The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-02-08
THE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

as 10 the prOOaOle actlOn OF Inc legls
: lative assembly in regard to an mi
~tiative and referendum amendment te
the constitution. 1t is alleged BY
some OF the political prophets that nc
, agreement will be reached by the con
tending factions, resulting in defeat
of the proposed reform, while others
predict that a compromise measure OF
some kind will receive sufficient votes
to place it before the people.
1t is hoped the members of the ninth
legislative assembly will keep faith
with the people in this matter. They
were elected upon the pledge that, at
the present session, a measure pro.
viding for the submission of the ques-
ton to the people would be enacted.
This promise was made in response
to what was believed to be a popular
demand for direct legislation, and it
was accepted in good faith by over
q 10000 Montana voters who vent to the
polls last November. These voters
instructed their representatives in the
ninth Legislative assembly to frame
ar initiative and referendum amend.
ment to the constitution, to be submit.
ted to the people at the election of
| 1906.
AT the election of last November,
thirty-eight republicans and thirty
four democrats were elected to the
house of representatives, each of them
having so!emnly promised through
his party platform to support initia-
tive and referendum legislation.
Eight republican and three democratic
state senator's were elected at the same
time, and under like conditions. The
holdover senator's are in honor bound
by the platform pledges of their re-
spective political organizations.
Each and every member of the ninth
legislative assembly has entered into
a contract with the people of Montana
to permit them t0 accept or reject a
proposed initiative and referendum
amendment to the constitution.
The matter of framing a prudent
and effective init ative and referendum
amendment was left to the discretion
and honesty of members of the legis-
lative assembly, who, it was assumed,
would not abuse this expression of
confidence in their ability, and in the
sincerity of their platform pledges.
Five weeks Of the legislative session
have expired, and there remain only
twenty working days in which mem.
bers OF the assembly can enact initia.
tive and referendum legislation and
other measures to which they are com.
mitted. Sixty thousand Montana
voters, and many young citizens of
the commonwealth who will soon be-
come voters, are interested in finding
out whether their law makers will be
true or false to their obligations.
Any attempt to evade affirmative
action by pretended disagreement
over the number of signatures to
necessary petitions will not deceive
the people. Some members may be
honestly In favor of u 5 per cent petit
ton obtained anywhere in the state:
others may regard this arrangement,
as unsatisfactory, and prefer another
percentage from each Of q majority OF
the counties, while another element OF
the assembly may advocate a percent.
age plan differing from either Of these.
1t is submitted, however, that il all
the members recognize their solemn
obligation to permit the people to
vote upon an initiative and referen.
dunn amendment, concessions will be
made by each of those whose individ.
ual views differ upon this matter, and
u compromise measure be submitted.
The people of Montana demand thu
right to govern themselves directly
whenever the occasion requires. Tha,
right and power will be conferred b,
the initiative and referendum, and the
amendment submitted should be il
such terms that the people can, when
ever considered necessary, chang.
any percentage basis favored by tn,
present assembly but which, in prac
tical experience, shall have proved I,
be unsatisfactory.
The submission of an initiative an.
referendum amendment can be defeat
ed by the of % members of tn,
+ house, Or nine members of the t
senate. Is there thai number of sena
i, tors or representatives who are falls,
to the platform pledges of their party
-.
The Secrct nf I Ouvn.;~r