Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-09-04
Will the Results Be
Worth tn e Risk?
Some New Ideas on the Initiative
and Referendum
By LOUIS S. WILSON, Ration, N, M,

in being poorly done or left undone
lhat q system which substitutes fol
the peoples representatives some ir-
responsible party 10 draft the laws
could commend itself to cool, reflect
ing Judgment seems preposterous.
Have the states which adopted this
system secured by Il ANYTHING which
have not been secured by other states
that have not adopted it, Manifestly
no. What provisions has the state
OF oregon that have not been secured
by other states through their legisla-
lures Not a single enc except such
as are inapplicable TO other parts OF
the country. oregon has a direct
primary law. SO has Iowa. Kansas,
Nebraska and many other states. Ore
gon has a local option liquor law.
Such laws are almost universal Ore
gon has a corrupt practice act govern
ing elections. So have many other
states. ! think II might safely be said
that no state has secured a law
through the initiative which could
not have secured as good or better
laws BY means of legislative enact
ment
Now what, If any, positive objec-
tions are there which may he urged
against these measures? Are either
OF them dangerous? First II has been
round that where legislation IS In
the hands of the people there is usual
~ a disposition TO be n%iggardly. Pub
licists tell us this is true In Switz-
erland. n there are certainly evil
dences of II In Oregon. In 1908 they
refused to increase the pay of mem
bers of the legislature from s120 to
1900. Probably II Oregon would en-
deavor to ecure a little better grade
,of material for its legislature by
paying a higher price II would not
need either the Initiative or referen-
dun. The same year they refused to
increase the number Of the supreme
judges from three to five. although
doubtless the increase was needed. In
1905 the appropriation bill for the
support of state institutions was held
up by the referendum until il could
De voted on at the following election.
a study Of the bills proposed in Ore
gon viii show the same general dis
position towards economy in small
things. As To there being any dam
ger in the use Of the initiative | car
only say that it Is very unlikely that
serious would occur i'm nor
mai conditions. But there have been
times In the history of our country
when, IL the people could have pass
laws In the excitement OF the mo-
ment. their action would have been
positively shameful. Suppose the
mass of people had been able to have
prepared and passed laws succeeding
the war of the rebellion. Suppose
the people OF Kansas and Nebraska, |
the years Of panic and crop
failure in the nineties had had this
power. The excitement grew so
great that even the legislatures we're
10 pass many harmful meas
ures. Checks on hasty action are
frequently very valuable things to
We remember how I'm one of
old democracies of Greece by
popular vote M ancient worthy was
tent into exile because the people were
of hearing him called the Just"
apprehend that our Intelligence to-
day rs not very much in excess OF
he intelligence of the people of that
title Greek democracy. Nor do I
mink that the chances are that our
people In oments Of excitement
would act any more coolly and de-
iberately than did they.
In conclusion | will say that with
safeguards. and by safeguards | mean
he placing OF the percentage for Pc
itions high enough that no measure
be Initiated unless the best iudg-
of the people is behind IL. prob
IDLY very little danger would ever
rise from either one Of these meas
Tres. 1t Is barely possible that some
restraining influence might result.
that any valuable laws can be
hus passed or the people can get
measures through i'm this way
which they could not get by l~egisia-
enactment. | think not only ex-
'erlence but reason as well rcfutes.
If the law ever formulated by
he initiative In any state that other
tates have not gotten by legislative
nactment2 Where. is the corporation
ieasure made abortive by the refer
ndum2 Where Is the existing law
oday that the people Of n state
'ould have killed by the referendum?
{ these questions cannot he answered
Y concrete examples. what actual .
oundation has the argument for
Do either of them promise enough
make ms willing to run the risk Of
aVing u constitution turned down
they are incorporated should the
lumber OF petitioners be placed so
that a rev irr~csponsiblcs can hold
y the appropriations for the support 1
{ the state institutions2 on that {
lilroads should delay the people [
lall be confused in their Judgment e
y having submitted to them at each
as happens In oregon, a
number of foolish bills on
he whole Is IT not better To wait un-
! other states have tried the ex- b
II they find Il "A success IL s
i'll be time enough FOR us. Would Il
ot be better To be sure of Immediate a
atehood Why cndanger II by has 4
y the wili-o-the-wisp OF improved