Emma Guy Cromwell

“ The amendments to the Constitution of the United States do not become a part of the Constitution until ratified by three-fourths of the States, which is now thirty-six states—there being forty-eight states in the union.
There are now eighteen amendments to the Federal Constitution. The nineteenth amendment on "Suffrage" is still pending, needing only one more state to give universal suffrage to women.
An amendment to a constitution is simply changing some of its provisions, but a revision is a recasting of the whole constitution. Both require the consent of the voters of the State. ”

“ Wherever you go your citizenship goes with you, protecting and defending you. If you are in a foreign country you must abide by the laws of that country, but should you be treated unjustly the United States would protect you.
Our country is a land of freedom and opportunity, and it is our duty to help uplift the government, and as citizens we must study conditions and know how to govern and be governed. ”

“ The United States is both a democracy and a republic.
A democracy means a government by the people.
A republic is a democracy in which the people elect representatives to carry on the government for them. ”

“ Citizenship not only embraces civil rights, but political rights which is the right of suffrage or voting.
While civil rights are enjoyed by all men, women and children, political rights are enjoyed only by citizens twenty-one years old and over who possess the necessary qualifications to vote. Civil rights and political rights are not the same, for all citizens are not voters, neither are all voters citizens in the United States, as some states permit aliens to vote before they get their citizenship paper, making them real citizens. ”

“ To be an intelligent and desirable citizen we must have a knowledge of our Constitution, and know by whom and how our country is governed.
The man or woman who does not possess some knowledge of how the country is governed—as has been said—may easily become a prey of persons who are anxious to advance their own interests at the expense of the people.
The things needed for the use and protection of the people are provided by the people through their government. ”

“ There is a difference between a trial by jury and a grand jury. The petit jury or trial by jury is composed of twelve men, honest and upright citizens living within the jurisdictional limits of the court, drawn and selected by officers free from all biased opinion and sworn to render a true verdict according to the law and evidence given them. Every citizen is entitled to a fair trial, even though the accused is known to be guilty. The Constitution of the United States gives this right to all citizens. ”

“ As a part of the community you enjoy the good roads, streets, schools, libraries and many other things; therefore, you have no right to shirk your duty in not helping to maintain your government. If we enjoy the good things in this life without doing our part to have them we are cowards. ”

“ Then, if only a small per cent of the women were to vote, and a large per cent of the men were to vote, it would always be problematical as to what effect the consensus of the women's opinion would have had in the result, if a full vote had been polled; and this questionable result of an election is one of the dangers incident to the exercise of the right of suffrage. If the women manifest anything approaching a unanimous desire to participate in the exercise of this governmental function, it will have the effect to increase the public confidence in this government and its institutions. ”

“ To live in a country and enjoy its freedom, peace and comforts and not do our part toward maintaining such peace and comforts we have failed to do our duty toward our fellowman and government, and may be called a sponger, a coward and a shirker if we fail to vote and do our part toward maintaining our government. ”

“ Therefore, it is the duty of every intelligent woman to vote and use her influence to get the women interested in voting and doing their part in keeping up the government. We know that the lower classes will all vote and many floaters will be found in such classes, so it behooves the intelligent women to do their part. The vote is the equal right of every one who is qualified under the law, and every qualified person has one vote, and that one vote from each one is the thing which the Constitution is most zealous to secure and safeguard. ”

“ Organize under competent leaders and let your organization extend into every precinct. See that the voters register on the first Tuesday in October, or the special registration days, then on 2nd day of November go to the polls and vote for President and Vice President of the United States.
Women as well as men in Kentucky can vote for President and Vice President if twenty-one years old and over, unless an alien, idiot or have committed some infamous crime. We have suffrage so far, whether we want it or not, and let us, as intelligent women, not forget the duty it carries with it. ”

“ Should we fail to vote and help maintain our government we certainly will come under one of these heads, that is if we are able to go to the polls and register and vote, and fail to do it. If you are absent from the county or state you can vote by mail. There is no way to escape our duty unless providentially hindered.
[Pg 62] In Kentucky there are 1,201,185 voters, of which 663,454 are men and 537,731 are women. The white female voters are 477,731. The negro female voters are 60,000.
There are 13,225 foreign born white males of voting age, that have been naturalized. ”

“ As we have said the revision usually takes place by means of a convention of delegates elected for that purpose by the people.
"One of the most important parts of every state constitution is the 'Bill of Rights,' which is a statement of the rights which must not be infringed on by the government."
In the revision of a state constitution the legislature submits to the people the question of calling a convention to frame a new constitution. If the voters are in favor of a convention they elect delegates to the convention to assist in revising the constitution. ”

“ We love our government and the good things it gives, as schools, good roads, protection of life and property and the many other things. Should we not be willing to do our part to get these things, or must we be a sponger, a coward, or shirker and let our fellow man do all? ”

“ The District of Columbia, including Washington, the Capital of the United States, is governed by Congress and by judicial and executive officers appointed by the President of the United States. The people have no power of self government. ”

“ The United States is a great republic composed of more than 100,000,000 citizens under the protection of one flag with forty-eight stars which represent the forty-eight states of the union.
"A citizen might be termed a member of a large society called the United States." ”

“ The President of the United States, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints the governor and judges of the courts.
They have a legislature composed of two houses whose members are elected by the people. A delegate to Congress with the right to take part in debates but not to vote is also elected by the people. ”

“ A married woman is a citizen if her husband is a citizen. She cannot become naturalized by herself. A woman born in the United States who marries an alien ceases to be an American citizen and becomes a subject of the country to which her husband belongs. ”

“ Interstate commerce is carried on in the United States, as when goods are shipped from one state to another, or one place in a state to another, either by land or water. The Interstate Commerce Commission provided for by Congress is composed of nine men appointed by the President, and regulates interstate commerce. The members of this commission receive a salary of $10,000.00 annually. ”

“ After roll call for nominations is completed the convention proceeds to the first ballot.
The chairman of the delegation from his state when the state is called by the secretary of the convention, arises and announces the vote of his state. Sometimes a candidate is nominated by acclamation, but usually many ballots are necessary to decide the contest.
If a candidate is not nominated on the first few ballots, a dark horse sometimes receives the nomination, but this is seldom the case. ”

“ There is a special system for the collection of import duties, by naming many places along the coast to be used as "ports of entry," where custom houses in charge of collectors have been established. "Each custom house has a collector and the government has employed a large force of officers and special agents to overtake any dishonesty—attempting to smuggle goods through without paying duty." ”

“ The ballot boxes are opened and inspected before voting begins to see that they are empty.
Electioneering is forbidden within one hundred feet of the polls.
Twice as many official ballots are provided for every polling place as there are registered voters in the district.
If a person is illiterate he is allowed assistance in marking his ballot.
An inspector may challenge a person's vote, but if they swear they are eligible their vote is recorded and marked challenged.
A person cannot vote who is not naturalized for at least ninety days before election. ”

“ If a state legislature passes a law that the people do not approve of a petition may be signed by a certain number of voters which will require the law to be referred to the people for their approval or disapproval. ”

“ The committee on rules, as other committees, is elected by the House. The party in power usually determines the selection of this committee.
Impeachment: If a high official is charged with misconduct in office the House of Representatives would impeach him and if found guilty, the impeachment is carried to the Senate to be tried. The U. S. Senate sits as a court of justice.
Six judges, one President and one Secretary of War have been impeached by the House of Representatives.
Revenue: All bills for raising revenue must originate in the House of Representatives. ”

“ Persons that have become eligible to vote at the general primary election, which occurs on the first Saturday in August may register two weeks before the election in the county court clerk's office as above described, provided such persons were not in the city on any of the previous regular registration days, or who were not then qualified to register and may vote in the primary election in the same manner as other qualified electors. ”

“ A great amount of revenue is derived by state and local governments from licenses, fees and special assessments. Men and women engaged in certain kinds of business must pay to the national, state and local governments a license or fees, as merchants, peddlers, manufacturers, pawnbrokers, etc. ”

“ As soon as a candidate receives the number of votes necessary to nominate, which is two-thirds of the delegates in a Democratic convention and a majority in a Republican convention, usually some one moves that the nomination be made unanimous, which is adopted with great applause. ”

“ While taxes are levied upon real estate there are some kinds of property exempt from taxation, viz.: public institutions and libraries, cemeteries, school houses, churches, and other public buildings. ”

“ Persons employed in such public service are under obligations not to contribute to any political fund, or to render service to any political party.
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CHAPTER III. State Government.
T The state constitution adopted by the voters is the fundamental law of the state.
A state Constitution cannot interfere with the Federal Constitution, neither can the Federal Constitution interfere with the regulation of the state. As has been said the Kentucky Constitution was adopted on April 3, 1792, at a convention which met in Danville. ”

“ The commission encourages efficiency by promotion from lower to higher grades of public service. Some of the places that come under the civil service system are clerks in Washington connected with the national government, officials in the postal service, the letter carriers and clerks in post offices and railway mail service, employees in custom houses, government printing office, Indian service and revenue service. ”