The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-02-20
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
What Will the House do With II ?
Close Vote Expected.

A man of political influence, whose
opponents would call a boss, said to
the representative of Lake County
"I don't take any stock in that initia-
tive and referendum but you had
better vote for 1t, for everybody up
home Is for It,"
This is the situation in every county
In the state. The corporation lobby
is against 1t, the political bosses are
afraid of 1t, but the people at home
are all for 1t.
There is good reason for this, for
the initiative would make junk of
every political machine in the state
of Ohio. Moreover 1t would drive the
lobbyists from state house and council
chamber.
There is 10 mistake about It. You
give the people the right by petition
to have popular vote on any act of
the state legislature and it will be
useless for the corporatlonsl to try
to bribe or browbeat the peoples
representatives into pushing through
canal steals or franchise grabs.
Give the people the right by petit
tion to have a popular vote on any
act which has been introduced In and
rejected by the legislature and what
good will 1t do for the big interests to
maintain a corrupt lobby to defeat
legislation which the people want?
But, they say, "If the initiative and
referendum passes we shall have
government by the newspapers"
True, this change in our form of
government would drag many a ques.
tion out of the secrecy of the lobby
and into the forum of public debate
To this extent 1t would enlarge the
opportunity of the press. 1t would
also increase the power of the preach
er, the school teacher, the lecturer,
the educator. 1t would make of a
grange meeting a miniature legisla-
ture. 1t would give the labor union,
the chamber of commerce, the civic
clubs, and every organization for the
promotion of progress new field of
activity, for which the initiative and
referendum these organizations would
have the power, not merely TO petit
tion and demonstrate, they have the
power TO discuss and itheni to vote
directly upon measures in which they
are interested. Our commonwealth
would then cease to be the battle
ground of parties. 1t would become
a university for the training of citi-
lans.
The Ohio Senate has already voted
to submit this initiative and referen-
dun amendment to the people next
November and let them say whether
or not it shall become a part of our
state constitution.
In the Senate party lines were not
drawn upon it. 1t did not receive the
solid support of the Democrats. 1t
received about half the Republican
vote.
In the House the lobbyists and
bosses are trying to force the question
PSAANASo ~ NhN hOpC VI
1t. They are trying to do this in spite
of the fact that Gov. Harris has issued
a signed statement declaring In favor
of the measure. Secretary Taft has
also written letter approving of the
measure as at present amended.
Moreover Senators Foraker and Dick
have both letters to the Republican
Clerk of the House and to representa-
tives of the Grange and Labor Unions
saying that the demand for the sub
mission of this amendment is so great
that the legislature ought not to deny
the people the right to vote upon It,.
This 1t the most important question
that has been before the Ohio Legis.
lature in ffty years. Shall the people
have chance next November TO vote
upon II
This Is a question for the folks at
home to answer. Do you want this
measure referred to you at the next
November election? Would you Ike
TO have the whole state discuss this
measure and then settle 1t by direct