The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-01-11
HEMANs PROPOSAL
FOR INITIATIVE
PASSES
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
PUTS AMENDMENT THROUGH
ON SECOND READINo-MAY BE
A RECOMMENDATION.
(From a Special correspondent

(Fronn Special Correspondent.)
LANSING, Mich. Jan. l1.-By a
vote of 40 to 3S. the constitutional
convention last night passed on second
reading the Hemans amendemnt for
the initiative and referendum. If the
~ stick together, they can embody the
proposal in the constitution, but 1t is
feared that some OF the delegates who
changed to yes" on this last vote.
have the object in view OF moving
for reconsideration. AS nine delegates
We're absent, the final result Is still In
doubt
The fight which had ragged for four
days over the proposal, was continued
TO late hour last night Amend
ments were offered to the substitute
accepted, as the report of the OPP
ponents OF the Initiative and then
Delegate Holmes said:
This leaves IL only for the people
to petition the legislature for amend
ments to the constitution. You have
taken away the heart of the principle
we have been contending for all this
week. would rather go down to de-
feat than vote for this measure, which
kills the right of the initiative sby-the
people"
Delegate Horton said he looked up
on the proposal in the same light and
refused TO support IL. Delegate Lille
said:
This proposal is only gold brick
thrown at U.s."
He would not stand for it. he added,
declaring That the Tea party in Boston
harbor was little In value, but the prin-
ciple at stake created this nation when
the people refused to yield their
rights.
Horton to the Rescue.
Various amendments were offered
and accepted readily, so long as the
opposition points were not affected.
Then the substitute. which Is the OBJ
position measure, was rushed through
and agreed upon. The committee
arose and In regular session on the
question TO concur in that action,
Horton substituted the Hemans pro.
posal, on which the first test vote
came. 1t was carried by As to 40 and
then on the motion TO concur in the
proposal as thus amended, the friends
OF the initiative gained strength aud
this was adopted by 40 yeas to SO
nays, and one who has been its ever
lasting foe, Fleischhauer, came over to
the side OF the people, also Cranor,
Rowe and Russell.
How tho Vote Went.
Those voting yea on this motion
are for the initiative and those voting
nay are its opponents:
YEAS-r II IA Id,vf,, ~ naI5u,tn
Barbour, Barnaby. Black. Boynton. J.
q. Brown, Cavanaugh, Chandler, Cook
Cranor. Deuel., Fairiie. FAN. Fleisch-
Hemans, Holmes. Horton. Ingram.
Jones' Fitzpatrick. Lille. Lonisell. Mer-
rel. Mines Montfort, A. l. Moore. os-
Rowe. RUSSELL, Sharpe, Sifnons, j. NJ.
6. Smith. .. III. Smith, Sutherland. Tay-
lor, Thomas, TORY, Townsend, Wick
sail and Woodrun--49.
NAYS-Acker. Adams Atwood, Bah
cock, Baird. Barnett, T.. III. Browne, w.
r. Brown, Burt. Calverley. q. r..
Dawson, DeI.and Flanagan Foster.
chester. Mead. G. w. Moore, Morgan.
'0berdorfer; Robertson. Salliotte. shaw.
Stewart, Thew, Thompson, Turnbull.
Walbridge. Walton, Wilson, Wykes,
and President Carton--3S.
The arguments last night over the
INITIATIVE proposal, although some OF
them were rousing, were largely cloth
ing old ones IN new dress
Delegate Hally delivered an eloquent
appeal for the proposal fully equal to
the best made. He paid a RICH tribute
TO the foreigners In our country, say
Ing that, in every crisis OF this coun-
try. the foreign element had never
been found lacking to stand UP In de-
tense OF this government. He said he
believed the debates would be imper-
feet ri some of the Declaration OF In
dependence were not read into IL. and
this he did. He insisted that this state
government was formed by the initia-
tive. and that the federal government
anu all governments from the incep-
ton of history had their birth I'm the
people. He read from Jefferson these
words The government was by the
citizens in mass and the safest depos-
TORY OF their rights. An elective dos
potlsm was not the government wo
fought for"
HaIly faycd the delegates who
We're seeking excuses 10 break their |
pledges TO vote for tho Initiative, say
ing with marked effect:
Those who were pledged TO vote for |
the initiative entered into a solemn |
compact. and IL men will stick TO that |
pledge. but II not there Is only one |
way for them TO remain mon. and that |
is by resignng.
At this point of the debate, the" mo- |
ton for compromise committee was |
AIKEN from the table and after a short |
tight. they settled on 10 delegates, fye |
Initiative the following delegates were |
chosen; Boynton, Cook. Hally. Hor- !
'on and A. L. Moore, AMI for the oppo- |
sition II. NJ. Campbell. Flanagan. Gore. |
V Il. Moore and Barnette.
Hawkins In short. sharp and hot |
speech, held up 10 ridicule the oppo- |
Sition arguments OF anarchy and des- |
@truction and trimmed them TO q finish |
waxed rhetorical IN opposition to the |
initiative.