The border vidette., 1910-08-06
The FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF NOGALES, MMooGGAAdEs
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"Our hrst and paramount concern
is the framing of a constitution fn
the state of Arizona. That is the
foundation upon which our structure
must stand-it will be the assurance
of our future veal or the sentence
of our everlasting woe. Upon its
composition will depend the power
of the people to govern themselves
without hindrance FROM corrupt in
.huences or the interference of selfish
interests It's provisions will deter
mine whether the government of
Arizona Ia to be ruled by the many,
or the many ruled by few
70 my mind, the paramount duty
of Arizona's constitution makers will
be, to write into that document those
provisions upon which are founded
the peoples rule form of government.
Foremost and most vital of these
provisions are the ones known as
the initiative, the referendum and the
recall
'"rhe initiative gives to the people
the right to initiAte. or to Introduce
legislation. if perchance, as freq uently
happens, their representatives refuse
to give expression to their wishes
people the power to veto-the right
to ''sit In Judgement upon the acts
of their representatives whenever q
considerable number of voters desire
to test public sentiment by popular
vote"
"The recall is used to describe the
system whereby the people may re
woke the commission of an official
who has betrayed his trust.
''The great principle involved il
this initiative. the refer endum and
the recall Is sound-as sound as the
theory of govern ent "of, for and by
the people," for which it provides.
and will be contended against only
by those who do not favor, in their
hearts, such government was
comprehended by the trainers of the
Declaration of Independence and rem
dered immortal by the utterances of
Thomas jefferson.
"These foundation stones of the
peoples rule form of government. If
placed i'm our statehood structure, will
give into the hands of the people the
machinery with which to secure such
legislation as a mi ority of them may
at any time desire. and to prevent all
such legislation as the maj ,rity may
hold to be inimical to the public
welfare.
sWi,h the initiative, the referen-
dun and the recall provided for in
our constitution tue people will have
a simple and ever ready means to test
the popular will on any subject; the
power to mould into law. at any time,
the m-jority's desires; weapon. such
as every Individual business man
reserves TO himself with which to
discharge an unfaithful or dishonest
employe.
the people, through the initiative, the
referendum and the recall, the power
to iegislate at will. the re pu blican and
altogether up American threat of pres
idential or Congressional disapproval is
set at naught, for neither president
nor congress would dare assume resp
every sense of fair play, so contrary to
every boast of American liberty.
at cannot be charged that the in
itiative, the referendum and recall are
uncertain or experimental, for the
principle Is being applied with striking
success in six states. towit: Maine.
Missouri, Montana. Oregon. Okla
homa and South Dakota, while nun
erous municipalities are adopting the
system. No state or municipa lily,
having made the test. has ever aban-
doned the system and none ever will.
"Let this be the battle or, of Dem
and the people, regardless of
party affiliations, must rally to Dem
ocracy's support-to the support, III
short, of themselves -