The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-11-13
TIE PRINCETON UNION: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 49, 1902
THE AMENDMENTS LOST.

Il
THE AMENDMENTS LOST.
The constitutional am endments failed
to carry in this county and for that
matter failed to carry. in the State. In
Mile Laos county the gross earnings
amendment received 757 votes for and
80 against while the general tax amend
ment received $40 votes for and, l54
against. The amendment providing
for loaning the permanent school and
university fund received 667 /''yes'
votes and the road and bridge fund
amendment 6l9 ''yes" votes: The
amendments in order to be adopted
must receive majority of all the votes
cast at The election, and because of in
difference. on the part of many voters
the amendments have been defeated.
In 1898 a constitutional amendment
was adopted making it necessary in
order to adopt an amendment that it
receive majority of all the votes cast
at the election. Prior to 1898 all that
was necessary in order to adopt con-
stitutional amendment was that it re-
ceive a majority of all the votes cast
for the amendment and not a majority
of all the votes cast at the election. It
begins to look as though the people
had tied their hands in the matter of
adopting constitutional amendments,
and as constitutional convention can
not be called without a majority of all
the electors in the State voting favora-
bly, on the proposition the chances
seem remarkably good for the State
constitution remaining as it is until
several generations have grown up and
been educated in the methods of gov
eminent. It may be that in due proc
ess of time the electors of the State
will become sufficiently enlightened to
be able to realize that they are the
fountain head of all legislation after
all and must pass on all constitutional
changes in the State government 1t
will hardly be possible, Judging from
recent demonstrations, to repeal the
constitutional amendment adopted in
1898 making majority vote of all the
votes cast necessary to adopt all amend
ments. Thus the matter stands. We
are the<people, but, alas, it seems that
we have seriously handicapped our
selves in the matter of initiating any
reforms in legislation. The funda-
mental principles of government are in
the hands of the people and yet they
do not seem to realize it.
The ':initiative and referendum has
sovereign sound, but judging from
the interest the people take in the con-
stitutional amendments referred to
them we are not yet far enough ad-
vanced for this radical system of gov
eminent. The proposed general tax
amendment which failed of adoption
last week was in effect regular legis-
lative act with almost specific provis-
ions, and if it had been adopted it would
have conferred upon the legislature
authority to enact needed tax legisla-
ton, but it appears that very little in
terest was taken in the matter, though
it directly concerns the people.
Every effort is made by the State to
publicly proclaim the constitutional
amendments and they are explained by
the attorney general and also published
in one newspaper in every county in
the State, besides being given wide
circulation and publicity by the cam
paign committees. The amendments
are also placed the first thing on the
State ballots so that voters will be sure
to see them, but none of these provis-
ions seem to secure the necessary votes.
1t really looks as If the people would
have to awaken to the necessity of more
faithfully performing the duties that
alone rest with them to perform. They
have greater powers than have those
who are sent to the legislature to rep
resent them and yet they do not exer-
else that authority and power.
THE large band of fanatic Doukho-
bors who were living in the Yorkton
district in the Canadian northwest, and
who turned their cattle loose and left
their homes and started east toward