The Detroit times., 1910-07-25
By GEORGE Judson KING.

BY George Judson KING.
Old-time, old-line Democrat p0litI
clans In Arkansas are In q most a
tressful quandary just now, since they
are asked to do something really dem
ocratic.
Two years ago their state platf0fzH
contained a nicely worded indorr&
ment OF the Initiative and referen6n<1
to-wit: Believing In the peopi>'4
right to rule, we recommend, eta.
etc. The succeeding Legislature tQc4
the fool platform seriously and uoex-
pected submitted a direct legieiaticIk
amendment as recommended.
A recent state convention Indoors
ed the proposed amendment and e ~
to be voted on by the people At tt4
coming election Sept IL.
The Republicans followed suit and
added their endorsement.
But outside postofices and ot1e<
federal jobs the Republicans have a
scant space at the pie table In Arkef
sas. The Democrats have reaeon
ably safe majority 6f 129 on q iegt4ik<
tive joint ballot out OF a total Of 111
members.
The success OF the referendum
therefore lies with the Democrats
To crate and work against the p1r-
ty platform before the people would
he rank treason. and on the Other
hand The aforesaid old liners teI<e
hold OF the initiative and referendu01
with about as much eagerness sas they
would grab the traditional redsh0t
poker. II Is being whispered in cNr
tain sections that this nishtive and
referendum Is a Republican doctrine,
which IL surprising news since %
Istaunch Republican states e IL Q1t
iawed by the politicians as being 81
Bryan Democrat idea"
Just what the Old Timers wiz Ho
In the way of visible opposition ~
mains to be seen; meanwhile the New
Timers. who spell democracy with 4
little 3D." are carrying the new EohpeI
to the people, who are responding with
whoops OF approval.
This interesting state OF affairs iN
due mainly to the fact that Arkansas
has a governor of the New Time who,
strangely enough, Is business man
and prides himself on II.
This governor, Hon. George w.
Donaghy, is obsessed by the radical
revolutionary" idea that IL was the
Peoples Business he was elected To
attend to, and not to sit gravely IN the
gubernatorial chair like a sort OF Ma
jestic Stool Pigeon and allow the state
to be run in the interests OF a few
Big Men.
Another heretical notion this strange
business governor has, namely. that
the people have intelligence and hon
esty enough to direct governmental
affairs wisely. In a recent interview
he said: II am not one Of those who
believe that the people when taken a.
whole are incompetent to judge for
themselves what is best for them.
So II falls out that while Gov DOnae
ghy, Is building new state capitol, es-
tablishing agricultural schools and
promoting scientific agriculture, revfs-
ing the taxation system, boosting edu-
cation from the country schools to
the state university, advertising the
tremendous natural resources Of this
northumberland state, and dor
en- other big things, he Is at the same
time bending his energies TO redeem
| II from the same sort OF political cor
fuption which has furnished the state
OF Pennsylvania under machine Re-
publican sway.
AS a means to this end he is advo-
eating the initiative and referendum.
and has from the day OF his entry In
to the political arena three years ago.
II is due mainly to him that IL Is an
active political issue in Arkansas at
the present time.
From the professional politicians he
has little support in this matter
noted that faint applause greeted the
reading OF this plank in the platform
while many others were greeted with
roars OF approval by Thea convention
But the Farmers union Is back OF
him with solid membership OF $1,000
men who vote as they talk--the labor
unions--few In number, but virils and
aggressive. as well as the rank and
ale OF the citizens who are tired OF
the old regime.
For the same insurgent ferment ak
work all over the nation Is bubbling
| in Arkansas. There 10 much tnder
pendent voting. men are beginning TO
say that they will vote for the best
man be he Democrat. Republican or
anything else, and so the old-time
party shibboleths are losing their
magic power.
The initiative and referendum
amendment stands a good chance Of
success az the coming election. n
must however, receive a favorable
majority OF all the votes cast In the
election. and there Ia danger OF ito
being lost on that account. Fearing
that many may neglect to vote one
way OF the other on the amendment.
the governor has Just issued "A spe-
,clal message TO the people" urging
the adoption OF the amendment, which
Will be put In pamphlet form and
scattered over the state BY the thou
.auda n