Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-03-12
TIE REFERENDUM.
tthNo New Thing In American Poll'i'
cal History.

SALT LAKE CITY, March 70, 1895.
Edtor Dsssret Nc.gG
Your editorial on 1.-THE Reietn-
DUMP In last EVENING" NEWS mas
been rend with great interest," and
ipasmuch a. / have had the oppot1u'
nifty for number Of year,. 10 observe
the practical workings as well na the
tesul,s Ct "the referendum" / desire
to adj a few WORKS In support Of the
Institution, not only IN town and city,
but also IN state governments.
Itismore apparent every day that q
closer union between the lcgislstive
bo4ies and the people whom they
rrpfsaent should In some way 100
Affected ia onlur that tho will ui Tue
p,ople may be more July respected
~ those whom they nave cn0isn
10 syrve them. rruu, the right oi pu'
utlon IL granted % the people, rus 10
does not always follow tnat putiuous
receive that careful CONFEDERATION 90
which they hte entitled. Legislation
10 too often the result OF powers 81
combination and money, anu that us
graceful maohiue known as 'ihn loo
byD has often been more powerful IA
tue ouaciing VI laws than the VIII anl
wishes OF tho people. Through ''the
fefefendumD will tht laws which have
been framed by the representatives bo
referred back to the people lof lheif
accsptauca OF rejection. This can
have but beneficial Influence upon
HaHnHIIH anil nTNNW AN
the same time ne an Important lAc'of
In education. ..-.
You very truly refer 10 the fact that
this great principle 0f more direct lcN-
islation was known ~ and VA usage
among the ancient inhabitants Of this
continent centuries ago. Permit me
10 show that this great privilege wa
also orIoyed by tho fOunuefH OF our
nation. w, ID. McCraChan, In his
u5visa Solutions OF American Pf0i-
ismsD saws, "rhe referendum AZ
separate Institution lsoms 90 have e1-
listed nj the very dawn Of our natlonal
history, although unnamed ahu uh'
noticed by students II comparative
politics. The articles OF union framed
by tho united colonies Of New Eng
land In 1913 were referred u tue ~
proval OF the inhabitants. Under the
Rhode Island colonial constitution as
early a. 1860 the fundamental law
required that all laws passed ~
this general assembly should DO
submitted TO tho people, and the law,
after stating this provision continues
~ AZ alaOe wee further enact
thatIt apsaringo by the roturno Of the
voalss that the mAYOto paTtc oi tho tee
Inhabitants Of this colony have DIS
approved or disanulled any such law
OF lAwes, then the sayd law Or lawos 10
be- Of noe force, although any one
town or other should DO wholly silent
This law was In operation seventeen
years, until superseded by royal
charter"
From that day to this the principle
OF the referendum has beon Ia use In
one form or another In the different
states Of our Union aud In accordance
herewith the enabling act under
which We are now privileged 10 draft
the Constitution for the State Of Utah
proyldes that the same shall DO sub
mittcd TO the people for approval or
Together with the referendum
should be found iu natural
twin sister "the initiative" OF the
right OF a certain number OF legal Vol'
ers 10 propose laws or Initiate meas'
urvs themselves through the medium
" the governed. Here again Mt. Me-
Cfackan says; "rhe right Of the init
atiVe, IL must be rememberedi 10 not
only the privilege OF petition enjoyed
by the inhabitants ofeVery state which
makes any ptetonsions whatover % po-
litical liberty. II " a constitutional
demand not an irregular Tequeit,"
All political pAtties age, or should be,
alike Interested In the measures herein
mentioned inAsmuoh ne they tend 10
more direct legislation.
ruEO. BHANDLEY.