The Washington herald., 1907-03-25

referendum is the submission Of meas
ure by the legislature or other repre-
sentative body TO the voters for approval
or rejection. It Is compulsory when 81
but emergency measures must be SUD-
mitted; optional when Submission may
be demanded by a certain percentage
usually per cent? OF the voters. The
initiative provides that a certain percent
age usually OF per cent? Of the voters
may propose measures which are after
ward submitted to a direct ballot Of the
people. The referendum gives the peopls
veto power only. The initiative gives
them the full power of direct legislation.
The advisory initiative and advisory
referendum Is a modified form Of this
system. 1t Is morally, bat not legally
binding. 1t Is made effective by pledgine
each candidate In advance Of his election
that he viii obey the will OF his constitu'
ents when expressed by referendum vote
The public opinion law of Illinois. under
which the Chicago traction ordinances
will be submitted next month to a direct
vote Of the citizens. is a iair illustrations
OF the advisory referendum.
"As far back as IT'S the people OF
Massachusetts, voted upon a proposed
state constitution.
work Going On.
South Dakota has had an imperfect
initiative and referendum law on heI
statute books for the past ten years
Under the law only one measure has
been ordered to vote OF the people. but
the mere enactment or the law has pro-
duced salutary results. The following
statement 10 that effect ig reported tC
have been made by Gov Herreid:
Since this referendum law has been a part oi
cur constitution, have bad no chaFtermongcri
or railway specllatogs, no wildcat schemes submit
! ted 20 legislature. Formerly our time vas Oc
cIpied by speculative schemes Of one kind or an
other but since the referendum mas besn a part
Of the constitution. these people do not pres.
their schemes on the legislature. and hence there
Is no necessity for having recourse 10 Tie refe.en
dun.
Plan OF Campaign.
The programme. or plan Of campaign
for the establishment Of the initiative
and referendum. which was worked oul
by Mr.. Shibley in the month Of Novem-
Der following the election OF 1850. and
which Is still adhered 70, is as follows:
Il. That the nonpartisan organizations, such a
referendum leagues oranges. and trades unlols
should Systematically question tee pousiness Of ths
several parties as to whether II elected they sid
sOfk and vote for The ternination Il machine rule
hg the restoration q the deet-Eote system for pub
iic questions
80 That the replies Tor a statement that the cues
tons have been ignored should be published q
TIE Eotes Ia each district. the ain being % PIE
vent an eTssioR Of the oyershadowing issue, thu
restoration Of the peoples rule
3 That IN national affairs the direct-YDie system
Be established Ay statute Aw-the advisory initiative
and advisory referendum.
- That majority vote ia the United State
Senate for the immediate establishment Of a di
Feet-yote system be secured by the voters through
questioning the candidates for the state legisls
tuEes. and pledging them % vote ial 90 instruct
the h0idOEer senators 20 vote % install the direct
vote system far national questions. and tbi 10 eec
to the United States Senate none but pledged can
didates.
IS. That after the enactment q a law for tn.
advisory initiative IN national Affairs arr desired
amendments % the national Constitution and ths
needed national legislation may Be instructed b
direct vote of the people.
ITO determine the practieabiity Of the
/ programme, he consulted with several
United States Senators and other public
men. The consensus Of opinion was
favorable. He then came 70 Washington
as before stated. and for the past sis
years he has allowed nothing 70 diver
him from the promotion Of this non
partisan programme. Great success haf
been achieved. In fact. this programme
works perfectly. provided an organiza-
ton OF candidate stands ready 20 tax,
the case to the people Frequently tbs
candidates of both the great parties
pledge themselves on this issue. WheT
only one candidate is pledged, an friend.
of the direct-vote system are urged Il
support him. regardless Of party.
The Leaven working.
'sThe initiative and referendum have
been established in South Dakota, oregon
and Nevada. Illinois has a public opinion
law. In 1896. Oklahoma elected il2 dele
gates 10 a constitutional convention, ci
whom l02 were pledged 70 the establish
ment OF the Initiative and referendum
The legislature elected ia Maine is pledged
to submit a constitutional amendment
for the adoption of the dlTect-v0te sys
TEN. IN Pennsylvania and New jersey
bills for the initiative and referendum fol
cities and towns are expected 70 pas:
the house at least. Ia the State OF Wash
ington. organized farmers and organized
laborers, in cooperation with the woman
suffragists, are making the direct-vot,
system the leading issue. Ia the legisla
ture Of North Dakota. the house has JUS
passed a bill submitting a constitutional
amendment for the initiative and refer
endum. The voters OF Utah have adoptef
a constitutional amendment for tht
direct-vote system. and the voters O
Ohio have pledged two-thirds OF tbs
legislature In Minnesota a bill has beer
fayorably reported by senate committee
ITO sum up, there are fourteen State:
in which the direCt-vOte system has beer
/ legally established. or in which the legis
iatures are pledged so that success &.
practically assured; and in several othel
States the peoples rule is warmly cham
pioned. Several cities IN States othei
than those mentioned have fully estab
lished the initiative and referendum ii
municipal affairs. Among these cities ar
San Francisco and Los Angeles, Cal
Denver, Colo. Seattle and Tacom1
Wash, and San Antonio. Tex. Detroi
has the ad dgisory referendum, and Buffal,
has public opinion law.