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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA, ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE 319 Lincoln Hall December 7, 1951 Mr. Daniel Francis Clarey P. .O. Box 322 Springfield, Ohio Dear Mr. Clarey: I appreciate very much your letter of November 30, and the enclosure containing a full statement of your plan for amending the U.S. Constitution. As I read your plan, I am inclined to favor it, since it introduces essentially the same idea in respect to ratification by legislatures as by conventions- - - that is, that the one body acts and only the one body, that such action should be taken as promptly as possible, and that any action taken should be conclusive. This is also in accord with the principles applied in the amendment of state constitutions, and it seems to me to be sensible. I would feel also that any change in the amend- ing process ought by this time provide for the possibility of popular ratification as well. No doubt you will agree that, however sensible such a plan may be, our traditions and the general inertia with respect to these matters are likely to prevent the adop- tion of these changes for some time. You should, however, be able to influence some member of Congress to introduce the plan, and thus bring it to public attention. Thank you again for sending this to me. I am return- ing it herewith. Very sincerely yours, Clarence A. Berdahl Professor of Political Science caB/fsb encl.