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I noted in the paper the other night —
and you all have a copy of it — where
Delegate Bothe claims the union has noth-
ing to do with it. If anything, she said, it
grew out of her work with the American
Civil Liberties Union, a long-time backer
of the bargaining concept.
We had the American Civil Liberties'
spokesmen before our committee on another
matter. They claimed, "We are in favor of
this particular principle of abolition of
capital punishment; we will try to get it
through the Constitutional Convention and
if we cannot get it there we will try
through the legislature. If we do not get it
there, we will try to get it through the
courts, anywhere and everywhere we can."
I came down here not representing Ca-
tonsville, Maryland, not representing Balti-
more County, not representing suburban or
rural, black or white, or any other thing.
I came down here representing all of the
people of Maryland, and I think when we
put something in here that divides the
people, where there are some people who
are in favor of it, some class that is pro-
tected against some other class, I say to
you, ladies and gentlemen, we are not doing
what the constitution really requires, and
I have got to urge that you vote against
reconsideration.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Gallagher.
DELEGATE GALLAGHER: Mr. Presi-
dent, and ladies and gentlemen, it seems
to me today from watching the proceedings
of this Convention that the weariness and
fatigue is getting to us, and I regret that
there appears to be lacking a sense of con-
cern and a sense of compassion.
I do not think that we want to pass an
antiseptic, sterile constitution; I think we
want to pass a constitution that is mean-
ingful to the people.
Now, it is pure folly for those who argue
the case that we ought not to get into this
because this is a private matter. The eco-
nomics of the situation are quite obvious.
Government has a legitimate interest in
seeing to it that there is labor peace, and
that there is harmony and mutual coopera-
tion in the areas where economic stability
is so important, and certainly bargaining
done in a proper fashion is one of the best
ways of getting economic stability.
I agree with Delegate Scanlan when he
says it will need implementation, but I say
to you that you would do a greater service
to the State of Maryland and to the people
of Maryland by writing the basic plank
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into the constitution. I do think that in the
midst of all our political science approaches
we ought to remember that we are down
here representing people, not just sterile
machines. It seems to me, ladies and gentle-
men, it is time for some compassion, it is a
time for some heart, and I hope it shows in
the way you vote.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Jett.
DELEGATE JETT: Mr. Chairman, fel-
low delegates, I think what we must remind
ourselves is that we are writing a consti-
tution for all the people. Leaf through your
bill of rights and look at it in comparison
with this item. Each other item in the bill
of rights applies to most every man, woman,
and child in this State. This would apply
to one group, a divisive group, something
that is going to divide us, something that
is going to separate us.
I say to those who favor labor that man-
agement is to be represented here. Manage-
ment has just as much right to come into
this convention and ask for a right to work
provision. I say to you that neither one of
them belongs in this constitution.
I like to think that we here are writing
a great anthem for the future. It is not an
anthem that calls for solo work or choral
groups, but it is an anthem that can be
sung by all the people with all their voice
and with all their might that with this
instrument we are looking forward to a
great future for all of the citizens of
Maryland, with special privileges for none
but equality for all, and with that I ask
you please to vote against this recon-
sideration.
THE PRESIDENT: Delegate Kirkland.
DELEGATE KIRKLAND: Mr. Chair-
man, sitting here listening to some of these
people expound with relation to what does
and what does not belong in the constitu-
tion concerns me a great deal, because some
of these gentlemen had the opportunity just
the other day to express themselves quite
clearly with relation to what does and what
does not belong in the constitution.
Making1 particular note of the people who
are speaking in relation to this proposal
also concerns me. I happen to be a teacher.
I happen to know that teachers throughout
the nation are seeking this kind of legisla-
tion, this kind of constitutional right.
I think in time that they are going to
achieve this, and I think it would be a
credit to the State of Maryland to include
such an article in the constitution in 1967.
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