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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 1935)
I _ __ I fiestycirrwYv BjujmAZotu jJJ September 17 is celebrated throughout the United States as Constitution day, since it was on that date in 1787 that the delegates to the Constitutional convention in Philadel phia finished their work and signed their names to the document under which the United States has been governed for 148 years. What manner of men were these "Fathers of the Republic"? What was their preparation for their great work? Under what circumstances did they bring into ex istence one of the most Important charters of government in all history? What did they think of the fruits of their labor after they had finished? These and other questions which naturally come tc mind as we celebrate Constitution day art answered in this article. By ELMO SCOTT WATSON T WAS hot In Philadelphia that sum mer of 1787—one of the hottest the little city had ever known. And of all its 20,000 Inhabitants none suf fered more discomfort than a little group of 40 or 50 men who gathered every day in a small room In the State house and sweltering there be hind closed windows and closed doors wrestled with the tremendous task of saving a new nation from chaos. For Indeed the fortunes of the United States of America had about reached their lowest ebb. Only 15 members, represent ing seven states, were attending the sessions of fthe Continental congress, which was making a futile effort, under the authority given it by the Articles of Confederation, to function as a gov erning body. Measure after measure was pro posed in congress to provide funds for govern ment expenses but most of these failed for lack of the necessary nine votes. Even when the bills were passed the states treated the demands upon them for funds with the greatest indiffer ence. In fact, a more appropriate name for the nation at that time would have been the Dis united States of America. The soldiers of the disbanded army which had won the fight for freedom from England were unpaid and in an ugly mood. They wanted their money, long overdue, and large numbers of them icamped outside the city and began threatening ,to stone the building where the congress was meeting unless their demands were met Pres ently the situation became so threatening that ■the congress had to flee from Philadelphia to Princeton, N. J., where it sat for a while, then went on to New York. From New York the congress authorized the holding of a constitutional convention and called ion the states to send delegates to such a meeting iln Philadelphia “to take into consideration the isltuatlon of the United States, to revise the Arti cles of Confederation and to devise such further 'provisions as should appear to them necessary to render the Constitution of the federal gov ernment . adequate to the exigencies of the Union.” Each state could send as many dele gates as It pleased, since each was to have but one collective vote. Of all the states only Rhode Island, which had been at odds with the federal government almost from the beginning, refused to send any dele gates at all and, consistent with its attitude. It was the last to ratify the Constitution after one was finally adopted. New Hampshire was In favor of the meeting but because of lack of funds its delegates did not arrive until the con vention was well under way. Altogether 72 of the leading citizens of the 13 states were accredited as delegates although some of them failed or refused to go. Outstand ing among the latter was Patrick Henry, the fiery orator of the Revolution, who was sus picious of the purposes of the convention. Or, as he phrased It, “I smelt a rat!" Of the 72 ac credited delegates, 55 took part in the delibera tions of the convention at one time or another but only 39 stayed on the job until the end. 'tbey were the following: CONNECTICUT—Roger Sherman and William S. Johnson. DELAWARE—Richard Bassett, Gunning Bed ford, Jr., Jacob Broom, John Dickinson and George Read. GEORGIA—Abraham Baldwin and William Few. MARYLAND—Daniel Carroll, Daniel Jenifer and James McHenry. MASSACHUSETTS—Nathaniel Gorman and Rufus King. 1 NEW HAMPSHIRE—Nicholas Gilman and John Langdon. NEW JERSEY—David Breasley, Jonathan Dayton, William Livingston and William Pat terson. NEW YORK—Alexander Hamilton. NORTH CAROLINA—William Blount, Richard D. Spaight and Hugh Williamson. PENNSYLVANIA — George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimmons. Benjamin Franklin, Jared Inger \ j^anuUy MadUorv JlZ^xandMu^a^rixUjcnv soil, Thomas Mifflin, Uouverneur Morris, Robert Morris and James Wilson. SOUTH CAROLINA—Pierce Butler, Charles Pinckney, Charles C. Pinckney and John Rud ledge. VIRGINIA—John Blair, James Madison and George Washington. Of this number more than half, 21, were law yers. Six are classified as “statesmen,” three were farmers, landowners or planters, three were merchants, two bankers or “financiers,” one an educator, two physicians and one a soldier. Most of them were well educated. Nine of them had studied In the Inner Temple or the Middle Tem ple In England, one at Oxford under Blackstone and two in Scottish universities. Half of the delegates were graduates of American or Euro pean colleges, three were professors and one. Dr. William S. Johnson, was president of Colum bia college, on leave of absence to act as dele gate from Connecticut. Moreover it was a convention ot young men. The patrinrch Benjamin Franklin was then eighty-one years old, but 20 of the 55 were un der forty years of age. Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey was the “baby” of the convention—only twenty-seven years old. Charles Pinckney, who submitted the first drnft of the Constitution, was only two years his elder. Alexander Hamilton of New York, destined to play a leading role in the convention but a more Important one In se curing the ratification of the Constitution, wns barely thirty, and James Madison, who would become known as the “Father of the Constitu tion,” wns thirty-six. John Marshall, then only thirty-two years old, was not a delegate to the convention. But be cause of his pnrt in securing the ratification of the Constitution and the work he did as chief Justice of the United Stutes later In Interpreting It and strengthening the federal foundations of the government by menns of it, he is entitled to a high place among the “Makers of the Constltju tion.” The date set for the opening of the convention was the second Monday in May. The roads of that time were poor and trnvel was expensive and slow, so it was not until two weeks later that the first meeting was held. The convention met formally for the first time cn Friday, May 25, although only a few more than half the delegates had arrived by that time. Seven states were represented at this meeting, according to one authority; according to another, there were nine. Whatever the number, those present got down to business at once by electing a presiding officer. Benjamin Franklin, because of his age and the fact that this was his home city, was the logical choice for this position but he graciously waived that honor and suggested the choice of George Washington, the late com mander in the struggle for liberty. Washington’s election wns unanimous and he presided throughout the convention with Ids usual dignity. His chair was on a raised plat form and It was a rule of the sessions that the members should stand at their places, upon ad journing, until he had preceded them from the room. Occasionally the great Virginian yielded the chair and took the floor as a Virginia dele gate to express his views on the question at issue. On Monday, May 28, the convention entered upon the business for which it had been called and from that time until September 17 these men struggled daily with their gr' at task iu that stuffy room in the old State house, suffering ter ribly from the heat and—it must be admitted!— also suffering from weariness with the long speeches of some of the delegates. One of them actually spread bis speech over a period of two days, to the disgust of his audience, and while others were not so long-winded as he, they made up for it by the frequency with which they spoke. Debnte, argument, controversy, bitterness over clashing personalities and viewpoints—all of these characterized the convention which finally produced the Constitution of the United States. Nor was the sultry weather conducive to seren ity and Judicial consideration of momentous problems. More than once the convention threat ened to break up and if it had it might have meant the end of the federal union. Hut more than once wise old Hen Franklin acted as peace maker and saved the situation. Once he tided the convention over a deadlock by suggesting that the delegates seek guidance in prayer. This brought from Hamilton the caustic remark that “no foreign aid was needed,” a remark that was something of a fling at Frank lin’s well-known fondness for the French. When another crisis came Franklin suggested a tem porary adjournment and along with the recess came a proverbial drop in the temperature In which tempers cooled both literally and figura tively. The greater part of the controversy revolved uround three principal plans of government— the Virginia plan, sponsored by Madison, which safeguarded the rights of the states; the New York plan, sponsored by Hamilton, which looked to a strong centralized federnl government; and the New Jersey plan, which was In the nature of a compromise between the two. Eventually the substance of thp Virginia plan, with Its 15 "resolutions" expanded to 28, won out. On July 20 the convention turned over the Job of making a final draft of the complete Con stitution to a “committee on detail” and ad journed until August 20. While doing this the committee embodied some suggestions of Its own in the document. Then the delegates returned to their labors, studying and debating every line and every sentence with the greatest care, fixing exact definitions wherever necessary, making alterations and compromising differences In phraseology. Finally It was turned over to a “committee on style” which polished up the phraseology. Out of that committee, headed by Gouverneur Morris, came the sonorous “We. the People of the United States, In order to form a more perfect union, etc.” Later the final draft of the Constitution was gone over again for there were still delegates opposed to one or another aspect of it. Indeed there were some who refused to be satisfied with it and who refused to sign It. Gouverneur Morris won over several obstinate members with his suggestion that the delegates approve the Constitution as states even though they personally refused to sign it and nt last all those present except Gerry, Mason and ltnndolph signed. Despite the fact that their great task was ended the delegates adjourned in gloom and with a feeling of doubt as to the outcome. Not even the words of Benjamin Franklin, ns ttie last members were signing, could entirely reas sure them. Pointing to the sun that was painted on the back of the president's chair, he said: “I hnve often and often in the course of the ses sions and the vicissitudes of my hopes and fears as to Its issue looked at that behind the presi dent without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now at length I have the happiness to know that it was a rising nnd not a setting sun." And history Justified Franklin's prophecy. For from that date 148 years ago a new sun in the constellation of nations has been rising steadily to its zenith. Its name is the United States .. America. C W«»t*rn N«wipap«r Union. College Dean Tells Women Fixed Goal Is Vital to Married Life Marriage vs. career—what’s the olutlon of the problem for a married woman? Lucy Jenkins Franklin, dean of women at Roston university, a wife .ind mother, has found what she be lieves to be a solution. Her con elusions are: "If a couple Is working for a definite gonl which will further their plans for establishing a happy home. ,i married woman should work If she so desires. "But she should not keep a Job and Just drift along without any plans.’’ She continued: "From the economic point of view, the woman Is not gaining much by working unless her salary Is lnrge enough to enable her to hire the work done which she would do If she were home. Unless things go with order and precision, nnd the atmos phere Is kept homelike It does not pay her economically or psycholog leally, to leave the home. It is very easy for a woman to destroy this home psychology by working outside. "The professional woman who Is not Interested In her home Is a hazard to the development of a sue cessful home life. There Is nothing worse than ro come home to a place which Is definitely ’mald-mnde.’ a home which lacks personality, vital Ity, and real home Interest. A wom an ought to be vitally Interested In every phase of her home. “The woman who works outside the home should protect her home life so that her husband nnd chll dren will always have the feeling that It belongs to them. She should not flood her home with outside In lerests. ”1 believe strongly In a marriage program. As soon as possible, young people should pick out what I cnll a ‘third loyalty’—some goal that they want to reach more than nnything else, and not waste too much time just looking at each other. It mny he a child, or the opportunity for the man to continue studying, or building a home, but whatever It is It must bring their lives more closely together. Wllh a definite end In view, 1 approve of married women working. “The married woman who wants a career has two Jobs, and she must have a methodical and executive mind In order to do them success fully. She must also have the physl cal strength necessary for such an undertaking." State Identifier Fith Because so many California fish are known by several names, and because the same names are applied to different fish, state officials have published a booklet which house Tortured with Itching of Pimples Relieved After Using Cuticura "My face was a mass of pimples due to some external Irritation, und I was In agony for three months. The pimples were hard, red and large and were scattered ull over my fuec. I was tortured with the Itch ing and It kept me awake. “I used many remedies, but to no avail. A friend asked me to try Cuticura Soap and Ointment, so I did. Soon an Improvement could he seen, and after using for two and a hnlf months my complexion was clear.” (Signed) Joseph Parndis, 1078 S. Bird., New York City, May 2, 1985. Soap 25c, Ointment 25c and 50c, Talcum 25c. Sold everywhere. One snmple ench free. Address: “Cuti cura Laboratories, Dept. It, Malden, Mass.”—Adv. wives may carry to market for ase In Identifying the kind of fl3', they want. r FLIiS'SPIBERS and ■KSTtfk OTHER INSECTS Btt4igiAIAill*A---— Quick, Pleasant Successful Elimination Let's be frank—there’s only one way for your body to rid itself of the waste material that causes acid ity, gas, headaches, bloated feelings and a dozen other discomforts. Your Intestines must function and the way to make them move quick ly, pleasantly, successfully, without griping or harsh Irritants Is to chew a Mllnesia Wafer thoroughly, In ac cordance with directions on the bot tle or tin, then swallow. Mllnesia Wafers, pure milk of magnesia In tablet form, each equiv alent to a tablespoon of liquid milk of magnesia, correct acidity, bad breath, flatulence, at their source, and enable you to have the quick, pleasant, successful elimination so necessary to abundant health. Mllnesia Wafers come In bottles at 35c and GOc or In convenient tins at 20c. Recommended by thousands of physicians. All good druggists carry them. Start using these pleas ant tasting effective wafers today. PARKER'S HAIR BALSAM Ranona Dandruff-8top* Hair Falling Imparts Color and Baauty to Gray and Fadad Hair dOe and tl .00 at DruggiaU. Hlaroi Cham. Wf PatrKogUd.N.Y.I FLORESTON SHAMPOO -Ideal for naa connection with Parker'. Hair BaUam.Make. the hair .oft and fluffy. 60 cento by mail or at dru« sisto. Hiaco* Chemical Work., Patehoffue. N. I. THREE PATENTED CONSTRUCTION FEATURES MADE THIS NEW GROUND GRIP TIRE POSSIBLE THE new Firestone Ground Grip Tire is the greatest traction tire ever built. It has 54% more tread rubber to give your car, truck, tractor and farm implements the greatest traction ever known. Gum-Dipping, the Firestone patented process which soaks every cord in liquid rubber, makes it possible for this tire to stand the terrific strains and stresses of the extra pulling power. Firestone Tires are the only tires built that are Gum-Dipped. The tread is built of extra tough rubber and designed with deep grooves between • .a ■■ f s a •• .a GUM-DIPPED E CORD BODY I TWO .EXTRA LAYERSB GUM-DIPPED CORDS 1 UNDER THE TREAD | SUPER TRACTION TREAD % GROUND GRIP TIRES GROUND GRIP TIRES GROUND GRIP TIRES FOR CARS_FOR TRUCKS FOR TRACTORS 1.40/4.50/4.75-21 $7.*5 32x6TruckTyp. $27.65 5.50-16.$11.05 1.75/5.00-19 . $.50 32x611.1).... 16.25 6.00-16 .... 12.40 1.50/4.73/5.00-20 $.15 6.00-20 .... 16.05 7.50-18. 17*45 5.23/5.50-17. 10.55 6.50-20. 21.05 9.00-36. 73.05 5.25/5.50-18. 10.65 7.00-20 _ 20-10 11.25-24 ... 60.60 5.00-16. 11.05 7.50-20. 35.20 12.75-28 ... 06.50 OTHER SIZES PRICED PROPORTIONATELY LOW GUAR ANTEE .. .This heavy, Super-Traction tread is guaranteed not to loosen from the tire lx»dy under any conditions, and all other parts of the tire are fully guarantied to give satisfaction. scientifically piacea cross oars, giving super-traction and long wear. Firestone Ground Grip Tires are self-cleaning. (Chains are not needed.) The bars of the rubber are so placed that they will not bump on paved roads, giving you easier riding and longer wear. READ WHAT FARMERS SAY ABOUT THEIR SAVINGS WITH FIRESTONE GROUND GRIP TIRES TEXAS ... Mr. C. W. Wardlow, McKinney, Texas, writesi “Approximately 28% saving in fuel, and 38% more acres worked each day, and am able to go through any kind of ‘tough going* due to your new tread design on the Ground Grip Tires.’’ OHIO ... Mr. G. I. Henning of West Salem, Ohio, writes! “Want you to know the effectiveness of your pneumatic tire on our binder—it saves time, we cut grain Ulster, it is easy on the man riding on the binder and now we never have to stop to tighten up bolts.” SOUTH DAKOTA . . . Chris S. Anderson, Badger, S. D., nays i ”1 like Firestone Tires because the tractor runs easier, uses less fuel, travels faster and hauls larger loads.” NEBRASKA . . . Dr. C. E. Larsen of Tilden, Nebraska, writesi “I purchased a set of your new Ground Grip Tires about two months ago for my coupe ... 1 have not been able to stick this car in mud since they were put on and they have already saved me three sets of chains and I would not be without them if they cost double what you charge.” IOWA . . . Mr. H. Elsbury of Sutherland, Iowa, writes: ‘‘With Firestone Tires on my McCormick Deering Tractor and Separator 1 have taken in over $100 from farmers 1 could not reach with other wheels.” See your nearest Firestone Auto Supply and Service Store or Firestone Tire Dealer and let him show you how the new line of Ground Grip Tires will save time and money on your farm. Kemcmber, there is also a complete line of Firestone Auto Supplies for your automobile needs. Ask the Firettone Auto Supply and Service Store or Dealer for your copy of the neu> FireMtone Farm Catalog ofTiree, Bat terieeand Auto Supplier. : M