The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-04-03
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

considered the matter. II Is the ini'
tatiyc and referendum. / am aware
that some Of our Democrats look with
little suspicion on this change
There IS conservatism and a prop
ar Conservatism that holds back from
making any change until there Is
convincing proof Of It's necessity.
Ten years ago last summer | help
cd write a platform in Nebraska that
for the first time embodied the idea
Of the initiative and referendum In
Democratic platform In our state. 1t
was the platform adopted just before
the National convention at Chicago.
/ have had time to think about the
subject since and the more have
thought Il the more earnest has been
my desire that the initiative and ref
creudum shall be added to our pres
ont form of government When the
platform was read to the convention
! It had been so little considered there
by some Of the people that the Repub.
lican papers made fun OF 1t. l read
tho platform that day and the paper
the next morning said that when
'read this plank the Democrats looked
at each other in surprise and that one
Democrat said to another What's
that2" and the other Democrat said,
l"Oh. that's new kind Of Democrat
lc drink" and this Republican paper
said 1t then went through unanimous
Ily. CApplause)
That's the way they tried to make
fun OF It. but the people understand
the Initiative and referendum now.
What is the referendum. 1t is pro-
cess upon which the people can com
pei an action on a question.
If a legislative body refuse to pass
"A law that the people want, they can
take the initiative, and. II a suii-
lcicnt number ask for It they can com
pei the submission of the thing de-
sired to the people.
And what is the referendum? The
process by which the people can
exercise a vote upon something that
is submitted to them. II the legisla-
lturc passes law that the people do
Inot want a certain number can pc
Ittion for a vote Of the people on the
llaw. and If at the election ma
Iiority vote against the law, 1t is no
IIonger a law. CApplause.-
| What is the object of the initiative
land referendum? The object of these
1.-TWO processes is to enable the people
to rule. And who opposes the rule OF
1.-THE people? Those who would have
,omething else rule than the people
OF the state.
The initiative and referendum are
never called into use unless there Is
La demand for them, and when called
Into use they can not overturn the
faction Of the legislature unless the
Ipeople want the action of the legisla-
turc overturned. And who will say
that the legislature ought to be per
mltted To do things that the people
do not want done? And who will say
that the legislature should not do
what the people want done?
have tried TO state the proposition
as clearly as | can, and many OF you
q are Interested in knowing the trend
+ of public opinion Is in favcr of bring
. ing the government rcarcr the pco'
pie DO any of you oppose this? You
may succeed now, but | warn you the
time WI como wc,n they will PIT
somebody IN yoI' place who is not
. lafraid Of public opinion hpplauScD
And why do say 1t? Because | have
seen the principle At work in other
places and have seen the Republican
party compelled for self-protection to
adopt the initiative and referendum
= after the Democratic party had
demanded that II should he
put in force And in n num-
lUtI Al lllNldllAfN AillN ltAbl III AiNH '''aA
found stronger than either party. In
several instances this has been found
So strong that the people Of the state
by a large majority would declare in
favor of it and then declare in favor
Of the Republican party. which had
opposed II,
The idea is a growing idea, and
think | might digress long enough
horc to say TO you that the ideas OF
Thomas jefferson are being yindicat
ed not only ir this country. but
Throughout the world.-William Jen
nings Bryan, at Austin.
--OtO--
PEANUTS AND kAFFlR.