Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-03-20
WHAT is MEANT BY THE INITIATIVE
AND REFERENDUM?

Referendum means that laws passed by congress
shall be submitted to the qualified voters for
their approval; that the veto power shall exist
in all the people instead of one man. The
Referendum, advocated in the United States
by most OF those favoring it, is TO apply only
when certain per cent. of the people ask that
law which shall have been pasted BY congress
be referred to the voters for their approval or
rejection Thus, laws that should meet with
general favor, or laws of small Importance,
would not not be submitted because the neces-
sary petition would not be presented.
Let us give few examples:
large number of people desire law pro-
hibting the issuance of government bonds for
maintaining gold reserve. Congress refuses
to pass such law Had we the Initiative, a
petition presented say by 20 per cent. of the
voters would require congress to pass the law;
and like petition, had we the Referendum,
would require congress to submit this law to all
the voters, and if a majority approved, the law
would be enforced but if majority vetoed,
the law would become null and void
Congress, of course, would have a right TO
pass OH its own motion, as it did in the repeal
of the silver-purchase law, but the voters could
petition that the law be referred to them for
approval rejection Had the Referendum
principle been in force at the time the repeal
bill was passed, there can be no doubt but a
petition would have been presented to submit
it to the voters. Had this been done and the
majority voted disapproval. the silver-purchase
law would have remained in force-the repeal
law would have been killed by the peoples
veto.
Direct legislation is npracticable in large
communities, though it is practiced, and. has
been for over a hundred years, in New England
towns. In school districts in many states, the
voters meet and decide OH the rate of tax. the
number of months of school, ETC. This is d.
rect legislation by the people; but it would be
impossible for the people of state to meet and
pass laws.
But the Initiative and Referendum is prac-
ticabe for national as we'll as state government,
and would be in the United States even if our
population were five times what it is
1t could be provided that sixty days after the
close of session of congress, an election
SHoulu DC Hclu W give the voters q CnanCe to
approve or reject laws that had been passed.
reference of which had been petitioned for. On
this day, the voter would go to the polls and
give his approval or veto to each bill submitted.
In single day, the voters of the whole nation
could quickly stamp their approval or rejection
of law. Those they approved would be in
force, and those they rejected would be null and
void
The proposition that the veto power should
rest in the whole people instead of one man is
so plainly right that it is wonder it was not
thought of when the republic was founded
Few bills, it is believed BY Tie advocates of
the Initiative and Referendum, would have to
be petitioned for or referred, because the very
fact that they "ouId be thus acted upon by the
people would cause the law:mlkiny bodies to
respect and carry ont the popular will without
being forced to-
The Initiative and Referendum it is believed.
would destroy partisan bitterness, and in a
great measure remove then need of parties. I'M
der it the lobby would be thing OF the past.
1t IS believed that the people are even now COM
petent to pass judgment, when unbiased bv
party prejudiced by party prejudice, upon
the laws which shall govern them Under tie
Initiative and Referendum most of all the vo-
ers would inform themselves on governmental
affairs, and their combined craftsmanship wou'd
originate measures for the general welfare fir
superior to any that have yet been enacted into
law.
1t has been suggested that under this inst