Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-07-24
To People of Arkansas-Fa- vors Reform He Advocat-
 ed When First Elected.
HAS FAITH IN PEOPLE
Has Great Faith in Wisdom and Honesty of the People Who Are
 Seldom Wrong.
Governor Donaghey has issued the

Governor Donaghey has issued the following letter:
 A great opportunity is before the people of Arkansas. On election day, September 12, they can, if they will, place in their state constitution one of the greatest instruments of self protection ever adopted by an Amer ican commonwealth.
 I refer to Amendment No. 10, pro viding for Direct Legislation by means of the Initiative and Referen- dam. I urge the adoption of this amendment because it makes the cit izens supreme in matters of legisla- tion, establishes majority rule, and makes all future legislatures servants of the people and not their masters. l. gives the people the right to order any law, or proposed Jaw, to vote at the polls, and the majority either enacts or rejects Just as they now vote on amendments to the constitu- tion, the people can, by this means, vote on statute laws whenever they may chose to do so, or whenever the acts of the legislature meets with their disfavor.
 believe that no man who will ex- anime the facts concerning the work ing of the Referendum in American states and cities (and he is rash to set up judgment before he investi- gates these facts,) will doubt the wis dom of its adoption at this critical period of our history. The Referen- dunn has been tried and has won it's case. Its success has once more dem oi1strated the truth of the maxim that that government is best and safest which is nearest the people and most directly under their control.
 The Referendum will drive the sell midnight lobbyist from the state cap itol, and inaugurate new era of political purity. It will enable the people to back up the efforts of their real representatives in legislative bodies, and give power to their efforts to promote the common good No "ring" or machine" can long en- dure when the people have the Refer endum in hand.
 1n l., and I am proud to say that the Dem ocratic party in Arkansas stands sol idly pledged to secure these funda- mental rights to our people. Every Democrat who is true to his party platform and trusts the people, will aid in adopting Amendment No. 10, Our platform for the year 1908 con- tained this plank:
 Believing in the peoples right to rule, We favor the submission of an amendment to the constitution pro- viding for the Initiative and Referen- dunn in matters affecting the general interests of the state"
 For many years I have pondered over the question how to make our government more pure, more effect i've, more businesslike, and more re- sponsive to the will of the masses of the people, who will bear the burden of it's support. Long ago I came to the conclusion that the most practi- cal means to this righteous end was to increase the power of the people over the affairs of government" and that this could best be accomplished through the Initiative and Referen- dum, because it gives the electors power to review the work of their lawmakers. Also it leads to a bet ter administration of law, since there is great public sentiment back oi statutes enacted by the people. Hence I advocated this reform from the be- ginning of my public career, and il became my high privilege to recom- mend the submission of the question when I sent my first message to tht legislature.
 The legislature kept faith with the people fulfilled the party platform ant at the session of 1909, with only five dissenting votes, submitted one of the best amendments proposed in any state This amendment, known as : No. 1O," was endorsed by the Demo. cratic State Convention, held at Lit tie Rock, June 2. 1910. and it's adop tion by the people was recommended The Republican State Convention o1 June 9th took similar action
 Having now stated tho
 Amendment No. 10, and who is back Of 1t, desire to point out briefly g few things it is we'll to bear in Tnind between now and election day
 It is an excellent amendment. l