Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-31
The Referendum and the Prohbitory
Principle.

The Referendum and the Prohibitory
Principle.
lin considering the opportunity which
the Initiative and Referendum will
afford the people OF Maine to de-
clare at the polls at a. special
election whether or not they de-
sire to abandon the prohbitory princi-
pie, the fart must not be over
looked that when this new system is
Incorporated into our State constitG-
ton. as it undoubtedly will be at State
power of any political party to make a
football of this great question. Any
1000 voters Of the State will then have
the power to submit ANY bill. resolve
or resolution they may desire 10 The
Legislature provided it does not carry
d repeal or amendment Of q cnnStitu
tional provision. If the Legislature
fails to enact sucl, bill, resolve n reso-
luton" without change Eat the session
at which it was presented. it shall be
submitted to The electors together
with any amended form. substitute or
recommendation of the Legislature
and in such manner that The people can
chose between the competing meas
ures or reject both.
The Initiative and Referendum fur
Their provides that,
THE governor may. and if 50 re-
QueStcd i'm the written petitions adj
dressed to the Legislature, shall by
proclamation, order any measure pro-
posed to the Legislature by at least
twelve thousand electors. and not en-
acted by the Legislature. without
change. referred to the people at d
special election to be held not less than
four nor more than six months after
such proclamation. otherwise said
measure shall be voted upon at the
rcXt general election held not less than
sixty days after the recess of the
Legislature. to which such measure
was propOaSd
Irasmuch as no general election is
held in Maine for about sixteen mouths
following the recess or adjournment Of
the Legislature. it will be seen that any
election held within sixty days of such
recess or adjournment would. ncces-
sarily. he a special one. These very
to control the question of whether or
not tn, State shall abandon the
protibitory principle will be taken
Out of the hands of the politicians by
TIE Initiative and Referendum. 1t will
rest directly with the people, the source
OF all power under ii Republican gov
eminent, To be sure certain Demo-
cratic pHpers declare that the Initiative
and Referendum which vii! give l2.0O0
voters the right to so bring 'any bill
resolve or resolution they may see
fit to propose to Il vote of the people
does not include such IL popular express
sion upon the question Of abandoning
o" maintaining the prohibitory princi-
pie. But let it be borne in mind that
this is not question that will be de-
Maine. When once the Initiative and
Referendum has been incorporated into
the State constitutions there will be
nothing to prevent any 1900 voters.
Republicans. Democrats and Third
Party men, who believe that this great
question shall be divorced from parti-
| san politics. from securing ain express
! sion Of the popular will regarding it.
| iii the form of a resolve, which will in
| volve neither the repeal nor amend
| inent of any constitutional provision. al
| a special election called for that pur-
pose. If that right is called in uues-
ton TIL issue will be one for the
supreme court Of Maine, and not
| the Democratic press to decide
| Does any thoughtful citizen belle We
| for one moment that the court
| WoUid hold that system specially de-
signed to ascertain directly the will of
the people Upon all questions of public
moment. coulG not be applied to deter
mining their wishes relative to aban-
| doning or maintaining the prollibitory
| principle? We think not. Ii the
| opinion of suong, LAWYERS whom we
! have consulted. the court. if appealed
| to by those who desire for political
, reasons. the old ia shioned idea of a re-
solve passed by two-thrds Of the
Legislature calling for the repeal of a
| constitutional provision, would decide
| that any resolve. NOT involving either
! 'l:e ;'ei';.;:l or amendment of = c,n-t;tu-
| tional provision. touid clearly &c sub