The log cabin Democrat., 1910-09-07
A final MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE
CONCERNING Amendment NO. 10
BY GOVERNOR GEORGE w. DONAGHEY

! PCoplS uO HOt waltz I1e ptOplt Cdn uO
nothing at present If we had the ref
erendum we could vote on any such
law as we desired. Example: In Ore
gon the legislature appropriated
100000 to build armores all over the
state. The people objected, petition
for its adoption or rejection was Sc
cured, and it was decided at the next
election-35, ,507 voted yes, 54,S4s vot-
ed no, and the appropriation was kill
ed by the people.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER EX-
AMPLES of notable things done.
Why do not the men opposing this
amendment say something about
THESE THINGS? The people are
not worrying over the number of ques-
tions that they have to vote on; it is
the politicians who are doing that for
them. The laws we would vote on
would be the laws that the people
would demand, and who will deny the
right of the people to have those laws
anu lHdl loIHi VI government WHICH
they desire?
FURTHER FACTS ABOUT AMENDMENT
NO. 10.
The amendment says: "All cleo
tons or measures referred to the peo-
pie of the state shall be had at the
NAL REGULAR ELEC-
TIONS, except where the legislative
assembly shall order special cleo
ton Yet some men talk about cleo
tions being held all the time.
The people would not vote on all
laws passed by the legislature, but
only on the ones referred back by peti-
ton. Referendum petitions must be
filed within 80 days after the legisla-
ture adjourns; initiative petitions
four months before election.
THE PEOPLE WILL BE FULLY
INFORMED because the legislature
has power to pass laws regulating the
securing of petitions and to provide
that pamphlet shall be sent to the
people before every election contain
ing copies of the laaos to be voted on,
with arguments for and against.
1t is contended that under the ini-
ative and referendum provision to our
constitution, negroes might take
charge of local affairs in some coun-
ties in the "black belt" Why have
they not done it before this time?
They have as much power to vote now
as they ever will, and they are con-
trolling matters in municipalities and
in the state fully as much now as they
ever will. 1t is strange that gentle
men will use such arguments to
frighten ignorant white men when
they would not use them on the negro.
The negro would know better. He
knows that this is the white mans
country and that the white man is GO
ing to rule it.
The truth is that ignorant voters
are the very ones who take no interest
in such affairs, and will seldom even
vote on any question, and so laws are,
as matter of fact, decided by the
intelligent, progressive citizens. This
is abundantly proven by the expert
ence of every state and county where
the initiative and referendum is in
operation.
WE SHOULD PASS AMENDMENT NO. 10.
1t has cost much time and money
and the efforts of many of our mos
self-sacrifcing and patriotic citizens to
bring this movement to the present
stage. All the old fighters are stand
ing by No. 10, and aohere is the objec-
ter i1ho has euer lifted finger to aid
1T? | hold that it is not only unwse
but perilous to reject it. Let us take
no backward step. Let it go out to
the world that the people of Arkansas
are progressive and that we consider
ourselves capable of self-government
and able to get along without the aid
of professional politicians. Nothing
will attract more favorable notice
from the people of the entire nation
and bring to US a class of homeseek
ers we are asking to come and settle
among US.
WORK AT THE POLLS.
l call upon the friends of the initia-
tive and referendum all over the state,
and all Democrats who believe the
party platform should be supported
to work for the amendment.
Especially do l urgently suggest
that one or more volunteers stand
near the polling booth in every pre-
cinct in the state all day election day,
September II, and courteously in
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