Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-11-06
LEAGUE WARNS The
PEOPLE AGAINST
GRAVE MENACE
Representative Government
Organization in Colorado
Points Out InSidiouS Nature
of Attack on Institutions,

The representative Government
league of Denver, Colo, including in
its membership hundreds Of the best
known men In Denver, is engaged in a
determined and energetic campaign
throughout the state to defeat the
proposed constitutional amendment
providing for the initiative and refer
endum. The advocates of these pro-
visions in Colorado went the lowest
possible percentage and the dangers
which will result from such a radical
step as is proposed are impressively
pointed out in a letter which has been
issued by the league to the people of
Colorado, signed by hundreds Of mem
bers. 1t is as follows:
ITO the People of the State Of Colo
RADIO:
After more than n century and q
quarter Of unprecedented national
progress, under the American form of
representative government, YOU Will
be called upon to determine, at the
ensuing election, whether thai form
OF government shall longer be main
tanned in Colorado. The proposed in
~itiative ana referendum amendment
to our state constitution cOmprehends
in its consequences nothing less than
WV 1871 VI LIA1 AAt2Al1Ai
whether we shall adhere to our ven
Grated form of government or substi-
.tute in it's stead a foreign system, i'm
ported from Switzerland, similar in
many respects to a pure democracy,
which form Of government the found
ers of the republic deliberately reject
ed as ~unsuited to our conditions or
our needs.
THE importance of the issue cannot
peals to the patriotism and intelli-
gence Of all thoughtful citizens.
1--WE earnestly appeal to our fellow
citizens to consider carefully the revo-
lutionary nature and character Of the
proposed amendment.
In its ultimate effect it involves
the practical destruction of our form
OF government. 1t proposes that s
per cent of the voters at the proceed
ing gubernatorial election may, by
petition, cause any proposed law or
constitutional amendment to be sub
mitted to The voters Of the state. This
IS what is known as the initiative.
In the same manner, any law
which may have been enacted By the
legislature can, under its terms, upon
q petition of s per cent Of the voters
at the last gubernatorial election, be
referred to the people for their APP
prevail or rejection. This is known as
the referendum.
ut viii thus be seen that IL is not a
progressive measure. 1t is retrogres-
sive. The representative form of gov
is an evolution from the pureI
democracies OF ancient and medieval
times. With the growth in poplla-
tion, the development of diversified
industries and the varying interests of
citizens of modern communities the
town meetings Of New Ehgland gave
way, through necessity, to represen-
tatiye government.
1T is now proposed to turn back
the pages of history and to retrace
our steps toward the establishment Of
n pure democracy. In time, if the
principle of the amendment be adopt
ed and the legislative branch of the
government be destroyed, We may ex-
pect the next attack to be against the
judiciary. II Legislative questions re-
curing study, investigation and de-
liberation, are to be determined by
the whole body Of the electors there
viii be no logical reason that can be
advanced against the adoption Of the
method for the determination
of judicial questions.
The brief experience of the state
oregon, which adopted, in 1902, !
the initiative and referendum meth
DDS Of legislation, conclusively dem
onstrates that the system is imprac-
teal in a country of large ares and
inhabited by "a population of busy peo- |
pie with diversified interests. 1t de- |
stroys all opportunity for de%liberation
IN legislation. A measure submitted
through an initiative petition must be
accepted or rejected in its entirety.
There can be no amendment or modi-
iicatinn of amy of its provisions. In
consistent and conflicting laws may
and IN oregon actually have been, !
approved ut the same election.
THE plan proposed substitutes the |
- IN naA1AArIIn. In nnr-n.uAa...A