Scituate High School - Chimes Yearbook (Scituate, MA)

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6 THE CI II MKS 01 all the seventy-three delegates that were appointed to the conven- tion, there were nl two members who stood for true demoeraey. These men were John Mason from Virginia and Benjamin Franklin. Diekinson, a delegate from Pennsylvania, declared that a limited monarchy was the I) l government in the world. Praetieally all the delegates were opposed to popular election to the upper house and many of the delegates thought the ordinary people were ineapable of even electing representatives to the lower house. Governor Morris, Rufus King of Massachusetts, Rutledge of South Carolina, pretending to be liberals, at the same time thought wealth should be a requirement for admittance to the lower house. One of the delegates, William Pierce of Georgia, who sat in the con- vention, in his humorous and delightful character sketches of his fellow associates, says nothing of several delegates except that they were gentle- men of family and fortune. Certainly these aristocratic men weren ' t for democracy. These men were in agreement with Gerry of Massachusetts who declared the bad condition of the country was due to an excess of democracy. Just think how democratic was Hamilton ' s plan which called for a President for life with an absolute veto; a senate for life; and a lower house elected by popular election, practically an imitation of the English Government. One of the greatest weaknesses of our elective system dates back to the framers of our Constitution. By our system of electoral votes it is possible for the minority candidate to be elected. The reason for this is that the delegates at the convention thought the ordinary person didn ' t have intel- ligence enough to vote for President. Accordingly then, the people would elect the more intelligent people of the community to vote for President. These men with all their aristocratic leanings and their failings, how- ever, did draw up a Constitution which was and still is considered a master- piece. So great was it that Gladstone, for years Prime Minister of England, declared that the Constitution was the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man. Thus these delegates, who intended a reactionary government in which only wealthy persons could take part, turned out a true and real democracy, which with that of France, ir. the only democracy in the world today. DISAPPOINTMENT Joan Breen, ' 38 Worry! Worry! Worry! That ' s all her life consisted of lately. From early morning to late at night her mind was in a turmoil, and it was all she could do to keep her thoughts on the subject at hand. The very worst part of it was that no one understood or sympathized with her. How she hated

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THE CHIMES 5 WAR OR PEACE Jessje Drake, ' 39 Today, April 6, 1938, marks the entrance of the United States of America into the World War. Twenty-one years ago the government of the United States made the decision which sent the Youth of America to Europe and thousands of American citizens to their death, in a war of European nations. As we mark this twenty-first anniversary of that event, war with all its horrors is going on in Europe. We are continually being told by states- men of the world that another world war, which with all the new war ma- chines must be far worse than any former one, is but a matter of time. In Spain a civil war of more than a year ' s duration is being carried on, still as fiercely fought as at the first. Japan is devastating the lands of China. Two of the bigger powers of Europe are under the iron rule of dictators, and but a few weeks ago Germany, led by Adolph Hitler, marched into Austria and proclaimed German rule there. France is without a stable government. England is still trying to decide whether or not they really wanted Eden to resign. And we in the United States are fighting for our bread and butter. France because of the lack of government is, of course, not ready for war. England, carrying out to some extent the World War treaties, had until a short time ago been disarming. Now, though she is rearming, she is not fitted for war. The United States has adopted a hands-off policy; but in time of war could we keep to this policy? The time is not far distant, when with the aid of airplanes it would be but a matter of hours for troops to be transported, and for bombing planes to do their damage. With such an appalling outlook, on this twenty-first anniversary, the powers of the world must find some way to restore good will and confidence in one another. All must lose through war, all can win through cooperation and peace. A PARADOX John Driscoll, ' 38 The ordinary person, when discussing the framers of the Constitution, declares that those men were very democratic and liberal. He also thinks they were very wise in choosing such a liberal type of government. He cannot think otherwise, for even high school textbooks give false impres- sions concerning these men. Woodrow Wilson, one of our greatest statesmen, stated, The Federal Government was not by intention a democratic government. In plan and structure it had been meant to check the sweep and power of popular majorities. Indeed his words are very true although people don ' t like to believe them.

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THE CHIMES 7 to have her mother or father say, What in the world is the matter with you lately? You act so listless and depressed. Do you think you ought to see the doctor? She was so disgusted with their commonness of mind; it seemed per- fectly obvious that she was not ill, but that her soul was troubled. How stupid of everyone ! It seemed ridiculous that romance had passed her by, that her Prince Charming whom she had always visioned as riding upon his white horse and carrying her away, had as yet entirely failed to put in his appearance. It was getting to be a very serious matter, and if her Mr. Right didn ' t come along soon, she would be classed in the town ' s category of old maids. Not that she didn ' t have enough boy friends, if Chuck, Johnny, and the others could be termed as such. But they were so unromantic and — why. they weren ' t serious about her or marriage or anything, so she had elim- inated them as possibilities. She guessed that they were too young to really feel serious about those things. Besides, she preferred her men to be older and more sophisticated, so it was just as well they hadn ' t brought matters to a head by proposing to her. Perhaps in order to escape from the bore- dom of her present life she might have accepted and made the rest of her life miserable by feeling intellectually superior to her husband. She thought that a great mistake. When she got married, she wanted to be able to look up to her husband. Sometimes she thought, Perhaps it will be better if I don ' t marry. Maybe I ' m not fitted for married life. Then she would think of the loneli- ness in store for her should she take this course, and she would immediately start to worry and plan again. Now there was a new fellow that just moved in dowm the street that looked rather interesting. He was the tall, dark, and distinguished type, but he didn ' t look as if he was interested in women — Oh, this was getting to be terrible. After all, she was within a month of being twelve years old. FIRE! Louise Chessia, ' 38 Fire! 388 — er-a — that ' s Yarmouth Road. Come on! Cars are speeding with amazing rapidity towards the momentary cen- ter of attraction. As soon as their vehicles are parked, people jump out and dash in the direction of the black columns of smoke. Small boys arrive on bicycles, drop them in any convenient spot, and speed towards the flames. Firemen, policemen, politicians, civilians, youths — all gather to watch the sinister flames do their destructive work. A fire is truly a spectacular sight. The flames, which are really quite