The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-07-26
THE WEEKLY JOURNAL.
issued Thursday, One Dollar a Year
THE REAL REFERENDUM.

er or New London, who has the hap
Sy faculty of opening his mouth when
fhere are happy things to be said,
suggests that the Republican party
renominate Governor Rollin S. Wood
ruff for first place in the State govern
ment. He says with truth: "He has
struck popular chord with the peo-
pie and in view of the fact that his
own party is divided over his policy,
1t Is no more than fair that the people
should be given chance to express.
their opinion at the polls with their
votes. believe that would be a com
plete triumph for Governor Woodruff.
He has used his veto power, now let
the people veto him if they want to"
There is the first sane suggestion
that has yet been made looking to a
larger use Of the referendum than is
contemplated and provided for in the
State constitution. Whether it is best
for the Republican party to break it's
stupid policy of turning useful and ex-
perienced officers out to grass the mo-
ment they have become useful and ex-
perienced Is not for us to decide. We
have right, however, to consider the
suggestion offered by Governor Waller
from the point of view of the referen-
dunn. AS he says, Governor Woodruff
and the General Assembly which is
controlled by the party to which ne is
accredited are at loggerheads over GER
tain definite policies of government.
The breach has grown so wide that at
a recent Republican family war coun-
ell one of the leaders of the opposition
4 to the governors program of i'm
provement observed that he would yet
warm his (the governor's) Jacket" AS
to the necessity of warming anybodys
Jacket in these days of extreme hot
weather when jackets are burdensome
we are uniformed, but we cannot close
our eyes to the fact that the proposal
proceeds from bitter opposition to
what the governor advises. 1t is that
state of affairs that interests the peo-
pie, who should be given a chance to
say which policy they like, that advo-
Gated by Governor Woodruff or that
advocated by "the controlling inter-
ests' in the General Assembly. The
denomination of Governor Woodruff
would give the State the finest kind Of
referendum imaginable and at the end
we should all know what the condition
of the Connecticut mind is.
Let us take for an example the APP
plication of the referendum to Cover
nor Woodruffs convictions on the sub
Meet of trolley organization. 1t is his
idea that trolley promoters should tes-
lily to their serious pur-
pose as constructionists by
letting some of their own money escape
snto the company's treasury before the
game of high finance has been opened
Ehe General Assembly, acting upon the
theory that it is unfair to demand more
of new promoters than has been de-
manded of the get-rich-quick promoters
of the past has uniformly passed troll
ley charters over his veto. Which is
the right policy? Let the people decide ?
Out with your referendum. 1t is posi-
BILE that the governor is too stiff in his
accommodation and that the General
Assembly is too lax, but which is head
ed in the right direction according to
the will Of the people would be clearly
shown by referring him to them for a
Judgment. While we are on this subject
Of the proper way to finance new pub
lie service undertakings it is we'll to
remember that while possibly liberal
attitude should be taken towards those
who build up new enterprises, on the
theory that they risk much by the ven,
ture, there is no doubt at all of theiI
activity in persistently avoiding taxa.
ton, If 1t is larger than they wish tC
pay, after the original risk has become
fine investment, Why shouldn't tht
people be given a chance to speak thei
preference in this connection, or is The
referendum popular with the Republic
can leaders in the legislature when i
can be used to throw dust into the eye
of the people? Is it to be set asid
when real chance to enforce it i
given?
There are a lot of ideas on the gov
errors slate. He has expressed then
whenever an opportunity has been civ
en- him and so far as We can judg
from the conversation of men and tn
attitude of the State press more PEG
ple like them than dislike them. Do tn