The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-05-13
INITIATIVE ASKED
FOR PEOPLE
STATE DIRECT LEGISLATION
LEAGUE SECRETARY IS
SUES LETTER.
Urges That Candidate BE Pledged 4
Vote for Initiative and Referendum
Laws-Not to AboIish Legislature
but to BE Used as Check evera
States Already Enjoy Such Privi
iege.

Christopher w. Horr, executive sec
rotary Of the Direct Legislation
League Of the State Of Washington
has issued the following letter:
"Shall the people in this state have
what those in Oregon, Maine, the two
Dakotas, Montana, Missouri. Okla
homa and some other states have
secured, the right to propose de-
sired law for public discussion and
vote? That is, shall the voters have &
right to take the initiative in making
a law which the people want, and
which the state legislature has NOT
seen fit to enact?
1t is some work to devise good
law, to write out its full text and I'd
obtain for it the attested signature OF
8 per cent. of all the legal voters id
the state. No one is going to underI
take so much work unless there ap-
pears to be sound reason why the law
should exist; nor unless there is exI
pectation that majority of the people
will vote for it when it comes to them
for approval or disapproval at the
next election. The referendum is the
referring of an unsettled question I'd
the voters for their decision; and No
law proposed through the initiative
can take effect until it is approved by
majority vote in referendum. To Sc;
cure the right of initiative and refer
endum is the only sure way for the
people to get such laws as they want
The Veto Power
"Is it fair or right that the people
should be compelled by the action OF
legislature to live under laws that are
injurious or unjust? The people should
have the power to veto any harmful
law that the legislature enacts. If, at
any time within ninety days after q
law has been enacted by the legisla-
ture, so many as 5 per cent. of the
voters demand by petition that the
said law, or some part of it, shall be
submitted to the people for their
adoption or rejection, then the said
law should be suspended until the next
regular election, when the voters may
decide by majority vote whether tlle
enacted law shall stand. The people
may thus control the making OF all
laws, except such as are necessary for
the immediate preservation Of peace,
health or safety.
The right of initiative and referen-
dunn does not do away with the legis-
lature, but it prevents the legislature
imposing upon the people certain laws
that the people do not want, and It
enables the people to secure all laws
that they believe to be desirable.
There are wise, far-sighted. hui
manity-loving men outside Of the leg
islature. Among the people OF the
state taken together, and including
those in the legislature, there is more
wisdom than is possessed by the hum
dred and fifty men who may make
laws at Olympia. 1t is best for the
state that all the wisdom it contains
should be utilized in the making Of its
laws.
Can Override Corruptlonists
when money speaks to a legisla-
ture it may corrupt q majority therein
and secure legislation that exploits the
people at large. But money cannot in
duce a majority of all the electors to
vote against their own interests, and
no law that is against the interests OF
the majority is likely to pass refer
endum vote. If the voters make mis-.
take the right of initiative and refer
endum enables them to correct the
mistake quickly. We should have the
initiative and referendum.
"How may the people OF this state
secure the right OF using the initiative
and referendum in law-making? By
electing to the next Legislature only
candidates who agree to further the
plan Of making an amendment to the
state constitution, which, If carried by
majority vote in referendum at the
election OF 1911, will give the people
OF this state square deal IN the
making Of laws.
To Broaden Existing Power
aThe state constitution can be
changed only by referendum vote, or
an amendment put before the people
by the legislature. The constitution
requires referendum vote for its own
amendment, but does not permit 2 rel'
erendum vote on state laws. The CON
stitution must be amended to permit
! <~SI :
the application Of the initiative ano
referendum to all law making.
"Stir up the attention Of your fellow
citizens, urging them to elect TO the
next legislature only those candidates
who will pledge themselves to the SAID
amendment to the constitution
whenever. in other states, SUCH -
amendment OF their state constitution
has been offered BY the legislature g
the vote Of the people. the amendmens
has been carried by an 0yerW heimins
vote Of something like eight q eieyn e
|One g.. u "a.
ITO pledge the candidates q the IT.
step. See TO It that your ndldate 4
|so pledged"