|
around the world. We need not resort to
force but should rather look to the rule of
law in achieving dignity and justice and
equality of all men. We believe that in this
recommended language of the minority re-
port we can again give that leadership to
this State and this nation in these perilous
times.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are there any ques-
tions of the minority spokesman?
Delegate Boileau?
DELEGATE BOILEAU: When the mi-
nority went over the wording of this amend-
ment, was there a reason why the word
"religion" was chosen rather than the
more inclusive and broader term "creed"?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mitchell.
DELEGATE MITCHELL: No, I think
that "religion" is the word used in the
draft. If I am not mistaken, there was no
decision to substitute the word "religion"
for "creed" because it, in fact, does mean
the same.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Boileau.
DELEGATE BOILEAU: I do not think
it means the same, but rather than enter
into a debate, I will hold off until later.
THE CHAIRMAN: Any further ques-
tions of the minority spokesman?
Delegate Beachley.
DELEGATE BEACHLEY: Delegate
Mitchell, at the seminar of Goucher Col-
lege, a question was asked concerning this
particular paragraph of Judge George L.
Russell, Jr. of the Supreme Bench of Bal-
timore as to why in the draft proposal
there had the word "sex" was not used.
He said "sex", of course, was eliminated
because the paragraph began "No person".
Now, did you have the same reason for
eliminating that word, or did you have a
different reason?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mitchell.
DELEGATE MITCHELL: Well, Dele-
gate Beachley, as you remember in our
Committee deliberations, there were several
proposals to include sex. As far as I am
concerned, I am opposed to all kinds of
discrimination and some of the new state
constitutions do include the word sex. But
there were only three women in our Com-
mittee and these women were not all agreed
on it, and we did not find enough agree-
ment among the men to get a minority. I
would suggest that I believe discrimination
against women is a problem. Although we
|
are the majority in this State, I think if
you will look around us, you will see that
we are a minority here.
I believe the minority report shows that
Hawaii has that protection. Alaska has a
non-discrimination clause in its new Con-
stitution but does not include "sex". Michi-
gan, Connecticut, and New Jersey do not
include it. But for those who would like to
test the will of the Convention, I would
suggest an amendment.
THE CHAIRMAN: Any other questions?
Delegate White ?
DELEGATE WHITE: Delegate Mitchell,
would you agree to have the word "sex"
included without going to a formal amend-
ment, or do you feel that you could do
that?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mitchell.
DELEGATE MITCHELL: I do not want
to lose the anti-discrimination clause if
there is disagreement among the majority
of the Convention about sex. (Laughter.)
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Johnson.
DELEGATE JOHNSON: Delegate
Mitchell, I concur with the proposition con-
tained in your amendment. I am having
some difficulty in my own mind though, de-
ciding whether or not it should be in the
Constitution because of interpretation.
Would you be kind enough to tell me,
specifically, just what it proposes to do?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mitchell.
DELEGATE MITCHELL: I think by its
inclusion and its language sets the posi-
tion and the commitment of this State
to the abolition of discrimination because
of race, religion, or national origin. This is
very important. I think in every Constitu-
tion the symbols of commitment by the
State certainly in the area of human rights
must be clear. That is the purpose of a
bill of rights.
We were given the volume on salient is-
sues of constitutional reform to read when
we were at our session at Goucher College.
In it is an article on civil liberties. The
author points out that it is important in
the area of civil liberties that we reassess
the problems at the time the constitution is
written in the area of human rights and
put in there the concepts which are needed
to reinforce the protection of the rights
of the citizens in this area. That is why I
think it is important.
And I want to say again, this amend-
ment is very important from a standpoint
|
