The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-17
THE REFERENDUM.

ne thdclihthl iuiO law VI optdhtt
Murrays bill, No. ia. OF the house of
reuFssentetives, marks a new epoch
in populat rule. and one that has al
ready been discussed in all parts OF
the world.
Not only does this measure give to
the people the right 10 reject or APP
prove an act of legislative creation,
but ,tbe competitive clause gives to
the people the right to reject any bill
conceived by those OF evil purpose or
misled IDEAS. by allowing the vote on
the question of measure shaped 10
suit the Ideas of the general public.
IS an illustrations: Tho Legislature
might pass a law in reality to kill
some popular demand, and give Il
the popular label The people would
have The right to present a measure.
given the label. listed as the second
In number, and The voter could have
his choice Of measures. In no other
state or nation is this true. II Is not
really an experiment for the very
fairness of the measure makes its
quality so apparent he who runs may
read; yet II has never been tried be.
fore in all legislative history.
The vitalizlng OF the constitutional
clauses are all contained in the meas
ure. all Of them SO well understood
by the people that rehearsal would
be mere repetition without value to
the reader.
In the political world little counts
but action. He who takes upon him
self a promise and defends that prom
ise with all Of his hopes. energy. abil
ity and promise of reward must be
strong indeed to carry the contest to
the end And all political questions
are contests In the great struggle
for civic advancement and control OF
sOciety's conditions. there is strug.
gle&the one faction believing In the
inherent goodness and trusting TO the
success OF the public seeing the rays
OF light: the other satisfied with exist
inc conditions, and going backward
by reason Of the ever onward stride
OF those who preach the doctrine of
betterment.
The constitution OF the state of
Oklahoma was the promise OF better
things 10 the average man. Il struck
a blow at the caste of predatory
wealth, and pledged the people that
II and its defenders would give TO
them the right 10 pass upon the laws
made by the very legislators selected
BY the people. No greater promise of
selg-government was ever made by
man. and no greater could be expect
ed by an intelligent public. Speaker
Murray. by reason Of his daring as
sertion and Wholesome disregard for
criticism. IN some way became con-
nected with that constitution as a
part Of Il and after being elected by
his psople as a member OF this leg
islatIve assembly. he has still been
considered a man who might err, pu1
wlic would make his poltiocal pledges
good. no matter what the cost
The referendum measure IS tho iul-
fiiment Of that pledge. He has gone
further than he pledged. Surround
ed by those who fought with him IN
that historic convention which gave
10 lhs people of this state q consti-
tuition worldwide in its fame, he was
the one chosen TO make into enact
newt tic promlseH of Rat time and
peflhd. Tie governor the one man
OF Hhat fms equal or superior TO the
speaker of today was chosen as the
one 10 execute the promises made
then How well he has covered that
ground IS matter of common know
ledge in this state But to The speak
3, who has sent as a law TO the peo-
ple the supreme right TO undo the
actions Of those of their own chooa'
inc the speaker has added the right
Ia advance their own ideas to a di-
rect vote. no matter what the viii OF
the officeholder or those who work
under the theory that whatever Is Is
right
40 more could be asked and no
more could be accomplished In the
settlement Of promise. no matter
how sacred tho seal or able the one
making the obllgtion.
And II every other act Of bis lite
be wrong. and an other attempta az
etatecraft be failure William n Mnr.
raw will 20 down Ia the history ot
This state as Que who Was tried and
never ninched at the post Of duty
ghawnes IS making bad faces az ~
Reno aud accusing the realty men OF
the lagi named city carrying shout
blue prlnts. showing where the shops
are 10 be built IN El Reno when moved
over from Shawnee As the shops AZ
El Reno are as large as the rail-
roads can well handle, It Is presumed
81 IS case Of dark moon fright upon
the part Of the larger city.
Alaska protested that her ll2e00
citizens b. allowed territorial folm
ci government. but as Il would have
ipc0nyenieneed some ten OF eleven
federal appointees the matter was
postponed one year That Is giving
Alaska square deal with one end OF
the square a tride short al this mo
menl