Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-22
Not Able to Get the ouestio. vn the
Primary Ballot.
HAD REQUESTED IT
Asked that session De Called 20 SUBJ
NIT Initiative ana Referendum
To Prevent Division OF
Party.
ttrtom a staff correspondentl

(tTrom Staff Correspondent)
LINCOLN, June 21.--(Spsclal)- )-Governor
shallenberger today issued his promised
official statement giving his reasons for
refusing 70 call the legislature in extra
q session to submit the initiative and refer
endun1 amendment to the constitution at
the fall election. The principal reasons
given by the governor were that three
flfths Of the members would not sign a
pledge to vote for the submission of the
question and that the time is too short
now TO get the question on the primary
ballots sven II submitted by the legislature.
About two months ago w. j. Bryan re-
quested the governor to call the extra ses-
sion to submit the initiative and refer
endum in order to prevent a division in his
party on the liquor question. The COVER
nor agreed to do as Mr.. Bryan wished.
providing three-fifths OF the members of
the Legislature signed pledge to vote for
the submission of the question. G. w.
Bryan at once took up the work of Sc
curing these pledges The night before
the governor concluded to turn down the
Bryan request, Mr.. Bryan said the pros
poets were bright for the extra session. He
had pledges from eight republicans and
eleven democrats with prospects Of three
more votes. Two OF these were democrats
who agreed to vote in the affirmative pro-
viding theid constituents petitioned them
to do so. II required only twenty votes
to pass the bill in the senate where 1t was
killed In the last session. From the Com
moner office the Information given out
that the nineteen votes had been secured
with the three extra votes in sight.
Bryan VIII No, Talk.
c. w. Bryan would make no statement
81 al. I.
ernor's sudden determination to call off
his extra session agreement but he will,
probably tomorrow, Il he gets around to
it issue a statement showing the number.
of votes he had pledged.
Several there are here who believe that
the governor took the advice of Mr.. Hitch
cock In closing the extra session incident.
The day before the Central City democratic
banquet Mr.. Hitchcock had a lengthy con-
ference with the governor, and In discus
sing the extra session he remarked that
the statute OF limitation should apply in
that case" or words to that effect. County
option was also discussed at that confer
ence, and the governor came out in oppo-
sition to 1t being placed in the democratic
platform at the banquet the next night All
of which is laid up to the influence of the
Omaha senatorial candidate. The governor
however did not say he would veto a county
option bill isf one passed, or that he would
decline a nomination on a county option
platform.
What Governor Says.
The official statement given out by the
governor is as follows:
am very desirous of seeing that the peo-
pie of Nebraska shall have given to them
the power Of the initiative and the refer
endum in matters OF legislation during my
administration of the affairs of the office
which now hold. IL It can be brought
about Ntf gt.t.
After careful effort, covering a period of
almost two months enough legislators in
the senate could not be induced to pledge
themselves as willing TO vote for the SUBJ
mission of the amendment to give 1t the
majority required under the constitution.
In fact, the final result has been largely
the same as that shown in the vote of
the senate at the last session. Three men,
bers who voted against the amendment at
the last session now agree to support IT,
and two who voted for 1t at the last ses-
sion now refuse to pledge themselves to
vote for 1t.
In the meanwhile the time has expired
when II could even be hoped that action
could be taken by this legislature that
would insure it's submission and adoption.
Ino Jaw ItQulItA lilil amendments 10 the
constitution small be submitted to the
voters at the primary election for the ap-
proval OF party voters, and It must have
the approval at the primary in order that
straight votes for either party may be
counted on for the amendment.
IL Is only because OF this construction of
the law that the supreme court amend
ments were adopted at the last general
election. Only small fraction of the
voters voted directly for the amendment |
Because OF this failure TO vote directly for
amendments. prior amendments to the
constitution have failed OF adoption. Hence |
1t Is essential that II amendments shall |
have any prospect OF adoption. they must
60 on the primary ballot and be approved |
by majority of party voters.
To give the entire state representation
and voice in the proposed legislation. it |
would be necessary to call special cleo
tions In the representative districts where
vacancies have occurred during the recess
Of the legislature. Under the law ten days
notice of such special elections is required.
Even thought II IL not imperative that the
primary election proclamation. which has
already been issued by me, should contain
direction TO the several county clerks of
the state to place this proposed constitu-
tional amendment upon the ballot yet when
the time for calling these special elections
and the convening OF the legislature is
taken into consideration. together with the
period which might reasonably be antici- |
pated would be consumed in the passage
OF tho act. In the event the necessary
pledges were secured, II could not then be |
brought about in time TO enable the secre- |
tsry Of state 20 certify this proposed meas |
ure 10 the several county clerks OF the state
in order that it might be placed upon the |
primary ballot.
This would practically defeat the adop-
tion OF the amendment. II the legislature
failed to submit, or the people to adopt