The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-05
THE IMPERATIVE MANDATE.

AftE ANl ' r MANIA L t.
sun the wheels grind. The initiative
and referendum has been ground out
and displayed for analysis by the thinking
men OF the nation. But this is not all
now comes the imperative mandate" a
scheme stan more wild and impracticable,
more Dangerous but less widely approved
The imperative mandate = the name
applied by its supporters TO a proposed
charge in the constitution which woulo
provide that upon petition Of one-hfth o,
the legal voers a special election must BE
called to vote upon candidates for an OF
fee already occupied. Fer instance. il
there should be dissatisfaction with any
public officer, one-hfth OF the voters
could. by petition, compel the question o.
his continuance in office to be submitted
to the people, ia order tina, they might
by their votes manifest their approval or
disapproval. and elect new officer II they
SO pleased.
This scheme has some very good argu-
ments TO support 1t. but 1t also presents
some features that do not commend 1t as
wise measure. There is prevailing
opinion that We already have too fire.
quent elections, that the business world
is too often thrown into chaotic state
by political strife. that the expenditure Of
time. money and labor incident to cam
paign and election, are at present too
large for a healthy state Of society, ana
that an increase OF the burdens OF that
nature would be as detrimental as un-
necessary. The assertion that the people
shoald have in themselves the power Of
removing an unsatisfactory officer sound
well and appeals strongly to the impuhsive
and unreasouiag, who follow the lead o,
the so-ealled retormers. But when a
sec5 i though, is given the subject ana
it is viewed in all It's phases, It's imprac-
ticablllty and the inefectveness OF the
power il exercised, must be apparent
To make a change in a county office.
for instance, would require six or elgh
months, at least from the time Of the
commission OF an act meriting removal.
In order to avoid Injustice and secure the
greatest probability OF a change for tn.
better more time than that oud be nee
essary. After the commission Of an act
OF which the people disapprove, a petition
must be circulated and signed. presented
to the proper officer and II found in
proper form and signed by legal voters
notice OF election must b. given, pri-
msries and conventions must be held to
nominate candidates. an election must be
held. and the now officer, II one be elected,
must qualify All this takes time, ana
even II there should be no contest as to
the legality Of the various proceedings,
still in nine cases out Of ten the officials
term of office would have expired by the
time an election could be held.
1t Is not usual for an officer to commit
wrongful acts or be negligent In hls du-
ties, during the first year Of his incum-
bency, so that in very rare cases coulo
the officer be removed before the expira-
tion Of his term.
1t requires no effort Of the Imagination
TO see how very easily the imperative
mandate could be used by b!ackmailers
A disappointed Office seeker or a dlsreput-
table newspaper publisher could make
charges against an officer that were false,
or even make rightful acts appear wrong
full in order to get the requisite number
of signatures to a petition for an election
Only small part Of the whole number
OF voters being required to sign the pc
tition, the party In the minority could
keep the party in power in continual
campaign to keep down unfounded charges
Of corruption.
But If 1t be certain that a change in an
office could be made In such time as would
render the system serviceable yet there
can be no assurance that anything would
be gained by change, or that even as