Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-12-13
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Mr.. Harvey H.. Ferguson is the
chief exponen Of such opposition as
can be discovered in New Mexico TO
the ratification Of the constitution
upon which the people are 70 vote
next month. He has put forth a
lengthy statement intended, he added,
AS a compendium OF the alleged
faults az the constitution. 1t calls for
some public answer, as there are Vot-
ers who, moved by personal regard
for and reliance upon Mr.. FERGUSON,
may be misled by his honest inaccur-
Rcies. ] feel impelled 70 attempt 70
do this, not because 1 am especially
fitted for the task, but for fear II
will not be done at AL. what IS eY+
erybody's business Is often neglected
Eand then there are many Jealous sup
porters Of the constitution III say IL
Is q waste Of time to pay any atten-
ton to MIR. Fergusson's ~utterances.
Perhaps they are right. Much might
he said IN favor of that view, when We
consider how little Of substance there
Is In what he says, in comparison
with its quantity, although the nan
ner Of saying Is quite superior. We
will attempt to condense what he has
put forth, and make answer to all the
things he has said. and, az neariy as
possible, ia the order in which he mas
said them.
He begins with the extraordinary
assertion that direct legislation" IN
eIudes the referendum, the initiative,
the recall. direct primaries and the
secret ballot and that closely related
thereto are direct e~lection Of Unit
ed States senator's by the people ana
a corrupt practice act.
frIfV a. I4tf "a fitP Q1mnlG OF the
%looseness and inaceuraey which per-
wade his whole article. OF the things
he enumerates, only the Initiative
can be considered as direct legislation.
The referendum Is a mere exercise by
popular vote OF a power OF approval
or disapproval Of legislation already
enacted. 1t Is not legislation at all.
1.-THE recall is no more tina the I'M
doing by the voters Of their W ae-
ton IN having elected public ON
GERS. and SIS In no sense Legislation.
'Direct primaries, = as intended by Mr..
Ferguson involve no more than the
selection of candidates TO be there
after voted for. There is no legisla-
ton IN them, any more than there IL
In tho gneret ballot, which We already
have and have had for nearly TWEEN
ty years.
AS to direct election of United States
senators by the people, Mr.. FERGUS.
son knows that the constitution eouid
not provide for such a thing and inc
corrupt practices act Is not a mat
ter for constitutional provision, but
for legislative action. ! am eonfideni
that we viii get II in our first state
llenislature. So Gar ms ! am aware
neither Mr.. Ferguson nor any one
else, except myself, ever attempted %
yet such a law enacted In Now Next
GO. IL had thought OF 1t early
enough to have It ready at he pc
ginning ~ the last legislature, thelt
Is good reason 70 believe y mi6n'
have passed.
Then MIR. Ferguson says the ab'
renca from the constitution Of these
Things is sufficient to justify its re-
lection, and as usual, attributes e
those who do not agree with MN
ngome interior, sinister design IN leaN'
Ing them out" 10 his mind, al
honesty. patriotism and high princl
pies are to be found only In him anS
those Who believe as he does.
Let us, as briefly as possible con
slider those essential things. the lacl
of which MIR. Ferguson says maker
The constitution hopelessly bad, put
ting aside as trivial. the suggestion 9
the secret ballot which We have n
ready had in New Mexico for man!
wears. First. IL IS TO be noted tina
lMr Fergnsson ssun as an uii
| questionable premise. that these thlnB
really are essential and lie would leav,
no room for doubt or discussion. SUI
there are honest men who 90 no
l%agrce with him and there are afkn
I,ncnts against his pc. ideas. when n,
has heard aud read, none of whlei
81 docs he attempt to state or felut'
lIr there really is room for some non
. est differences Of opinion, can We, %
lgure TINT MIR. Ferguson IS right
MANY states have been born nav
70 grown and prospcred. without thes'
Things. WHY then are they absolute
lv essential now ana here?
First. the Initiative: This Is an az
g Tempt to transfer the masking OF law
q from the chosen representatives. OF "
a pc0ple acting under all the safe
s. guards ana restrictions imposed y
+ constitutional limitations and by or
g derby, deliberate parliamentary pro
D.. lcedurc. TO the popular vote OF tn
e people. II * directly ~subversiNe @
lour whole system OF reprosentatiN
70 government. developed during nearl
"a four centuries OF growth and progress
n i'm America. II has never had, unit
within the last few years, any plae
d u any state government h FEEDER
.e IN constitution guarantees 10 ever
m state ID republican form OF govern
ment" The trainers of that constiul
n tlon used the word republican ad
Nisedly. and. as the supreme court q
pr the United States has said. they ha
h. ip mind the state governments the
.u i'm existence which were accepted
ID, they were. and i'm none of which gu
Dos the people lcgislate by direct Not
be That court has also said, as to III