The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-12-06
c Q N N j MICA TE D.
Some Point q Thoughts on the In
itiative Referendum and Re
call, by Geo. L. Rich.
{ Continued from last week. }

Third, he doubts that the b ody poll
tic OF our state will ever inform them
selves sufficiently upon legislation sub
mitted to act with the degree OF intelli
gence desired This same argument
might be used against the adoption oil
our new constitution next April or oil
any constitutional amendment hereafter
yet the constitution itself provides that
it can be adopted in no other way. And
who is brave enough TO declare that the
people of Michigan are not competent
to vote on its adoption! AS matter OF
fact, it is we'll known that but few vot-
ers will vote upon the adoption except
those who have read and studied it un-
til they understand 1T sufficiently we'll
to believe they can vote on it intelli-
gently, and those who do not will not
vote at all, or if they do vote out of 10
will vote mo- This is proved by the
fact that amendments always receive
less votes than the number of voters
voting.
Surprising that bill is referred to the
people by the legislature to be voted up
on, how will the people become informed
as to ITS nature, It's good or bad qualities,
so they can vote intellgently? In just
exactly the same way they are on con-
stitutional amendments From the ros-
trum, the newspapers, in the Grange
hall or club room.
So far as the knowledge and ability
of the members of our legislature is con-
cerned they are just ordinary men.
There are hundreds of men who never
aspire to the office just as learned, Just
as good citizens and just as competent
as they are A careful study of the laws
they have passed and those which they
have failed to pass would lead one to
conclude that the average man was Just
as wise and just a honest. Doesn't it
keep our supreme court busy declaring
our laws unconstitutional?
So far as the populous centers outvot-
ing the less populous, think 1t is a fact
capable Of proof that there is not a state
in the union in which the rural and sub
urban population can not outvote the
cities, and as all questions referred will
be voted on by the voters of the whole
state there will be little danger of con-
troll by the populous centers.
AS matter of fact the initiative and
referendum has been but seldom used
in states where provision has been made
for it, nor do believe that it will be Of
ten used in this state If adopted, but it
will be there so that the people can use
it II they so desire, and the fact that the
members of the legisla ture are aware
they have the right, will be the strongest
kind of an argument to them to hasten
the passage of good laws asked for by
the people and to defeat bad laws op-
posed by the people. | do not, neither
does its most earnest advocate, believe
that it will be a panacea for all OF our
political evils, but will be only another
step in the right direction. If it is used
and does harm the people alone will be
to blame. One strong proof that it will
not do harm but good is the fact that it
never has been repealed in those states
in which it has been tried. If it is not
used it certainly can do no harm, but
VIII NC iihO Jul EICuI hutIlCdu navy ,
ready for use when the emergency arises
requiring it,
10 conclusion | wish to say that /
Claim no originality in this article, but
on the contrary | have borrowed hber-
ally of the arguments and statistics of
Myron II. Walker of Grand Rapids in
speech before a Detroit audience and
is printed in The Michigan Patron of
November l, 1907, and have brought to-
gether the arguments familiar to almost
every member of the Grange and farm
ers clubs of Michigan.
With the most kindly feeling toward
the editor OF the Northerner and all
others who honestly oppose the meas
ures, | am very respectfully,
GEO. l.. RICH.