The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-05
ALL EYES
Will Be Turned Upon Kansas
Now, Sure Enough.
The Initiative and Referendum
of Switzerland
In a Modified Form to Be Sub
mitted
TO VOTERS OF KANSAS
POpulist Caucus Decides to Put
the Question
Of This Change In the COnsti-
tuition Before the People.

The supporters of the initiative ana
referendum are confident today that the
legislature will provide for the submits
sion of such an amendment to the con-
stitution. The resolution was first in
troduced in the senate by Senator Young
where it has been recommended for
passage and is now on general orders.
The house caucus last night, voted
unanimously to support and work for
the passage of the proposed measure.
1t was introduced in the house today
by Representative Weilep and will
change article Is of the constitution to
read as follows:
Sec. L The legislative power of this
state shall be vested in house of repre-
sentativeS and a senate, and in the
qualified electors of the state of Kansas,
as defined in article five of the constitu-
ton.
Sec. 2. No public act shall take eff
feet or be in force until the end of
81 XmOnths from the close of the session
of the legislature at which it was pass
ed, unless otherwise directed by a vote
of twO-thirdS of the members of each
house thereof.
Provided, That an act shall take eff
feet or be in force at the end of six
months, if 10 per cent Of the electors of
the state, to be based upon the number
of votes cast for all the candidates for
governor at the last general election,
shall petition the secretary of state,
within the six months, for the submis-
sion of the same to the electors, for their
approval or rejection, at the next ensu-
ing general election. And upon receiV-
ing such petition, the secretary of state
shall submit such act to the electors as
prayed for. And whenever any such
act shall be approved by a majority of
the electors of the state voting upon the
same, it shall become valid and opera
tive from and after the official canvass
and declaration of said vote"
Section is of great Importance and
contains radical changes. 1t is as fol-
lows:
Sec. 8. When Is per cent of the elect
Ors of the state shall present a bill or
proposition for an amendment to the
constitution to the secretary of state,
he shall submit such bill or proposition
to vote of the electors thereof, for
their approval or rejection at the next
ensuing general election. And when
ever any such bill or proposition shall
be approved by majority of the elect
OrS voting upon the same it shall be-
come valid and operative from and after
the official canvass and declaration of
such vote.
Sec. 4. The electors of any county,
township or city, upon petition to their
respective county, township or city
clerks, shall have the same right to in
itiate and have referred to them all 10
cal legislation, wheresoever originating,
affecting such localities, in such form
and manner as the legislative power
may prescribe. Whenever any local
legislation shall be submitted to vote
of the electors of any county, township
jority of the electors voting upon the
same, it shall become valid and opera
tive from and after the official canvass
and declaration of such vote.
Section 4 provides that local legisla-
ton in cities, counties and townships
shall be submitted to a popular vote on
demand, and sections and provide as
follows:
Sec. 5. Whenever any public act shall
have been submitted to vote of the
electors of the state and shall have re-
ceived the votes of a majority of the
electors voting upon the same at any
general election, it shall be the law of
the state, any provision of the cOnstl-
tuition to the contrary Notwithstanding
Sec g. No public act that has been
approved by a majority of the electors
of the state voting thereon shall be re-
pealed until the proposed repeal has
been submitted to said electors for their
approval or rejection.
1t is also provided THAT this prOpO-
sition shall be submitted to- the electors
of this state at the general election of
representatives to the legislature in 1898.
Those voting in favor of this PROPOSE
ton shall have written or printed on
their ballots For the initiative and ref
erendum amendment to the constitu-
ton Those voting against the said
proposition shall have written print
ed upon their ballots the words, Against
the initiative and referendum amend
ment to the constitution.
The adoption of initiative and refer
endum in Kansas will be following in
the footsteps of a number of cantons in
Switzerland the oldest republic in the
world 1t is u greater step toward a
more complete democracy than any
large community of people has yet
taken. If Kansas is really to attempt
this remarkable experiment of confer
ring more power on the people and try
ing direct legislation instead of repre-
sentative legislation, it will a once be-
come the center toward which the eyes
of the entire civilized world will be
turned.
Every statesman from Lii Hung Chang
| to Lord Salisbury will watch this at
| tempt at direct government by the
people with the greatest interest. 1t
| was inevitable from the general trend
| of public thought on this question that
| the attempt would be made somewhere
| before long. OF course Kansas is the
| first to make it.