The morning call., 1892-12-17
=" THE INITIATIVE"
To Restore a Direct Vote
to the People.
AN IMPORTANT AMENDMENT.
The Peoples Party Will Circulate
Petitions for Signatures = What
the New Measure neans.

The Legislature is to be petitioned to have
an amendment to the constitution sub
mitted TO voters for ratification.
The amendment. briefly, is for legalizing
the so-called Initiative" and its sponsors
In California are the Peoples party.
The Initiative" as a measure, is little
known in this State. although it is said to be
In successful and benefeent operation in
the Swiss republic
In the thousands of letters being crcu-
lated by the Peoples party on the subject.
the initiative" as a power. Is thus spoken
of:
The value of the initiative is that 1t will
restore TO the people for their own direct
use the power which they have by the con-
stitutIonal provision now in force delegated
to the Legislature and Governor.
The constitution now declares that the
legislative power of this State shall be
vested in a Senate and Assembly, which
shall be designated "rhe Legislature of the
State of California; and the enacting
clause of every law shall bo as follows:
Inc people of the State of California, rep
resented III Senate and Assembly, do enact
as follows
I'VE propose by this amendment to re-
store to the people the power 10 enact or
norogate laws by direct vote instead of
Assembly when they demand by petition
that such shall be done.
The necessity for this amendment has
become apparent to all thinking men, in
view OF the fact that the general Interests
OF the people have been sUbordinated to
those OF monOpolistic corroratious by the
Legislature. not only of California. but of
every State in the Union, and by the Sem
ale ana Congress OF the United States as
well.
ssTTndar sha rro..ot s,oss.sva,or,, .o,+roy
OF legislation, large corporate monopCles
are enabled To sustain themselves in power
and, by various methods of legaliZed exac-
ton. force tribute from the masses of the
people.
They have thus become rapidly possessed
OF the bulk Of the wealth of the country.
impoverishing by direct and especially by
indirect means alike the producing, mercan-
tile and professional classes.
10 such an extent has this been carried
on IN California. and so absolutely have the
Legislatures and official representatives Of
the people been purchased and controlled
Dy these monOpolies that * is necessary for
the people. in order not TO be speedily pau
periZed and financially ensiaved, to take
back into their own control the power to
make or unmake laws in their own interest.
This can be done only by means OF the
initiative"
The circular is issued by Jesse Pound
stone, Ii. X. Shaw, E. NJ. Hamilton of the
NtutiifiLiet OI tfif ItOple party,
Il. Nj. Wardwell George ID. Gillespie of the
State Central Committee of the same party.
1t Is argued that the wise judgment shown
by voters on the proposed amendments at
the last election was sufficient evidence
that the majority of the people may be de-
pended on to vote honestly and intelligently
on any law or proposition which may be
placed before them 10 decide.
The glst OF the amendment Is that upon
receipt of a petition signed by five per cent
OF all the State voters or ten per cent of
all the members OF the Legislature In
each house in favor of the submission of
any law or proposition to the vote of the
people, the Governor shall at tho next en-
suing election submit such law or PROPOSE
ton to the voters. On receipt of a petition
signed by five per cent Of the voters of any
CITY, the Mavor or Supervisors. or other
officers. shall submit To the voters any
proposition petiiiOned for. The basis of the
percentage OF petitioners is proposed To be
the whole number of votes cast at the last
preceding general election.