Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1894-04-06
INITIATIVE & REFERENDUM.
A Short Explanation Of an Inn
portant Reform Being Adj
vocated in Oregon--LaW-
making by the People.

CcIthlu pCiOCiitdSC VI al viz Wv
ers sign a petition in favor of the
enactment of any new law, or re-
peal of an old one, and file their
petition with the proper officer, the
proposed law or repeal must be
submitted to all the voters at the
ballot box at the next election. Ii
the proposal receives majority OF
the votes cast it becomes law,
otherwise not. Laws made by the
initiative are not presented to the
legislature at all.
The referendum means that all
bills passed by the legislature must
be referred to the voters at the bal
lot box at the next election, and
that no bill can become law un-
less it receives a majority of the
votes cast.
District, town, city or county
laws are voted upon only by citizens
of the locality towhich the law will
apply. Only general laws are re-
ferred to all citizens of the state.
The veto power is taken from the
governor and placed in the hands
of the people.
All laws are printed in full and
with each is short statement of
the reasons for and against its en-
actment. A copy Of the pamphlet
containing these laws and reasons
and sample ballot is delivered to
every voter. Making law is
purely a business proposition. The
reasons for and against being plain
" stated in print by the parties
offering and opposing the law, only
little common sense being neces-
sary for wise vote.
Z This is not in any sense par
tisan question nor the property OF
any party It was proposed in
Oregon and has been supported by
a union of the State Farmers ALI
ance, State Grange, Knights Of La
Dor, Portland Federated Trades and
Portland Central Labor Council.
Money for the work has been sup
piled by these organizations and by
republicans, democrats and peoples
party men individually.
In case Of urgency, if enough
petitioners can be obtained, spec
ial election may be held to enact or
repeal law, but there has never
been good reason for this as to a
law made by the people. In our
own county the only excuse for
special sessions has been to correct
evil class legislation
When all the citizens make the
law, and the vote of one counts for
as much as any other, class legisla-
ton must cease, because no class is
strong enough to over-rule all
other classes at the ballot box.
The mechanics and laborers on the
farm and in the city will have a
power in law making that must be
felt.
The taxpayersi instead of the tax
eaters will fix the eamount of public
expenses. Under the present sys-
tenn it is not SO. When the appro-
prlation bills come up all partisan
ship disappears. Republicans and
democrats are almost a unit for
everything in sight, from pearl
handle pocket knives to branch
asylums, and a populist draws
mileage to 60 home via San Fran
cisco. AS tax-eaters they are
against the taxpayers They have
the power and we foot the bills.
Some men say that the people
are too ignorant to vote wisely on
the laws that may be submitted,
but we have yet to hear any man
speak Of himself as one Of that ig-
norant class.
The progress Of the Swiss under
the initiative and referendum is
am azing Their experience proves
that the wisdom Of the whole peo-
pie is greater than that Of any
part" Their greatest state, Zurich,
has made all her laws and annro-