Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-05
DIRECT LEGISLATION.
Memorial From Referendum League to
Voters Of Maine.

The following memorial has been
| issued to the people of Maine by the
executive committee of the State Ref
erendum League of Maine
To the Voters of Maine
The State Referendum League Of
Maine in cooperation with the State
Grange, the State Federation Of Labor.
and other non partisan bodies. has
been laboring untirngly in an effort to
secure the passage of a resolve to sub
mit to you an amendment to the
State Constitution. providing that the
final power to pass upon legislation
shall rest in your hands. The 73rd leg
islature passed the Initiative and Re-
ferendum resolve unanimously. and
the amendment, therefore, will be vot-
ed upon at the SEPTEMBER election.
In order that the scope of the proposed
amendment may be clearly understood.
the attention of every voter in Maine
is called to it.
If the amendment is adopted in Sep
teIrher. all laws passed by the legisa-
ture thereafter excepting certain
emergency laws) cannot take effect
until ninety days after the legislature
has adjourned without date. If. with
in said niney days, 10000 voters pc
tition without expense to the state
for the privilege of passing upon any
law or laws passed by the legislature.
then such legislation as mentioned in
the petitions shall be submitted to the
voters upon ballots and the statutes
decided by the majority vote at the
polls. This is the Referendum.
If the amendment is adopted. under
what is termed the initiative the vot-
ers will be given additional powers to
propose legislation by petition. Such
legislation as may be desired will be
submitted to the legislature accompa-
MED by not less than 10000 signatures
of voters; should the legislature enact
| the law or laws so petitiOned for. such
sta. utes will become operative; but
| should the legislature not enact, then
such bills must be submitted to a bal
| lot and be decided at the polls. This
| is the Initiative.
Your attention may well be called to
| the following facts: the Initiative ana
| Referendum has been approved by
twenty different State Oranges in this
| country; it is in successful operation
| in Oregon, where it has eliminated
many evils connected with the state
| lie islature, also in South Dakota; III
Oklahoma the people adopted the prln-
ciple rs part of that States original
| constitution; and by a vote of 53o,ool
| to 95,420 the people of Illinois in l9Of
expressed themselves in favor of the
Initiative and Referendum. The ono
Legislature has voted to submit to the
voters of that state an amendment 10
the state constitution providing for the
Initiative and Referendum. The Legs
lature of North Dakota has taken slln-
liar action. 1t is evident that the oe-
mand for Direct Legislation Is grow
ing.
There is every prospect at the pres
ent time that, as in every previous III.
stance where the principle of Direct
Legislation has been before the peopie'
it will receive the overwhelming ap
prevail of the voters of Name; ye'
there is no doubt of secret ana ue
termined opposition to its aoop'lo.'
We urge therefore that, in the ii'e.
ests of good government. the voters -
Maine take advantage of their oppo.
tunity in September and register .n.A
votes in favor of this amehume.'
which makes the people more pefie0'
" the guardians of their rights.
t 1t is estimated that there are loV''Vo'