Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-02-08
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
Address Made by Speaker Hedges
During Consider grafton of Measure.

| Helena, Feb. 3.-Following is the
address made by Speaker w. A.
Hedges on the initiative and referen.
dunn when that measure was being
considered by the committee of the
whole:
Il desire to offer an amendment to
the amendment if in order. If you
will permit | viii! make my amend
ment verbally, and then send it to the
chief clerk in writing. III order to get
the amendment to the amendment be-
fore the committee. l will say that |
desire to change the figure 10 per cent
wherever it occurs in the proposed
amendment. to per cent wherever it
refers to the initiative. 1t seems to
me that if you will permit this amend
ment to the original amendment that
it would be in order. and would be
what | desire to get permission to do
| simply desire to insert the words
eight per cent wherever it refers tC
| the initiative. and wherever it refers
to the referendum, five per cent In
line 16, after the word upon insert
the following: Bit no such petitions
of the initiative shall ever apply to any
changes in the constitution of the
state of Montana | believe that the
question before us is one of the great.
est moment to the people whom we
represent here: and l do not wish
, to have them think that it has been
treated in a light manner. | have Of
fered this amendment in good faith
and If you will permit me. l desire to
put before you my reasons for offer.
Ing this amendment. Twelve or four
teen years ago. the Populist party had
some standing in this state. This
question was treated al length by the
Populist press. and has been consider.
ed Populist doctrine. 1t is true that
the Republican convention. which met
in the city of Billings on the 7th of
last September, made this question a
I party plank. There were reasons,
and grave ones, too. why the party
should embody this plank in its plat
form; for the Republican party has
ever sought for that which is best
for the peoples interest, regardless
OF whatever source it may come from.
The time has been. as many of us
present here well know. when legis-
lative bodies of this state have been
held up by the influence of large
corporations.
AS between the two largest cor
porations in this state, most promi-
nent before our legislative assemblies.
our people, as a whole, have little or
no interest. They are only interested
In the fact that they should hold with
in their own hands a check upon such
state of affairs. In that Billings
platform. the words safely guarded
were used, and l believe every Re-
publican was left free to give those
words such Interpretation as he might.
provided, he was cOnversant with our
state affairs. and the dangers with
which we were confronted. We have
heard a great deal since that conven-
ton met about the Oregon initiative
and referendum law. Doubtless. that
was largely due to the fact that the
state OF Oregon was so closely situat-
ed to US. But in Oregon. the great
corporate influences. which exist here,
and to the extent they exist here. are
unknown. Hence. the words safely
guarded might. with wisdom be used
in applying the principles of the meas
ure here; and interpret those words
to mean that the per centage in the
petition shall come. at least, from
majority of the counties of this state
This is in order that the majority prin-
ciple, underlying all our laws. and
which is fundamental principle
thereof. may continue to exist. | ap-
peal to you gentlemen on this side of
the house, don't get too radical in this
matter. Listen to the voice of the
people who sent us here We should
not be too arbitrary on this side of
the chamber; and | believe that, in
this spirit. the gentlemen on the 9TH
er side of the chamber may meet us
III liberal spirit as TO the matter
OF per centage in these petitions. II
do not stand here, asking for ten per
cent. but for a reasonable per cent
age. that of eight per cent and five
per cent, which shall come from a
majority of the counties. majority
vote of the people is still necessary
for enactment into law. | do this
in spirit of compromise. DESTROYS of
passing this important measure |
through this assembly. and to the v0t- |
srs OF this state, for their approval"