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Show October 30, 1970 THE UTAH INDEPENDENT Page 2 Readers Outlook The Independent Dedicated To The Constitution, Liberty, Morality, and Truth Open Letter Editors Outlook Dear Dr. Wilkinson: I read a quote from you in the editorial in last nights Deseret News on the proposed Gateway Amendment. I could hardly believe I was reading what I was reading. However, it has become evident to me that the forces in this State who have been working Vote "No On All Three J. Reese Hunter Gateway Amendment is lauded by its proponents as the wav to bring our Utah Constitution g They have launched a campaign of to influence the voter to give this proposal his sanction November 3rd. Before falling for tliis snow-jo- b we had better take a look into some of its potential dan- - Tilt e. up-to-dat- name-droppin- gers. Number 1. The proponents say that future amendments under the Gateway method will he clearer for the voter to understand. At the outset this does not make sense because 'the Gateway Amendment allows for from one to any number of subjects to be considered in a single amendment. It is far easier for a person to grasp the meaning of a single subject at a time rather than understanding many subjects all at once. It is because single subjects are easier to understand that our founding fathers wrote that restriction in the Constitution in the first place. They said, If two or more amendments are proposed, they shall be so submitted as to enable the electors to vote of on each of them separately. (Article Will Section the Utah Constitution). Contrast the simplicity of that concept with the one Gateway proponents want the voters to pass. Proposition No. I (Gateway Amendment) on the November 3rd ballot reads as follows: "The revision or amendment of an entire article or the addition of a new article to this constitution may be proposed as a single amendment and may be submitted to the electors as a single question or proposition. Such amendment may relate to one subject , or any number of subjects. . . emphasis added. Not just one, two or even three, but any number of subjects may be changed in a single proposition on the ballot. Our founding fathers wrote the restriction limiting amendments to one subject at a time for claritv and understanding. Surelv, theirs was the wiser of the two methods. Number 2. In any package deal, there may be some bad tilings a well as good things in the package. Under the Gateway method of amending, a package with any number of subjects may be presented to the oler for consideration. This could place him in tin? position of casting a He would yes or no vote for the complete package. have to ole for something he doesnt want in order to gel something he wants. More bad laws than good ones are being passed in our Congress today because of that method being allowed. For example, our U.S. Congressmen voted into law federal ngun and ammunition registration in order to pass a law which they thought would be good as a tool to figbt rime. All Utah Congressmen voted for this bill (Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act ol with the gun and ammunition registration included while it is doubtful they would have accepted gun and ammunition registration if it had been considered all by itself. Our founding fathers were wise in staling that single be. considered when amending our consubjects only could 1 c lB) stitution. Number 3. An method could be si restraints nou ?.!., .cridmcnt m such a . on govnr vay ulional w - ;id be lost in an -- ntinued Above) for many years to destroy our State Constitution, are using a name your name in a determined effort to accomplish what they Iiave, heretofore, been unable to do. It will be by the use of your name, I believe, that will put the Gateway Amendment across next Tuesday. I was also a delegate to the (Continued) Republican State Convention, and I applauded vigorously when amendment that is not clear to the voter or which is open-endeyou took the floor and opposed thus leaving the powers to he determined by the the resolution presented for the legislature. Convention to endorse the GateFor example, a whole article, consisting of many way Amendment. You opposed subjects, could be wiped out in one it, because you felt that the deleone vole. In its place could be substituted a gates were not properly informed swoop by on it. This is precisely the situa- vaguely worded article giving broad powers to the polition today with the people of ticians; powers which wen1: spelled out in detail in each Utah. I, personally, doubt that section of the present constitution. The people would be even one percent of the people of asked to have faith and put confidence in their elected Utah know what the Gateway leaders. The words of Thomas Jefferson are appropriate Amendment is and what it is dehere. lie said, In questions of power, then, let not more signed to do. Furthermore, I be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from would be greatly surprised to Find mischief by the chains of the Constitution." This is good that even one percent of the advice that could be today. Editor's Outlook d ut well-heede- d people of Utah are familiar n enough with their own State which to all intents and purposes they are being admonished to abolish via the Gateway route. And, meaning no offense Con-stitutio- nor disrespect, Dr. Wilkinson, VOTE ON AM. THREE Our arguments against Proposition No. 1, the Gateway Amendment, have heen covered. There are two more pro- - I have wondered if you, yourself, have actually read the Gateway Amendment, as the statement attributed to vou in last nights Deseret News states there would be no change NO The amending process and that there would be no wholesale amending SENJ of our State Constitution, under Gateway, when in reality the change in the process and the wholesale amending procedure is CrtANiE OF P.o. Box v 6274 Salt RRESRON DEN CE TO ake City. Utah 84106 434-43- 33 J. McKinnon Smith .... Publication Manager Robert M.Swoul.... Staff Photographer Advertisers Call ment could make such a statement had he read the proposed amendment he was talking about. 48 1- -1 33 9 For further information disap- pointed I was when reading tin statement attributed to vou in (Continued on Page 3) CO Editor endow- last nights paper, as that statement is the very antithesis of the greatest article I have ever read about the threats we face in our States, and in ibe nation as a whole pertaining to the loss of our liberties and greatly pri.cd freedoms your article, The Dertine and Possible Fall of the American Republic.' The slal L AND J. Room: IIuntiT Amendment is all about. As I staled above, I Find it next to impossible to believe that a man neednt say how very Voroki, and Truh ADDRESS FORMS TELEPHONE exactly what the Gateway I Ju Independent l.be, Cv,v,un Published twice each month, on the second and fourth Fridays. in our present with your intellectual o Tit Ded'cc-- $6'' sinnn c-j- t'i f.r10rT? Lake City. 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