Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-20
INITIATIVE. REFERENDUM AND RECALL.

No more powerful political weapon has devised by
the welded by the people, protect the public IN
by few system of initiative referen
dunn and recall which has been of force for time in Maine
Oklahoma and South Dakota and which has just been
adopted in Arkansas and indorsed in Arizona
This principle, which first looked with gen
eral suspicion in the United because it sup
posed to be too radically at variance with our plan OF
by representation, has gradually made such
progress become of vital and people who have here
oOre had only the obsures idea of the meaning of the system
seeking to inform themselves definitely
The initiative the right of the people of state to propose
and the polls laws that they do want the legislature
fails carry their recommendation and to veto laws which
they do want if the legislature pass that obnoxious
offensive contrary the held by the majority OF the
voters.
The referendum power people demand that any
piece of proposed legislation public the wisdom Oh
which questioned by sufficient number of qualified voters
the people the polls for an e
preston of opinion.
The recall the right of the people discharge public Of
expiration of his of office II they Judge MIN
incompetent unfaithfu nominate his successor
The power this would give the people to combat the gross
and purity politics. PROVIDED
they properly may readily be The answer TO
objection system radically opposed to representative
government that it does not seek to take away the legislative
body of representatives OF the duly elected
executive officials but simply gives the people the na voice on
those when the representatives or Officers ana ~ P
pie in conflict
system has been perfected Until is made more
perfect thoroughly the majority of the states are s
pending judgment In the states where 1t is already Oh loce
has thus far worked satisfactorily.
history Maine has been watched with
particular interest constitutional amendment for the INITIATIVE
and referendum submitted in that state IN 1917 and was
aonted nv the peop in the 1905 the vote being
81 for against than two to one faVorng the
system Senator Hale of Maine opposed the Adoption Oh w
speopes rule amendment and when the time came Tor the
the Legislature that was to select ms
successor he withdrew the contest 1t significant that
the Republican government which stood for speca PRIV
Ie AGAINST equal rights has Just OverthrOwn in Maine by
the progressive Democrats.
Names constitution leaves the general
assembly with practically the awmang powers had be-
people themselves also the right to propose
reject the at the polls independent OF
legislature also their option to APP
prove reject the polls act bill resolution passed by
the legislature When the their right propose
and enact the style of that piece of legislation shall be-
Be by the People of the State of Name etc 1t is
provided power of the shall not
any approved by vote of the people.
Clothed with this the people OF Maine continue to let
of the laws holding the initiative
safeguard rather than instrument to
the of from the they have CHOSEN as
their and legislators.