Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-08-29

dBuIhSl these novel things. We should
approach the subject with caution.
~diit1dence n humility, and take In
70 account all that may be urged by
other minds, as well as the things
prompted by our wi spontaneous
mental operations. Acting in this
way many of us may feel compelled
70 p%reconceived ideas and to
adopte entirely new ones. Such an
experience is not at all uncommon
TO men whose advOcations involve
them In controversies in any field Of
serious thought.
nave already referred to what
ought to be an undisputed fact. and
that IS. that these innovations are
revolutionary in their effect upon our
existing forms of government. l am
sure that this is, however. not clear
10 a great many Investigators. OF the
various communications which have
appeared in the columns of the Tour
nal the only one which has clearly
recognized this fact has beer hat of
nv friend Mr.. Metcalf. From his
point Of view, what he says is per-
1ectly clear and logical. He is a so.
cialist Of advanced views, hopeful Of
erecting a peaceful revolution il all
governmental institutions, believing
lhat those which now exist are of the
worst possible character. Therefore
he strongly advocates the adoption OF
the initiative and referendum as tend
ing 70 the welfare Of those things
which he believes to be inimical to
the welfare and happiness Of mankind
ana IN substance he says his in what
was published in the Journal. Now,
we ought not to be alarmed at the
use of the word Socialist" If Mr..
Metcalf is right, all of us who have
the public welfare at heart ought to
1oin with him In his crusade against
al existing governmental institutions.
Inc real objection to doing this, even
II we should agree with him that eV-
erythlng that is, Is bad. is that 1t is
I'M practtcable. We never would ac-
complish anything as long as the hui |
race is what it now is. When
the human being Is fully perfected,
mentally, morally and spiritually, the
ideas of the modern socialist |
VIII be possible of realization. Sub
s~tantially. the same objection Is made |
10 the adoption of the small part of the |
socialistic program embraced in the |
initiative n referendum. Practical
benefits might not be obtained as long
as the average voter is what he now
The question which Immediately
,cnfronts us Is as to the policy to be
pursued with regard to these matters
N the framing of a constitution for
he state Of New Mexico. The ardent
advocates of the initiative and refer
'ndum insist that they must he en-
i'm the constitution so that they
'hall there endure indefinitely. and
hey do not concede the possibility Of
heir ever working badly or causing
dissatisfaction to the people. They
ire so sure that they are right hat
hey are willing to prescribe their adj
'ersaries and would gladly cast them
nto outer darkness. on the other
land, those who are distinctly oppos-
"a insist that these matters are not
worthy of serious consideration. that
hey are the ~omanations of diseased
minds, n would be productive of
but evil. The spirit thus
displayed is perhaps a natural
and reminds us Of the
eligious zeal of the middle ages, and |
ven later, when heretics were burn
d in Catholic countries and Catho-
les We're equally prosecuted I'm Eng
and. In the consideration of either
eligious or political questions we
'ught to have made some advance,
Mt it does not seem certain that we
ave done SO.
Looking hack over the history OF
ur W country, we a readily find
reat political movements advocated
Y persons lust as able, sincere and
as those who today oppose
ach other on the initiative and ref
rendum, which are yet today moth
ne but memories without having left
NY permanent impress on the history
our country. one of these is the
reat "know Nothing agitation
.hlch sought to exclude all of for
Ign birth from participation In polit-
affairs. Another was the social
4 "greenhack craze" which swept I
YER the greater part of the country ,
uring the wears after the tcrmina-
of the civil war. This was, in ef- :
the advocacy of fiat money, and :
is not too much to say that the :
rguments with which II was support {
were well-nigh u"nansWerable. II l
ID not succeed. although there was a
me when II il could have {
cen submitted to "a popular !
'tcrendum. il probably would c
ave been adopted and its
was due. not to the fact that 4
was wrong or Illogical but because q
was impracticable. With the bus
less of the world organized on a diff 4
rent basis of money, Il was simply Y
npossible to set such q system in op- 9
in the United States alone. \
a little later began the great move p
in favor of the reconciliation 4,
silver and the consequent adoption /,
a bi-metallic standard of money in :
cad of u single standard. This con- :
over a period OF more than y
yenty years and divided both great "
parties, It's advocates being "
at one time quite as numerous =
one party as in the other. Few 4
us would doubt that. on a popular q
ferendum. entirely divorced from a
her political issues, II would have T.
.rried with the people of the coun-
y. Today it is a thing OF the past d
not likely again TO he revived. i,
These various things were adVocat-
with as much g sincerity and ii
goted intolerance as are now dis :,
hv some Of the controversial !,
Is in discussing the initiative and =
'ferendum. and yet they were but y
mnorary and ephemeral demonstTa- ~
,ns in the history OF country.
an We now he certain that we may y
Vt be similarly mistaken as TO these }
alters now before us? ought We not O
he slow in giving our unqualified r
Inference. OF setting up va %unQuali- z
ad opposition. to the initiative and v
ferendums NJ Is clear that All over Il
ew Mexico TODAY there is an effort C
AIDE 10 select able and honest dele a
ties TO our constitutional convention. "a
so many men there will be
any and divergent views on these !;
Id umerou other subjects. Let us =
,pe that when they assemble at san 7
Re they will 20 there with minds =
zen n receptive to whatever may :
urEed hv their fellow members. !.
II oaite at variance with their .