The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-03-15

pie, few or many, desire certain act; they |
take steps to secure the necessary signatures
to petitions for same; by this petition is pre-
sented to the next legislature; it goes
through the Legislative mill identically as it |
would il it originated in any other way; is
referred to committee and argued on the |
floor Of House and Senate; the Legislature
frames a resolve TO embody in concise lam |
euage 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 method of dangerous haste
il will be seen that unless the bill petitioned
for was passed by the Legislature witho, /
change, it would take at least eighteen
months to secure Law by the Initiative and
Referendum, md in most cases the time
would actually be two years During all this
ii e it would be before the people, and sup
posing it to be opposed by any considerable
number, it would be liable to all the advan-
tages and all the publicity OF the usual legis-
lative procedures and much more.
Waves of popular opinion that are to en-
dure for eighteen months II 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 oircum-
stances 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, 4. that the
majority should rule This idea IS universal;
it IS laugh US at our mothers knee, II per
vades all the school books; we give thanks
for it on all occasions; 1t is classic thought
in all our literature; subjects OF European
states crowd here to secure its benefits; 1t Is
the theme Of many a story and the inspiration
of many a song, if anyone now thinks the
constitution had any other intention or ii we
now find any OF its provisions fail to provide
the most simple and direct means for ascer-
tain ny the desire of the majority, it is good
place to say that whatever the original inlen-
ton, the right of the majority to govern is
now generally accepted and any part Of the
fundamental law that is inconsistent with
that idea has outgrown its usefulness.
do not feel the question as to whether
majority Of the people decide the Initiative
and Referendum not may be debated with
much profit. There IS one sure way to hnd
out. Let them vote on it. 1t is always claimed
that the change is not desired but whenever
the people have been allowed a chance to vote
upon its adoption they have spoken in MAORI
ties Of from three to ten 10 one in its favor.
A majority was never cast against 1t; 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 1906.
You say in your letter that the lobby might
| have something to do with the defeat OF the
Referendum. | can easily conceive why they
should. Many scheme IS lobbied through
the Legislature which you know would be
absolutely useless with the Initiative and
| II L. u .4l,,4s 8 y,,.t,
| lie camor, and righteous Indignation against
the greed Of public corporations, the public
arrayed on one side clamaring for their rights,
against them certain corporations wholly OBJ
| hylous to individual rights, what could poss-
bly, he a better remedy for the people than
| their right to pass upon all laws by ballot |
can mention innumerable laws. and SO can
you, Mr.. Potter, that the Legislature never
would have have passed had the people the
! right Of Referendum Do you suppose the
| legislature Of 1895 would have given away
The right of trial by Jury the fire insuran
! policy right that we derived from England
where it had sted since the nth Century,
| having previously existed and originated in
! Normandy, having come down to US through
| primcyal and medieval ages, having been
| practiced under by the greatest jurists that
| the world has ever known and met with their
appreciation, being abrogated only for lire in
surance companies, had the peopl- had the
right Of Initiative and Referendum? DO you
suppose that after these corporations had the
right to fix their own rates, which in some
cases in Maine is so high to prohibit insur
ance, that they would have asked the public
to play with loaded dice when they had
loss by fire. They not only have claimed the
right to stack the cards and deal them, but
insist on keeping count. You would almost
think that these soullcss corporations would
blush with shame. Certainly the Referendum
would have acted as a safety valve in this
case, as it will act upon all future legislation,
for assure you Of my entire confidence that
the Seventy third Legislature cannot fail to
pass the Referendum resolve.
Very respectfully,
+. 5. CLARK.