The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1910-08-25
ATTY. WOOD
ON 10TH AMENDMENT.
Says That This Measure Falls Far
Short of Correct Ideal Of Initiative
and Referendum The Recall
Eliminated.

speak at the Fourteenth Annual Falr
and Celebration. addressed fully l20O
people at the fair grounds Friday
morning at II O'Clock, and though
there were many diversions. and the
subject, the proposed 10th Amend
ment, might by some be considered
la dry one, with but trifine ex-
ceptions all heard the attorney
general to the end.and many gathered
around to congratulate him when he
closed.
After words Of appreciation for
Mena, and an urgent request that the
grand display Of products shown be
sent to the state fair, Mr.. Norwood
took up his subject,
He said in part.
There has not been in many years
anything Of more Importance for the
consideration Of the people than the
proposed amendment to the consti-
tuition of Arkansas, known as Amend
ment No. 10. 1t was the original pur-
pose Of this Resolution to engraft
upon our constitution the principles
of the Initiative and Referendum as a
part Of our system Of making laws for
the entire state. but the resolution as
amended in the House of Representa-
tiyes and as nov submitted gives the
power of the Initiative and Referen-
dun to the people Of any county or
municipality of the state. If it is
adopted 5 per cent of the voterssof the
state may request that any act passed
By the general assembly be submitted
to a vote of the people and such act
shall not become law unless a ma
jority shall vote for it at the next gem
eral election or at a special election
called for that purpose. Five per
cent of the voters of any county or
municipality may require any act
effecting such county or municipality
to be submitted for the approval or
rejection of the voters of such county
or municipality. Eight per cent of
the voters of the state or of any coun-
ty or municipality may propose an
amendment TO the constitution or
propose any law and the same shall
become effective. if it receives a ma
iority of the votes cast upon that ques-
ton
Our constitution cannot now be
amended unless a majority Of the
votes cast at the general election are
in favor of such amendment. If we
adopt Amendment No. 10, any county
or any municipality may exempt
itself from the provision of the con-
stitution. No law can now be enacted
unless il conform TO the constitution
and we have some uniformity in our
laws. If Amendment No. 10 is adopt
ed the constitution may be amended
10 the extent that every county and
every city and town in Arkansas will
be operating under a different consti-
tuition.
Counties and cities cannot now issue
bonds--Amendment No. 10 will permit
any county or municipality to exempt
itself from this provision of the con
stitution and then issue bonds with
out let or hindrance. One kind Of
property cannot now be exempted
from taxation or one kind be required
to pay a greater rate Of taxes than
another Amendment No. 10 will
permit s per cent of the voters Of
Polk county to require an election
upon a measure to exempt Polk coun-
ty from this provision. and such meas
ure win be adopted if it receives a
of the votes cast on that
question. Any law may be enacted
that is not prohibited by the con-
stitution. If we destroy the con
stitutlon we may enact a law requir-
ing the expense Of working the roads.
and all other county expenses to be
paid by the collection OF taxes alone
on real estate AS the law now
stands negroes are not permitted to
attend white schools. provided there
Is one for the negroes.
Amendment No. 10 viii permit any
county to regulate this matter to suit
itself, and the 1900 negroes in
Chicot county could make a law re-
curing the few white children in that
county to attend the negro schools.
i believe in the people and believe
that many acts should not become
laws until approved by the votes Of
the people, but also believe in con-
stitutional form Of government. In
1874 when our constitution was
adopted, the state has just passed
through a crisis - Arkansas ablest
men we're sent as delegates to the
constitutional convention - Hughes,
Eakin, Fishback. Eagle, Rector and
lie other nafrinfs ughn dAliharatol..