such resources We must use them for the good of all. Through our veins the strength of freedom courses, We must answer ev'ry sufFrer's call. With Old Glory proudly floating o'er us, North and South and East and West unite, Marching, singing, in determined chorus We will help men striving for the right. SOME MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE When republics, land by land, have taken All the Earth for popular control, And all monarchs from their thrones are shaken, No more shall we hear the war-drums roll, Land of Freedom! Ring from ev'ry steeple, World- wide suffrage then can prove its worth, Gov'rnment of, and by, and for the people Shall not, cannot, perish from the Earth. E. J. C. Changes and additions suggested are printed in italics. If there should be any call for this pamphlet, a second edition would contain the full wording of those parts marked Un- changed. Few people have in their homes a copy of the con- stitution, under which our government works. And few Americans know that some of the constitutions which have been adopted since ours was, are decided improvements upon our own. Let us not lag behind Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and others, in this matter. After reading, kindly write me your opinion of it, and then present it to some library. Preface "When, in the course of human events, it becomes" evi- dent that the time-honored CONSTITUTION OF THE: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA has become in some ways an obstacle in the path of the Nation's progress, it behooves any pro- gressive patriot citizen to see what suggestions he can make for its improvement. So many things have been done, similar to the decision of the Supreme Court that the law providing that child labor of sixty hours a week should be forbidden, was unconstitutional, that the ordi- nary citizen has lost his respect both for the court and the Constitution. Such decisions as this, apparently based on precedent, technicality, or subservience to wealth, in- stead of justice, equity and the best good of the Nation, cannot be too long made, without causing a revolution of their victims, which will endanger the very life of the republic. Therefore, while agreeing that the wonderfully sensible and patriotic members of the convention which formed the Constitution of 1789, devised a government of "checks and balances" which has served the country remarkably well for a century and a quarter, it would seem that it is high time to follow the example of such a state as Massa- chusetts, and call a convention, which shall submit for popular approval, or disapproval, a constitution which shall be better suited to the needs of today. Growth in size and population and wealth, also invention, immigra- tion, and changed position among the nations, have so altered conditions, that, while the old Constitution will always be sacred historically, it ought to be possible to adopt a new one which will be as much of an improvement upon the old one, as that was upon the ARTICLES OF CON- FEDERATION OF 1775. 9 SOME MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE THE AMERICAN'S CREED I believe in THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA as a government of the people, by the people, for the people ; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed ; a democracy in a republic, and a sovereign nation of many sovereign states ; a perfect union, one and inseparable ; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity, for which American pa- triots sacrificed their lives and their fortunes. I, therefore, believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag and to defend it against all enemies. (Awarded the prize of $1000 in a "National Citizens' Creed Contest", in President Wilson's administration, and written by William 'Tyler Page, a descendant of Presi- dent John Tyler, and of Carter Braxton, a signer of the DECLARATION OF INDHPHNDHNCH.) 10 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PREAMBLE We, the People of The United States of America, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, en- sure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common de- fense, promote the general welfare, and secure the bless- ings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for THE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (The so-called "Elastic Clause", PRO MOTH THE GENERAL WELFARE, has been the part of the consti- tution which has enabled Congress to adapt our govern- ment to the changing conditions of our growth from thir- teen weak states to forty-eight powerful ones. Let us take it as expressing our underlying spirit in offering these sug- gestions.) ARTICLE I LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT CONGRESS SECTION 1. Unchanged. . . HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SECTION 2. 1 ELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifi- cations requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature, (including the ability to speak, read and zvrite the English language.) This is added to remove the danger coming from the existence among us of communities which are more for- eign in character than they are American. 11 SOME: MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE; 2. QUALIFI CATIONS OB* REPRESENTATIVES. Unchanged. 3. APPORTIONMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES. Represent- atives shall be apportioned among the states, according to their respective numbers, (counting the zt'hole number of persons in each state). Excluding Indians not taxed is no longer just, after the part taken by Indians in the War of 1916-18. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of President or Vice-President of the United States, Rep- resentatives in Congress, the executive and judicial offi- cers of a state, or the members of the legislature thereof is denied to any of the inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebel- lion or other crime, the basis of representation shall be therein reduced in the proportion which the number of such citizens shall bear to the whole number of citizens twenty-one years of age in such state. The negroes of this country have reached a condition of worthiness, both as citizens and soldiers, which should bar none of them from the privilege of voting. Further denial of political privileges to the women of this country is inexcusable. 4. VACANCIES. Unchanged. 5. OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE. Unchanged. THE SENATE SECTION 3. NUMBER OF SENATORS. Unchanged, ex- cept that the electors in each state shall have the qualifica- tions requiste for the most numerous branch of the state legislature, (including the ability to speak, read and zvrite the English language), the same as for representatives. 2. CLASSIFICATION OF SENATORS AND VACANCIES. Unchanged. 3. QUALIFICATIONS OF SENATORS. Unchanged. 4. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE. Unchanged. But, in addition, (the Vice-President of the United States shall be, c.v-officio, a member of the President's cabinet, ivith 12 SOME MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE power to attend all meetings, and discuss and vote upon all. questions.) To give the Vice-President a more worthy position, and a share in executive responsibilities. 5. OFFICERS OF SENATE. Unchanged 6. TRIAL OF IMPEACHMENT. Unchanged. 7. JUDGMENT IN CASES OF IMPEACHMENT. Un- changed. ELECTION OF SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES MEETINGS OF CONGRESS SECTION 4. 1. ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. Unchanged. 2. CONGRESS TO MEET ANNUALLY. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meet- ing shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall, by law, appoint a different day. (No Senator or Representative shall retain his seat in Congress after his failure to receive re-election, but the person chosen in his place shall at once take it.) To prevent members of Congress who fail of re-election from sitting in the short session from December to the 4th of March, and introducing spite acts, or hindering legislation, on account of rejection. This has been one of the weak points in our government. POWERS AND DUTIES OF EACH HOUSE OF CONGRESS SECTION 5. SOLE JUDGE OF QUALIFICATIONS OF MEM- BERS. Unchanged. 2. RULES OF PROCEDURE. PUNISHMENT OF MEMBERS. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, (except that no member may hold the floor for more than two consecutive hours; neither shall any rules, or "gentle- men's agreement" be allowed to bring about the control of either body by a small number of its members, as has been done in the Senate by <c senatorial courtesy 3 ), punish its 13 SOME MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE members for disorderly behavior, and with the concur- rence of two-thirds, expel a member. "Senatorial courtesy," excessive senatorial dignity, and allowing measures to be talked to death by letting mem- bers hold the floor too long, have been dangerous to our welfare, and strongly resented by the people, bringing Congress into contempt. 3. JOURNALS. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, ex- cepting such parts, as may, in their judgment, require secrecy; (but nothing shall be printed except what was actually spoken); and the ayes and noes of the members of either house, on any question, shall, at the desire of one- fifth of those present, be entered on the journal. "Leave to print" is a privilege which has been greatly abused, at the expense of the people. 4. ADJOURNMENT. Unchanged. COMPENSATION, PRIVILEGES, AND DISABIL- ITIES OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS SECTION 6. 1. COMPENSATION PRIVILEGES. Un- changed. 2. DISABILITY TO HOLD OTHER OI^ICE. Unchanged MODE OF PASSING LAWS SECTION 7. SPECIAL PROVISION AS TO REVENUE LAWS, All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives (and must be under a budget system), Practically all nations but ours keep down extravagance by a budget system. but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments, as on other bills. (All differences between the houses on any kind of bill, zvhich may be settled by committees of conference, shall be brought before both houses at least three days before they sJiall be voted on.) Queer things have been done in conference committees, even by single members, to the disgust of the people. (Bach bill shall state the object zvhich it is intended to achieve, so that no case arising under it may be decided 14 SOME MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE on technicality, but strictly on equity, and no bill or law which does this shall be called unconstitutional.) This is absolutely necessary, if respect for our courts is to be restored. 2. LAWS, How ENACTED. Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President of the United States. (The items which he shall approve, he shall sign; but those which he shall disapprove, he shall return, with his objections, to that house in which they shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider them. If after such reconsideration, tivo-thirds of that house shall agree to pass them, they shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which they shall like- wise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that house, they shall become law. But, in all such cases, the votes of both houses shall be determined by ayes and noes; and the names of the persons voting for and against the items shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If any item shall not be returned by the President ivithin ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress, by their adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law.) This will prevent "riders" being attached to bills and give the President power to veto items of bills. ( Bills rushed through during the last week of a session, so that the President does not Imve proper time to con- sider them, shall, if he does not sign them, go over to the next session.) Many queer things have been done in the rush of the last week. 3. SAME RULES APPLY TO RESOLUTIONS. Unchanged. POWERS GRANTED TO CONGRESS SECTION 8. 1 TAXATION. Unchanged. 15 SOME: MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE 2. LOANS. Unchanged. 3. COMMERCE. Unchanged. 4. NATURALIZATION AND BANKRUPTCIES. Congress shall (establish uniform laws on the subject of bankrupt- cies throughout the United States), This has long been needed, state laws are so diversified. and a uniform rule of naturalization (requiring at least five years' residence in the United States, before applying for the first papers, together ivith the ability to speak, read and write the English language. There shall always be espionage laws in force, under which troublesome ini- naturalized aliens may be deported.) Our fathers were too liberal in granting to foreigners privileges here, and this has been thanklessly taken ad- vantage of, especially in political life. 5. COIN. Unchanged. 6. COUNTERFEITING. Unchanged. 7. POSTOFFICE. Unchanged. 8. PATENTS AND COPYRIGHTS. Unchanged. 9. COURTS. Unchanged. 10. PIRACIES. Unchanged. 1 1 . WAR. Unchanged. 12. ARMY. Unchanged. 13. NAVY. Unchanged. 14. MILITARY AND NAVAL RULES. To make rules for the government of the land and naval forces (but the highest pay shall be given to those branches of the service whose duty it is to go into the danger zone in battle). As it is, the fighting men receive less pay than those of the quartermaster, commissary, and other safe branches, 15 AND 16. MILITIA. Unchanged. 17. FEDERAL DISTRICT AND OTHER PLACES. Un- changed. 18. MAKE LAWS TO CARRY FOREGOING POWERS. Un- changed. LIMITATIONS ON POWERS GRANTED TO THE UNITED STATES SECTION 9. I. SLAVE TRADE. Omit. 16 SOME; MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE 2. HABEAS CORPUS. Unchanged. 3. Ex POST FACTO LAW. Unchanged. 4. DIRECT TAXES. Unchanged. 5. DUTIES ON EXPORTS. (Taxes or duties shall be laid on American-made arti- cles, and American-raised produce exported abroad, suffi- cient to cause them to cost as much abroad as they are sold at in this country.) This educating the American public to pay high prices and then selling American goods to the foreigner for whatever he can pay, has been carried to an absurdity. The American producers have got so that they would rather do anything than come down on their prices, to our own too-patient consumers. 6. No COMMERCIAL DISCREPANCY TO BE MADE BE- TWEEN STATES. Unchanged. 7. MONEY. How DRAWN FROM THE TREASURY. Un- changed. 8. TITLES OF NOBILITY. Unchanged. SECTION 10. 1,2 AND 3. POWERS PROHIBITED TO THE STATES. Unchanged. ARTICLE II EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT SECTION l. 1. EXECUTIVE POWER VESTED IN PRESI- DENT TERM OF OFFICE. The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, shall be elected (by the majority vote of the whole country, without any regard to the old system of presi- dential electors by states). The old system is clumsy, the old insistence on state rights, based on the idea of "a loose union of independent commonwealths" is outgrown, and a straight majority vote would be better. SECTIONS 2, 3 AND 4. Omit. 5. QUALIFICATIONS OF PRESIDENT. Unchanged. 17 SOME: MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE; 6. PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION. Unchanged. 7. SALARY OF PRESIDENT. Unchanged. 8. OATH OF OFFICE OF PRESIDENT. Unchanged. POWERS OF PRESIDENT SECTION 2. 1. COMMANDER IN CHIEF. Unchanged. 2. TREATIES AND APPOINTMENTS. Unchanged. 3. FILLING VACANCIES. Unchanged. 4. SENTENCES AND PARDONS. (All pardons granted and sentences imposed in the United States shall be on a probation basis, and any pardon may be revoked or sentence altered at any time by a president of the United States.) The celebration of an anniversary by a governor of a state pardoning murderers, and the granting honorable discharge from the army, with pay for the time they were in prison, to a lot of slackers from the great war, by a pacifist Secretary of War, show the need of reviewing power by some one directly responsible to the people. Also both court and court-martial sentences are often unduly severe. FURTHER POWERS OF PRESIDENT SECTION 3. MESSAGE TO CONGRESS ADJOURN AND CALL SPECIAL SESSION. Unchanged. SECTION 4. IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT, AND OTHER OFFICERS. Unchanged. ARTICLE III JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT SECTION 1. COURTS TERMS OF OFFICE, AND SALARY OF JUDGES. Unchanged. JURISDICTION OF UNITED STATES COURTS SECTION 2. CASES THAT MAY COME BEFORE UNITED STATES COURTS. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or whicli shall be made, under their authority, to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls; to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; to contro- ls SOME: MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE versies to which the United States shall be a party ; to con- troversies between two or more states; between a state and citizens of another state ; between citizens of different states; between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grant of different states; and between a state, or citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens, or subjects (also all cases of riot, lynching, usury and profiteering). Local juries in state courts, in these last cases, seem to be afraid to convict. 2. JURISDICTION OF SUPREME AND APPELLATE COURTS. Unchanged. 3. TRIAL OF CRIMES. Unchanged. TREASON SECTION 3. TREASON DEFINED. Unchanged. 2. CONVICTION. Unchanged. 3. PUNISHMENT. Unchanged. ARTICLE IV THE STATES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SECTION 1. STATE RECORDS. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judi- cial proceedings of every other state. And the Congress may, by general law, prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof. (All public and historical records of the nation, states, counties, cities, and tozvns shall be required by law to be kept in fireproof buildings.) A host of invaluable records of all kinds at Washington and all over the country, are kept in wooden firetraps. ARTICLE V AMENDMENTS SECTION 1. AMENDMENTS, How PROPOSED AND ADOPTED. Unchanged. 19 SOME: MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE ARTICLE VI PROMISCUOUS PROVISIONS SECTION 1. 1. THE PUBUC DEBT. Unchanged. 2. SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND. Unchanged. 3. OATH OF OFFICE AND RELIGIOUS TEST. Unchanged. ARTICLE VIII RATIFICATION OF CONSTITUTION Done in convention, 1787. Here follows the signatures. AMENDMENTS ARTICLE I SECTION 1. RESTRICTIONS ON POWERS OF CONGRESS. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ; (but all property belonging to religious denominations shall be assessed and taxed by the authorities of the town or city in which it is situated) ; This would be fairer to the people as a whole than the present system. or abridging the freedom of speech ; (excepting utterances inciting to overthrow the government) ; We want no anarchistic attempts to overthrow our insti- tutions. or of the press ; (but all publications in a foreign language, excepting textbooks for educational purposes, shall have the English translation in parallel columns, We want no chances for anti-Americanism to hide behind a foreign language. and the government shall publish, in each and every state, at least one newspaper, in which no neivs that has not been confirmed shall be printed), The people have lost all confidence in their newspapers, and need government publications which will neither dis- tort, exaggerate, nor suppress the truth. 20 SOME; MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. ARTICLE II SECTION 2. RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be in- fringed. (The government shall give to every American citizen between the ages of 18 and 45, zvho may demand it, not more than two years of military training, regardless of his physical condition) . Military training has proved to be a most efficient means of improving the physique of our manhood, and men so trained would be quickly fit for service in time of need. ARTICLE III SECTION 1. BILLETING of 4 SOLDIERS. Unchanged. ARTICLE IV SECTION 1. SEIZURES, SEARCHES AND WARRANTS. Unchanged. ARTICLE V SECTION 1. CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONDEMNA- TION OF PROPERTY. Unchanged. ARTICLE VI SECTION 1. MODE OF TRIAL IN CRIMINAL PROCEED- INGS. Unchanged. ARTICLE VII SECTION 1. TRIAL BY JURY. Unchanged, except that (in case of a re-trial, the vote of ten jurymen shall be sufficient to convict.) ARTICLE VIII SECTION 1. 1. BAILS, FINES, PUNISHMENTS, ET CETERA. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor exces- sive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments in- flicted. (Punishments shall fit the nature of the crime, and all judges shall spend at least twenty-four hours in a 21 SOME MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE cell in every prison to which they are accustomed to sen- tence offenders.) If a boy daubs paint on a building, it is better to make him scrub it off, than to have him or his parents pay a fine. Judges need to realize what it means when they sentence offenders to a long term of imprisonment. 2. (No case shall be allowed more than one appeal to a higher court.) A poor man cannot afford to carry a case through a number of appeals. 3. (No offender shall be put on probation more than once.) By the second or third time, it fails to be any deterrent. 4. (Judges and juries shall decide each case by its indi- vidual equity, without regard to precedent or technicality. Judges shall be subject to recall by the authority that elected or appointed them. The discovery of perjury, or of evidence favorable to a convicted defendant, shall en- title him to a retrial.) No official should be allowed to feel that his tenure of office is so secure that he can do any injustice. 5. (No judge shall set aside a verdict made or ap- proved by another judge, or refuse to admit evidence which is relevant to the case.) To put the responsibility on the judge who first tries the case, and to prevent wealthy people or corporations from getting judges to set aside the fines imposed upon them by more righteous judges. Why the great fear of offend- ing the rich by the courts of this country? We have come to feel that there is one sort of verdict for the rich, and an entirely different sort for the poor. Result, an arrogance of wealth as bad as European arrogance of birth. 6. (No capital punishment shall be inflicted in the United States, except on confession of guilt.) Circumstantial evidence and perjury have claimed too many innocent victims. ARTICLE IX SECTION 1. CERTAIN RIGHTS NOT DENIED TO THE PEOPLE. Unchanged. 22 SOME MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE ARTICLE X SECTION 1. STATE RIGHTS. Unchanged. ARTICLE XI SECTION 1. JUDICIAL POWERS. Unchanged. ARTICLE XII SECTION 1. ELECTION OF PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESI- DENT. Omit entirely. ARTICLE XIII SECTION 1. SLAVERY. Unchanged. ARTICLE XIV CITIZENSHIP, REPRESENTATION, AND PAYMENT OF PUB- LIC DEBT. Unchanged except to omit the words "electors for" in Section 2, and "elector of" in Section 3. ARTICLE XV SECTIONS 1 AND 2. ELECTIVE FRANCHISE. Unchanged. ARTICLE XVI INCOME TAX. CONGRESS GIVEN POWER TO LAY AND COLLECT. The Congress shall have power to lay and col- lect taxes on incomes (and inheritances, profits, unearned increments, and land values), from whatever source de- rived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration. (Tax dodging, -failure of assessors to assess equitable value, and of district attorneys and attorney generals to prosecute, shall be offenses against the United States, and be tried in the United States courts, which shall be provided with a sufficient number of judges to insure reasonably speed\ trial) These evils speak for themselves, and can be removed by a determined people. One of the daughters of Mc- Cormick, the inventor of the grain reaper, is said to have been the only millionaire who was strictly honest in acknowledging all her property that was taxable. How different the tax rates would be if all wealthy peo- ple were like her ! Assessing land at $14 an acre, which cannot be bought for less than $300 an acre, as is done 23 SOME MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE with vast holdings in California, is hardly equitable assessment, and keeps hosts of people living in city tene- ments, who would be glad to live on their own land. ARTICLE XVII PROHIBITION OF THE MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF IN- TOXICATING LIQUORS. As put into effect in 1919. ARTICLE XVIII DEBARMENT OF LAWYERS. (Every lawyer who defends a client whom he knows to be guilty, or assists a client in evading the lazu, shall be debarred for at least six months for each offense.) Lawyers should, like Lincoln, advise such clients to plead guilty, and take their medicine, rather than defend them in a case which should never be tried, at the expense of an outraged public. ARTICLE XIX NATIONAL EDUCATION. ( The United States shall take entire charge of the education of its people, both youths and adults, establish educational standards, examine and certify teachers, fix their salaries and tenure of office, making both attractive to first-class talent, and provide equal quality of supplies, books, and school buildings throughout the country.) This will be the only way to give the children, also the night school adults, who live in less well-to-do communi- ties, an equality in educational opportunity with those who live in richer ones. (No parochial or private school shall be allowed to keep children in the grammar or high school grades. These grades must be attended in the public schools. Every child shall be required to pass through the high school, re- ceiving a diploma worded so as to show his ability, and if the family circumstances make this financially impos- sible, the public funds shall be loaned to make up the de- ficiency.) Any person's religious bias can be given by his church during the primary grades' ages. Continual private school- ing tends towards snobbishness, and class feeling. The 24 SOME: MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE public school is the great proving ground of American- ism, and every child should be given the same oppor- tunity in it. ARTICLE XX BUSINESS LICENSES. (Every person, firm, or corpora- tion doing business in this country shall pay annually a United States license, to be established by law.) This will provide a means of checking exorbitant prices, on the one hand, and inferior service, or quality, on the other. The country is full of "robber barons," in both wholesale and retail lines, and get-rich-quick schemes. ARTICLE XXI The United States shall provide for its ambassadors, ministers and consuls in foreign countries, residences, salaries, and expense money equal to those provided by the other first-class powers. So that these positions can be accepted by able men who may not happen to be rich. ARTICLE XXII NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES. (The United States shall take under its control and ad- minister for the public benefit only those public utilities, such as water power, irrigation dams, oil lands, mines, ex- press routes, telegraph, telephone and cable lines, aero- plane routes, railroads, shipping, grain elevators, and stockyards, whose officials have not given their employes, the public, and the government, a fair deal.) The "public-be-damned" policy of some American million- aires makes this desirable. Others should continue in power and in public esteem. ARTICLE XXIII COMPULSORY VOTING AND OFFICE HOLDING. (Con- gress shall establish by laiv a graded system of fines for persons qualified to vote who fail to register and vote, also a means of voting for enforced absentees. Also a graded system of imprisonment for elected officials who refuse to serve.) 25 SOME; MOTES IN AMERICA'S EYE Non-voters are unworthy of a place in an American com- munity. The standard of politics can be raised by com- pelling those best qualified to serve us in public office to do so, as did the Pilgrim Fathers. Let the office seek the best possible man, not the man the office Of course we know that radical changes like these cannot be brought about at all quickly. Although they are in the minds of thousands of Americans, some favor- ing these items, others, those, determined opposition may be expected from the hidebound conservatives, especially those whose financial profit would be affected. They hope to continue their old game of fooling the people, through their management of the old political parties, while they work things so as to add to their unwieldy fortunes, whereas the demand of the age is for better con- ditions in the places of labor, a higher standard of living in the homes of the toilers, a less absurdly unequal dis- tribution of wealth, and a political party that cannot be fooled. We must look higher than what we have meant bv FREEDOM, or by LIBERTY, FRATERNITY, AND EQUALITY, and demand MUTUAL CONCESSION, or ALTRUISTIC CO-OPERATION, or in simple words, A FAIR DEAL TO ALL. Selfish firms and corporations must be made to follow the example of those unselfish ones, which, by profit sharing, providing good wages, and good labor- and home-conditions, have made capital and labor a harmonious co-operation. A fair deal for everybody must take the place of greed, if America is really to PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE. A determined people has the power to bring this about, and does not need to use bullets, but ballots. 26 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY BERKELEY Return to desk from which borrowed. This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. w NOV 26 1947 LIBRARY LD 21-100m-9,'47(A5702sl6)476 Gaylord Bros. Makers Syracuse. N. Y. PAT. JAN. 21, 1908 1 O UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY