Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-26
MOCKETT ON DIRECT VOTING
Head Of Nebraska Direct Legislation
League Issues Statement.
OPPOSES MAJORITY VOTE RUIZ
Declares PrfneiDie Wrong where
ProbIeuas subu,ittsd Nay ne Car
ried only Win Heferenee "a
All VotibE ~ Election.
Lon : staft Correspondentl


LINCOLN. Dec b.-(Special.)-Jo II.
Muckett. st.. president Of the Nebraska
Direct LEGISLATION league. gives out the
following statement in reference TO the
present discussion regarding the form OF
tho initiative and referendum amendment TO
bs passed BY the Nebraska legislature
his winter TO require majority OF
all those who go to the polls election day
% vote IN favor OF any measure submitted
the people under the initiative and
referendum. Is TO defeat the very purpose
Of the initiative and referendum. which
is popular government by intelligence and
not by Ignorance We have had the sys-
EN- 81 opposed In Nebraska for thirty years
under our present constitution and its e.
feet has been TO defeat most important
and necessary reforms submitted as con-
stitutlonal amendments and approved at
the polls by q large majority Of those
electors Intelligent enough "a vote for or
against the proposition. but defeated by
The inherent mass too careless, too lazy
Or too ignorant 10 express an opinion upon
their ballot.
II Is only necessary 10 recall a few OF
the constitutional amendments which have
received a large majority Of those voting
for and against but have failed to secure
a majority OF all the electors who went
to the polls.
submIasion of Amendments.
In 1856 an amendment was submitted
providing for sixty days pay OF members
Of the legislature at s. per day. The re-
turns show the vote on this amendment
az follows. For. e5.712; against 22,2ss. As
the total vote of the state was 1875 900 the
amendment was lost, but a committee OF
the legislature undertook 20 recount the
vote and Il Is we'll understood succeeded
In finding enough votes to count the
amendment in.
In 1892 amendments we're submitted to
provide for an elective railway commits
sion and to invest q permanent school
fund. The vote on each Of these amend
ments was In round numbers 1900 for
and 1900 against, yet both OF them failed
o become part Of the constitution be-
aauss Of the requirement that they must
receive a majority of ali OF the voters
Who went to the polls.
In 1896 number Of amendments we're
voted upor and all failed because OF the
requirement that each must have a ma
iorlty OF all those VJting. A good example
Of the way the present provision in our
antiquated constitution works is the
amendment submitted relative to the
merging OF the government OF cities Of
he metropolitan class and the government
Of counties wherein such cities are To-
Gated. This proposition really concerned
Douglas county and carried in that county
by a vote of lass for and S,275 against.
It had majority of about 10000 in the
state Of those voting for and against and
carried the county where It would 20 into
effect by a vote OF four TO one, and yet
was declared lost. or the Initiative and
referendum states, Oregon, South Dakota,
Nevada, Montana, Missouri, Arkansas and
Colorado provide that a majority OF the
votes for and against a measure voted
upon BY the people shall carry the propo-
osition.
Methods I'm Many states.
In twenty -eIght states of the union con-
stituuonal amendments are adopted By q
majority, of those voting thereon, and In
the language Of Prof. Dealey OF Brown
university, only "a few make constitu-
tionsl amendments well-nigh impossible by
requiring a majority OF the electors or
majority Of those voting at a general cleo
ton
The theory that every proposition which
the people vote upon shall receive enough
Intelligent votes In Its favor to overcome
the dead weight Of those who do not know
or do not care TO vote IL a violation OF
sound principles OF popular government.
II II were adopted In voting upon candi-
dates instead OF principles many candl-
. dates would fan Of election. 1t Is we'll
known, take the state over, that there are
thousands Of voters who do not take the
trouble TO vote for anyone except some
local candidate for assessor or road over
seer OF similar officer. Two years ago
there were. In round numbers 5000 voters
IN the state VINO failed to vote for any
candidate for governor. Since voters are
coming now to vote less for parties and
Tor men and more for principles IN which
hey believe the tendency and the need
both strongly turn toward the proposition
that a majority of those voting for or
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