Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-01-02
THE REFERENDUM.
To Be an Issue In the Campaign Next
Summer and Fan.

weeks ago:
The constitution Of the state Of
Missouri should be so amended a. to
allow the use of the initiative and
referendum In state legislation.
Should this be done a petition by.
say five per cent OF the voters OF
the state could require the submits
sion to the people OF any measure
passed by the legislature. This Is
the referendum. Through the in
itiation a certain per cent OF the
voters OF the state. say eight per
cent, could compel the submission
to the people OF any measure whe-
Their passed by the legislature or
not. The decision OF the majority
OF the voters voting on such meas
ures will be final In determining
whether or not they shall become
laws.
The adoption OF such an amend
ment would be no departure to new
and untried forms of government.
The initiative and referendum has
been in almost constant use in our
government. both state and nation,
since the very beginning. The best
example OF the use OF the former
Is tina New England town meetings
wherA It is today in successful ope-
ratiob in cities OF Is TO 20 thou
sand ishabitants. The latter has had
a morv extensive and universal APP
plIoatSon as in the enactment of
constitutions and amendments 10
constitutions. Especially has this
been true in this state, where We
have used the referendum not only
In the passage OF our organic laws.
but in the enactment of certain i'm
portans ordinary laws.
Thus It is apparent that when
ever che most important laws are
TO b enacted, whenever extreme
conditions must be used. It is now
recoEnized as fundamental In our
government that the direct approval
OF TIE people must be had before
such laws shall become effective.
Advocates OF the initiative and
referendum maintain simply that
this principle should be SO extended
as that the people shall reserve to
themselves the power of passing
finally upon the acts OF their legis-
latare, and OF compelling the pass
aga OF such laws as they may deem
necessary.
Naturally II will be asked why the
extension of this principle. Simply
be :ause representative government
In Its present form has not been en-
tirely successful. The most striking
fact In the history OF the govern
wsnt of Missouri is the constantly
Eowing distrust OF the legislature
Manifested by the people. This can
b. due to no other reason than that
hitter experience has demonstrated to
tie people that their representatives
ave either incapable OF, or unwilling
:" carry out their wishes. The franz
eri OF our present constitution gave
eoacrete expression to this sentiment
b. hedging the legislature about
with restrictions and limitations on
ev''ry side. How well founded was
this distrust the record of the gen.
ersl assembly of Missouri shows
only too clearly. Not only has there
been present and general ineffic
ieney. due to incompetency OF the
members, but corporate influences
bossism. and corruption has crept
In until the interests OF the people
have been all but forgotten.
We take 1t that It Is unnecessary
for me to reeite at any length EVIL
denees Of the existence of corrup
ton In the Missouri legislature.
need only refer to the famous TO
port of = certain st. Louis grand
Jury IN 1903. which. among Other
things OF similar import. said: "oul
Investigation has extended over I
period OF twelve years and during
that time the evidence shows thai
bribery has been the usual and 40
eepted thing In the state legislature
and that too without hinderanes OIL
interfereRce." Should specific In
stances OF corruption DO demanded
need but mention the confessions