Page:Back to the Republic.djvu/73



LL variations from a strict and literal adherence to the plan and form of government provided by the Constitution have been dangerous experiments to this country and mischievous in their influence upon the world, and every evil from which we suffer governmentally today can be traced directly to a departure from the Constitution.

Our most serious departure and variance from the standard form of government was begun when the people of the various States failed to follow the plan of the Federal Constitution and included in their constitutions material that properly should have been statutory enactments, and when they provided in the State constitutions for the election of officials other than the executive and members of the legislative body.

The election of any official by popular vote, aside from the executive and members of the legislative body, is a violation and a dangerous experiment which has brought disastrous results Rh