Rock Island Argus., 1902-06-06
REFERENDUM WORKERS
ABE COVERING STATE


tives of the Referendum league of
Illinois are busy circulating and eX-
planning a petition proposing a bill
which provides that the people of the
state have the opportunity to vote
on legislation and control it, and
that the election of United States
senators be made by popular vote.
While the friends of the initiative
and referendum regard the present
statute, providing for an expression
of opinion by electors on questions
of public policy at any general or
special elections" as long step for
ward they are desirious of remedying
what they consider serious defects
in the law.
This is the petition to which must
be attached 112,OOO signatures and to
which the promoters of the move
100000 voters:
TO the secretary of state, Spring
eld, Ill.-We, the undersigned, re
spectfully petition that the following
questions of ptijlic policy be submit
ted to the voters of the state of IIli-
nois, at the regular state election,
ON Tuesday next after the first Mon
day of November, \. ID. 1902. and file
this, our petition, as provided by sta
tute:
81. Shall the next general assem-
bly, enact statute by which the vo-
ters of the political subdivisions of
the state of Illinois may be enabled
TO initiate desired local legislation
by filing petition therefor. signed
by ) per cent of the legal voters in
said political subdivisions; and
have referred to the voters any leg
isIation enacted by the several local
Legislative bodies. by the filing of
petition therefor of per cent of the
legal voters of any such political sub
division; the action of ma iority of
those voting To decide in each case?
-. Shall the next general assem-
bly, submit to the people of the state
of Illinois. at the next state election
Il constitutional amendment provid-
ing for the control of legislation and
referendum, said amendment To pro-
vide for the initiation of legislation
upon a petition of : per cent of the
voters of the political division af-
fected; and for the reference of leg
iSlation upon Il petition of > per cent
of the voters of the political divisions
the action of the majority of
the electors voting to he final. thus
restoring to the people the power
they once held but which they dele
gated to the general assembly by the
-. Shall the next general assem-
bly, take the necessary steps under
article ) of the constitution of the
United States about the election of
United States senators by the direct
vote of the people?
''As the referendum principle is the
key to all other reforms to be Sc
cured through legislation the refer
endum league is non-partisan as to
measures and seeks as far as pos
sibIe to be interpartisan in member
ship. appealing with confidence to all
worthy citizens of Illinois to coop
crate with it i'll its efforts says the
league in its pecial statement. I'm
der the referendum the passage of
vicious laws by the Legislative bodies
will practically cease. because 'brib-
ers will not pay for goods that can
not with certainty be delivered If
bribery is to cease corrupt men will
have no incentive to become members
of Legislative bodies, and in conse
quence Il better reputation will be
given to lawmakers and a better
grade of men with long tenures of
office will soon be found in our gen
eral assembly and council chambers.
sentative idea of menacing the repre-
senttive idea the referendum in re-
atty rescues it.
The irresponsible power of our
has tendency to corrupt |
them. When we remove from them
the final power to enact laws, then |
they will be lifted to the old and |
high position of counselors or advis-
ors TO the people"