The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

WINNETKA WEEKLY TALK, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1919 i < Illinois Constitutional! History By J. Seymour Currey One who writes on the subject mentioned in the heading of this article has but a slim chance of en- gaging the average reader's atten- tion unless he avoids prolixity. Tt may help some in attracting an in- terest if he can escape the too fre- quent use of the word "constitution" and its derivative adjective and ad- verb and adopts equivalent terms, such as "organic law," "basic code," etc, a usage which has become customary among writers of the day. One remembers a story of Horace Greeley, who was asked by the type- setter what a certain word was in the, copy which was entirely illegible. Taking a hasty glance the old editor exclaimed, "Why, constitutional. Any fool could see that." ; Attention has been awakened of late in a marked degree by the im- pending election for delegates to a convention to be held: in January next. A set of organic laws is prepared asually at a meeting held for the pur- pose, termed a "convention" in mod- ern usage. This may be an entirely new document or merely 'an ment or revision of a previous The great model for ages are amend- familiar to compact of 1620, the Declaration of | Independence of 1776, the ordinance | of 1787, the federal constitution of | the same year, and the various ituti which at one time o > served as the organic law of « state. First Constitution Adopted in 1818 The first constitution of Illinois was adopted August 26, 1818, some months before Illinois was admitted as a state in the Union. This was a necessary preliminary to the state's admission, and in the resolution of congress December 3, ¥818, the con- stitution so adopted was declared to be in conformity with the ordinance of 1787, under which five states were ultimately admitted to the Union. Illinois therefore became a state in the Union on December 3, 1818. In Governor Cole's administration (1822-26) an attempt was made to avoid the prohibition of slavery as contained in the ordinance of 1787. An election for a convention to amend the constitution was authoriz- ed by the legislature for the purpose of legalizing slavery. The convention] proposal was defeated after al strenuous campaign and the consti- tution remained unchanged, though it was by a narrow squeak. Governor Ford, many years afterward, wrote: "It had been too much the case in the Illinois legislature that when a majority were set upon accomplish- ing their purpose, no constitutional barriers were sufficient to restrain them. Ingenious reasons were never wanting to satisfy the consciences of the more timid; so that many re- gretted that there was ary constiiu- tion at all? Many Changes The state passed through other vicissitudes during the period that the first constitution was in force-- the removal of the capital to Van- Is that have survived |f us--the a Charta of 1215, the Mayflower | no dalia in 1820, and again to Springfield in 1837. and most serious of all, the "era of internal improvements" in 1856. For the purpose of aiding a number of projected railroads which the people were crazy to have built without waiting for a natural de- velopment (there was not a miles of railroads in the state at that time) the legislature authorized scveral issnes of bonds, amounting to the dizzy total of $17,000,000, which seem- ed for many. years thereafter beyond the ability of the state to care for. Lincoln's part in these legislative In fact, a later convention had to provide a special tax for their event- ual payment. And the worst of it was that there were but a few miles of cross-country 'railroads built with flat rails to show for the vast ex-] penditures made. It may prove a] shock to our preconceived notions of | activities to learn that he was al member of the legislature during that | period, and acting as one of a group | known as the "long nine," took a part in forcing through meas-| he no doubt would have | a later time in his! i In is continually! his friends in| sav Nicolav | "and there is Second Constitution in 1848 I'he second constitution f the state was adopted § 1848 and con tinued 1n force twenty-two y | The most important feature of this | constitution was perhaps the pro-| . practically all on the surface, and | lf] (HS deep mining is unnecessary. Wire for Ocean Sounding A very fine steel piano wire is used in making ocean soundings. The ocean at its deepest point as far as is known is 31,614 feet--about six miles--deep. This hole in the ocean is near the island of Guam. A wire must be very fine and very strong to support six miles of itself in making these soundings. SUBSCRIBE NOW BEVERAGES "MADE IN EVANSTON" ALL OF SUPERB QUALITY Hy recommend our Giroer Ale & Chocolate Creme Sarsaparilla vision for a sinking fund to pay the All dealers or phone Evanston 5464 portentous state debt. The consti- | tution of 1848 put the state on a bas- | is of strict economy, with restrictions | upon legislature in reference to in-| curring indebtedness, while the] beneficent "two-mill tax" gave as- surance to its creditors that the] debts would be paid. The state debt | reached its maximum in 1853, but in | Governor Russell's administration | (1857) the reduction amounted tq | over three millions of dollars, and in | Governor Oglesby's (1865) to over five millions. Before 'the close of 1882 it had been entirely extinguish- ed except a balance of $18500 in bonds which, having been called in years previously and never present- | ed for payment, are supposed to have been lost. Need New Constitution A new constitution was adopted in 1870, the one under which the state is governed at the present time. Spe- cial legislation was prohibited under this constitution, minority repres- entation or cumulative voting was provided for and other changes in the organic law made. We may say, however, that in spite of the wis- dom and forethought shown in the construction of this great document the times have outgrown it in the fifty years of its existence and there is now a vital need of revision with added provisions to better adapt it to the times in which we live. BAPTISTS TO HAVE GREAT RALLY WEEK Next week is to be Rally Week in the Wilmette Baptist church, to culminate in the Village Union Church Rally on Sunday, October 5. The complete plans are to be re- veal®l at the morning services of the church on September 28 in the form of "sealed orders" to every member of the church and all in at- tendance at the services. It is under- stood that the week's program is to include a meeting of the Church Building committee on Monday even- ing to complete details with regard to the beginning of the construction of the new edifice at Forest and Wil- mette avenues, as soon as building conditions permit. On Wednesday evening there is to be put into opera- tion a plan of parish organization which has been the subject of long study by the pastor and church coun- cil. On Thursday evening the Relig- ious Education department will meet for a dinner and conference at the pastor's home where they will be addressed by Dr. A. H. Gage, Direct- or of Religious Education for the Baptist churches of Chicago. On Fri- day the Fall Rally meeting of the Woman's society will be held at the home of Mrs. Frank L. Anderson, 112 Broadway avenue, and that evening the annual meeting and social of the Young People's society will take place. The society members will be the guests of Miss Jennie Dubbs at her new home, 1221 Greenwood avenue. x At all of these meetings the chief aim will be to assure record attend- ances at the Sunday -school and morning services on October 5 when all the churches of the Village are planning to hold their Rally, Day programs. Mr. and Mrs. Seymour' Cunningham are residing at 910 Elmwood avenue. TELLS CHURCH PLANS OF AMERICANIZATION Episcopal clergy of the north shore heard Reverend Dr. George Craig Stewart, rector of St. Luke's church, Evanston, speak Monday, September 22, on the Nation-Wide campaign which the church is now conducting. He spoke at the 182nd chapter meet- ing of the Northwestern Deanery at Trinity: church Highland Park. Americanization of our thousands of foreien-born citizens was the cry of Dr. Stewart in laying before the Deanery the needs and Trespons- ihilitics of church. "I contend that the Ewniscopal church can make of itself the greatest force in "the country for the Americanization of these new citizens who are waiting to be molded into a substantial. re- source or a real menace to the na- tion," declared Dr.| Stewart. An army of minute men working on the Liberty Loan plan will make a canvass of all Episcopalians in the United States on December 7, Dr. Stewart explained. puttine before every communicant the plans and purposes of the campaign now under way. Racine college, of Racine, Wis- consin, has asked for $350,000 for five years' expenditures in training layworkers for the Episcopal church. Walter D. Moody, managing direct- or of the Chicago Plan commission, spoke at the-business session of the Deanery meeting in the morning. Both sessions were held out of doors under the trees surrounding Trinity church. Coal in the Ice Regions Geologists have discovered im- mense deposits of coal in Spitzberg- en, and it is now apparent that, in spite of ice, cold and fog, Spitzbergen is a land fraught with many com- mercial possibilities. The coal is Thirsty? Just whistle for "Whistle" GENTE § § EET § | CREED 00 : Marry Mitchell 3 in sa RIGHT [OW Regular $60, $70 and $80 Fall and Winter Suits Made BY to Order QHLY .: Extra Panis FREE With EVERY Suit EVERYTHING GUARANTEED | - oe ow | - - Fit, Styic, Lining--to be the very best Brehm $355 HARRY MITCHELL | 16-18 E. Jackson Boulavard, Chicago 2 Betwesn "tals an? k TEED) | CISPR EET LUT Ant Viabash BIE) © v wand 0 6 & GA ENED § ¢ GRRE STR 3 00 : LJ] Root Beer|: A Word to - the Wise is sufficient. We want to say just a word to you about comfort and convenience. To those of you who wish to get away from the dirt of coal and ashes; to those who care to keep their houses and furniture clean instead of having them befouled with smoke and soot; to those who desire to avoid the constant labor neces- sary to maintain a coal fire; and, in a word, to those who are willing to exchange their coal- worries for real comfort we say and convenience, Burn Fuel Oil EE. DEMONSTRATION AT 1084 DAVIS ST. EVANSTON Open evenings until 9 P. M, Phone Evanston 233( [¢'] FURNISHED ON REQUEST JAWORSKI & DUNN I TTTLEETH TEE HETIL OH HITT ! HTH HT HH {i HTH ies ARTISTIC PORTRAITS :: CHILDREN'S FORTRAITS The North Shore Studio The Home of Good Photography W. J. ROOT, Photographer For twenty-five years owner of one of leading studics in the Chicago Loop Telephone Evanston 2228: fHoyburn Theater Building MODERN EQUIFMENT AND METHODS NEWEST STYLES IN MOUNTINGS :: HCME AND STUDIO WORK VISITORS ARE_WELCCME EET ee RHEUMATISM Take our baths and treatment Corrective gym work First class service--Highly skilled attendants for ladies and gentlemen Machine Adjusted to Body 6093 DAVIS ST. Tel. Evanston 4165 Gardner's Nervousness Constipation = Scientific methods for reduction and developing = : = B BE E ReducingiMa chine School of Massage and Swedish Gymnastics g : ===" Evanston Massage Parlors : : = % i i % ad :: a 3 » » 3 2 ; i 2 i 4 #2 8 2 3 QUALITY has helped to make the store of A. Rodelius & Son what it is today--quality of mer- chandise at logical and fair prices. This is what en- ables our patrons to make purchases with the con~ fidence of veritable experts. We are firmly devoted to the principle of serving our customers satisfactorily. We solicit your patronage. PEARLS, PEARL NECKLACES AND JEWELS, WATCHES, SILVERWARE AND CLOCKS BERGE RE RENNER BENE RENERENEG A. RODELIUS & SON Jewelers and Opticians Telephone Evanston 2635 KATE BIRGEIE B& 827 Davis Street, Evanston PRY BN FIEND BUDUDY BUDGE Bugs ee bs