Abington High School - Oracle Yearbook (Abington, PA)

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THE CONSTITUTION-NOW Joseph Hampton Moore, born in Woodbury, New Jersey, March 8, 1864, received his education in the public schools of Camden, New Jersey. For twelve years he worked as reporter and editorial writer for the Philadelphia Ledger. 1895-1897 marked his rise from Chief Clerk to City Treasurer of Philadelphia. In 1907, he was elected to fill an unexpired term in Congress, where he served fcr fourteen years, gaining fame through his untiring ef- forts for improved inland waterways. When Philadelphia elected him mayor in 1920, he resigned his post in Washington to assume the highest office in his home city, a post which he filled so efficiently for four years that he was re-elected mayor fcr the term beginning 1932. Ursinus College and Hahnemann Medical College both bestowed on him the honorary degree of LL.D., and Italy decorated him with the Chevalier Order of the Crown. ft MONG notable Philadelphians, perhaps J. Hampton Moore, former mayor and member of Congress, is the one best qualified to voice opinions on the subject which is the cause of so much controversy in these present times—namely, the Constitution of the United States. Knowing that in Mr. Moore's fourteen years in Congress he naturally would have come to many definite conclusions concerning this famous document, a committee from the Yearbook determined to seek an interview. The request for an appointment, to our great delight, received a prompt and favorable reply. On a Saturday morning we set out—three rather diffident, yet eager, reporters, whose first desire was to reach Mr. Moore's office in the Widener building exactly at the appointed time. When Mr. Moore opened the door, we saw a slightly built, immaculately dressed gentleman, who struck up a sprightly, disarming conversation as he went about tidying the office. Although he is rather short, his un- hesitant motions are always very direct and decisive. His rugged, distinctive face and determined jaw made him a favorite subject of caricaturists during his mayoralty. Hornrimmed glasses and iron gray hair complete the picture of this leading Philadelphia citizen. His very cordiality soon dispersed our shyness, and without further ado the interview commenced. Mr. Moore, we began, do you think the study of the Constitution is stressed enough in the public schools of today? Not nearly enough, he responded. It might be well, in view of recent public discussion of the Constitution of the United States, if our high schools would devote more time to the study of the important document. The young people of our country have a great deal at stake in this matter. No country can continue very successfully 'to establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty' without a Constitution,

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Edwin U. Smiley Social Science Leonard B. Smith Orchestra, Band Glenn R. Snodgrass Physical Education Charles E. Sohl Mathematics, Civics Edna Steinman Lewis C. Swartz Science Mathematics E. Gladys Tomlinson Commercial Eunice H. Winslow Latin J. Shaylor Woodruff Mathematics Emelus G. Wortman Printing Ralph M. Wright Vocational Zaidee G. Wyatt English Gertrude L. Turner English Alice F. Weaver Commercial Spanish, German

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or some similar basic form of government. Preceding generations of Americans have found the Constitution of the United States effective, and if the present generation and 'our posterity' wish to uphold the standards set up by our forefathers and adhered to for 150 years, they cannot very well swerve from it. Then you do believe that our Constitution is an absolute necessity, don't you? Oh, yes, he replied quickly. Without a Constitution or basic laws guaranteeing peace, equality, liberty, and progress, any country is subject to the rule of the strong over the weak, to dictatorship, disorder, and outlawry. Constitutions and basic laws are designed to right wrongs and to hold an even balance between the weak and the strong, the poor and the rich, the fit and the unfit. For want of basic laws or their observance, countries and peoples have fallen into decay. Our next question was one which many have been asking in the last few years: Do you truly believe that the Constitution has served its purpose well? A decisive, Certainly, was our answer. No one will deny that the United States has grown strong and powerful under our present Constitution. Before it was adopted 150 years ago, our people were divided into colonies, each separate and distinct. Thus separated, they were not sufficiently strong to resist foreign invasion, and were subject to internal dissensions so that, like Spain today, they might have proceeded to internal warfare—with any colonies not involved looking on as silent witnesses. Under the Constitution, the union of all the colonies was formed with definite assurance of peace, equality, and protection for them all. But, we continued, some say that the Constitution has already served its purpose, and is now out of date. What do you think of that criticism? Mr. Moore hesitated only a minute and then said frankly, The Constitution, helpful as it has been to our own people and admired as it has been by other civilized nations, is not necessarily sacrosanct. It can be amended by the people themselves under terms which it prescribes. Experience has shown that amendments made to the Constitution by the people themselves have in no way diminished the popular respect for the instrument itself. In one instance at least, however, an amendment to the Constitution demanded by a majority of the people was recalled later on by another majority of the people when the amendment was no longer desirable. If, therefore, the Constitution is subject to amendment by a vote of the people, there can be no reasonable objection to the Constitution itself, but if it should develop that any one of the three coordinate branches of government set up by the Constitution—the Legislative, the Administrative, and the Judicial—is to be destroyed without a vote of the people, or by any sort of dictatorship, then not only the Constitution itself but well ordered government is in danger. And, warming to his subject, the mayor concluded decisively, Unless we have a government free from dictation of any individual or selfish group, we may well prepare for the ultimate overthrow of those standards cf morality, equality, freedom, and justice which have thus far been sustained in the United States. SARAH WOLSTENHOLME, HELEN ROBERTS, JOHN MOORE.