Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-03-14
entire electorate of Maine, condition
manifestly absurd.

entire electorate of Maine, condition
manifestly absurd.
Your statement to the effect that
changes in the constitution should be
made slowly, will meet with the approval
of every one, and majority will agree
with you that it is better for desira BILE
changes to be somewhat delayed than I'M
desirable ones should be made through
undue haste, but a review of the process
of legislation by the people under the re-
ferendum will show undue haste is not
possible in connection herewith.
Some people, few or many, desire GER
tain act; they take steps to secure the
necessary signatures to petitions for same !;
| by this petition is presented to the next
Legislature; it goes through the legis-
lative mill identically as it would if it
originated in any other way; is referred
to committee and argued on the floor OF
House and Senate; the legislature frames
resolve to embody in concise language
the approval of the act petitioned for and
it is then voted upon by the people at the
regular September election following.
| Far from being a method of dangerous
haste it will be seen that unless the bill
petitioned for was passed by the legislature
without change, it would take at least
| eighteen months to secure law oy the
initiative and referendum, and in most
cases the time would actually be two
years. During all this time it would be
before the people, and supposing it to be
opposed by any considerab BILE number, it
would be liable to all the advantages and
all the publicity of the usual legislative
procedures, and much more.
| Waves of popular opinion that are to
endure for eighteen months to two years
and at the end of that time, to secure the
approval of a majority of the voters of
this State, must be based upon something
more than illusion and prejudice. The
result under such circumstances, however,
could not fail to register the deliberate
and final will of the people.
To take up again the original intention of
the constitution, it may be said that but one
thing could have been intended, /. e., that
the majority should rule. This idea is
universal; it is taught us at our mothers
knee, it pervades all school books; we give
thanks for it on all occasions; it is a
classic thought in all our literature; sub
jects of European states crowd here to
secure it's benefits; it is the theme of many
story and the inspiration of many q
song; if anyone now thinks the constitu-
tion had any other intention, or if we now
find any of its provisions fail to provide
the most simple and direct means for as
good place to say that whatever the
original intention, the right of the major
ity to govern is now generally accepted,
and any part of the fundamental law that
| is inconsistent with that idea has out
grown its usefulness.
| do not feel the question as to whether
majority of the people desire the initia-
(, tive and referendum or not may be de-
bated with much profit. There is one sure
way to find out, let them vote on it. 1t is
always claimed that the change is not de-
sired, but whenever the people have been
allowed a chance to vote upon its adoption
they have spoken IN majority of from
| three to ten to one in its favor. A majority
was never cast against it; it has never
been repealed where once adopted. Few
can doubt the result if the people of
Maine have the opportunity to vote upon
this question at the September election of
| 1905.
You say in your letter that the lobby