Evening journal., 1906-11-05
Editorial Opinion
a Misinformed Critic.

For nearly two years past, during
which time the proper understanding
Of the Initiative and Referendum has
been subject of vital concern TO the
people OF Delaware. Every Evening has
refrained-except in the most desul-
tory and inadequate manner-from dis
cussing the merits of the question. But
now, when the election is only two days
of, our contemporary INDUCES in a
column or more of specious and mis-
leading argument, the effect Of which
is 70 becloud rather than to clarity the
subject. The unfairness of this course
we leave to Every Evenings own
sense Of right. and content ourselves
with pointing out a few of its errors
which are manifestly due to its lack OF
information with respect to the pro-
posed referendum system.
Our neighbor declares that "the main
object of the system Of initiative and
referendum is to place legislation abso-
lutely in the hands of the people"
thereby conveying the impression that
it is proposed to practically do away
with the Legislature OF course there
is no such purpose With the referen-
dun in force the Legislature would
still retain its w-making functions,
and there would still be plenty OF good
work for it to do. The referendum is
designed to be merely a check upon the
Legislature, and thus serve as a protec-
tion to the people in case Of need for
such protection. Instances Of this need
could be cited abundantly in our own
recent experience, notably with regard
to the voters assistant law, and also In
the matter Of the Jersey boundary COM
pact. 1t would be just as logical to
say that the putting of a governor on
an engine or a brake on a car would
render the engine or the car unneces-
sary, as it is to say that the right OF
the people to control the Legislature
would make that body useless. The
referendum is designed to keep the Leg
islature from running away, to make
IT operate smoothly and to perform its
work economically and effectively
that is, to make 1t actually represent
the viii of the people
The real democratic definition OF pub
lie officials is that they are public SER
wants; and the theory Of their respon-
sibility is that they are at all times
amonable to the popular VIII. The pur-
pose of the referendum is to put this
ftheory into practical operation.
our contemporary is frightened at
the spectre Of special elections, for
which 1t says "the people would be-
mulcted in costs" But this question Of
special elections" is a matter of de-
tail which could be adopted or not, as
might seem best to those on whom
would be imposed the responsibility Of
framing the new law. In many places
whore the referendum is in force, all
questions Of reference, except those Of
great and urgent Importance, go over
to the next regular election, and the
cost of special elections is thus avoid
ed. If Every Evening had been anx-
ious to understand the referendum sys-
TEN it would have taken care to inform
itself on this point.
Every Evening devotes considerable
space to the feature known as the re
call" by which in some places public
official against whom charges may be
brought. is required to stand the test
Of popular approval Of his conduct be-
fore the normal term of his official ten
ure expires. But as it is not proposed
to ask for this feature in Delaware at
this time its discussion is not now per-
tinont.
The other objections raised by Ev-
cry Evening are either without = oint, or
are easily answered by those who are
familiar with the theory of the subject
and who are informed with respect 70
the practical workings Of the system in
those places where it has been given a
trial.
Every Evenings position may be log
ically summed up in one sentence: II
is not in favor Of the people having ef-
fective control OF public affairs. OF
course it is not alone in this respect,
but we believe that the vote Of next
Tuesday will show that it is in very
small minorty-Sunday Star