The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-10-29
THE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.

The INTELLIeEECER is IN receip
Of campaign circulars of the Direc
Legislation League Of Missouri advC
eating the adoption Of the seconI
constitutional amendment to be vote
on at the general election in NOvem
Der. This amendment provides 70
the institution Of the initiative AM
T referendum as q permanent feature o
our legislative system-the initsstiv,
requiring the submission to q direc
vote Of the people Of any proposes
Legislation for which ten per cent o
the voters OF the state have petitiCned
and the referendum requiring th'
endorsement by direct vote Of the
people Of any bill passed by the
legislature to which ten per cent Of
the people are opposed.
The circulars OF the ''league, y
which are being distributed In the
interest Of this radical innovation,
describe the proposition in a flaming
headline as "The True Remedy for
Corruption In our Politics. The
circular further describes the purpose
Of the amendment thus: ut is absurd
for us to give our legislative agents
an absolute, irrevOcable power OF
attorney to do what they like with
our property during their term OF
office. The referendum will make
them the true responsible agents Of
the people instead Of the irresponsible
masters they now are. Anyone can
readily see that this amendment will
practically put an end to the corrup-
tion that has invaded our political
life."
The. absurdity Of this contention
must be apparent to every we'll in
formed, thoughtful man. 1t would
be apparent IN its face as an abstract
proposition II experience had shed no
light upon it. But experience has
shed light upon it. Forty years ago
an epidemic Of railroad aiding spread
over Missouri. Counties and town.
ships b%ankrupted themselves voting
bonds In aid Of railroad construction.
In some instances, as in this county,
the madness went so far as the lssu.
ance Of bonds for the benefit Of rail.
roads In other counties. Today scores
of counties are staggering under a
Ioad Of debt contracted In the interest
private corporations and author.
.zed By popular vote. So bitter was
ihe experience that by constitutional
amendment the people are not now
permitted to do these things at all.
They may not vote away their owp,
wen though they wish TO do 90. Il
s not true, 1t never has been true,
hat people In their organized social
aPacity are more careful Of their
'wn than are their elected ~represen-
County courts are more con-
ervative 10 authorizing expenditures
han the people themselves would be.
hey are accountable to minorities
yer SO small. Bankers habitually
q their official capacity refuse loans
nd securities which they readily
AXE on their private accounts. In ;
he conduct Of business as In the
commission Of crimes multitudes are
lore likely to go astray than lndlvid-
als-a fact which the Good Book !.
ecognizes Ia the warning about con- ,
with a multitude to do evil. /.
The Idea that the initiative and ]
eferendum would serve to ''put an 2
nd to the corruption that has in. 1
AIDED our political life" is prepos- Q
erous' In the 6rstIplace 1t is absurd 8
believe that II people are careless :
the selection Of their representa- I
yes they would be either more care ]
or wiser in voting directly upon I
Ieasures, the full intent and final I
onsequences OF which they would 10 r
lost Instances fail to discern. II I
be initiative and referendum availed
B all to alter conditions in regard to
eruption Of political life, it would /
srVe only to transfer the seat Of the
1t would serve further to
orrupt the press, because Of It's :
lfuence with the people. 1t would :
'rHe to corrupt the people directly, c
nd to make the elective franchise a /
lore valuable asset in the hands of b
be venal. 1t would never be invoked e
Kcept when there was money in it. h
would not take the time or 20 to
~ tsaa.,. -