Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-22

issue, and that I was in favor OF a platform
declaring In favor Of IT, ] at once ad
dressed letters to the democratic senators
and members, and the Direct Legislation
league has made inquiry Of the republican
members While the poll Is not yet com.
plete, IL is certain that the resolution would
have no difficulty in passing the house.
We have now more than the necessary
three-fifths of the members OF the house
who have promised to vote for that. CAP
plause) We have fifty-siX democrats, out
of the entire membership Of the house,
fifty-siN democrats who say that IL the
special session is to be called they will vote
for the initiative and the referendum, and
We have enough republican members to aid
to this to give us six more than the neces-
sary constitutional three-fifths of the house
But # Is still doubtful whether 1t would
pass the senate. Some of the senators who
voted no are willing to vote yes in case
they are asked to do so by a majority Of
their constituents, while other senators
have declined to promise to vote for it even
if pettioned to do so by a majority of the
voters of their district
The governor has said that he would call
this special session II he has written as
surance Of sufficient votes to pass the
!
cannot say yet whether the written assur-
ance can be given, nor can say whether
the governor would feel justified in calling
a special session upon tire assurance that
has been given. We have reached this far,
however, that we know this. that we will be
near enough to the number we will have
pledges enough from senators who promise
that they will vote yes on that proposition
IL it is submitted at a special session, we
have enough who promise to vote yes.
added to those who agree to vote yes IL
their constituents ask them TO make the
necessary number. SO that it will only be
necessary to secure the petitions IN a few
districts.
/ think can say this much, although the
poll is not vet complete and there may
be difference of one or two votes from
that which we now estimate. But whether
the special session is called or not, ] be-
! lieve that the democrats of tho state
should know the political situation and un-
derstand the sordid influences which are
attempting to contaminate the politics of
both parties.
| If the special session is not called, there
| is but one reason for it, and that is that
the opposition to the initiative and refer
DUN, not in the house of Representatives
for we now have a clear three-fifths and
more already pledged, not among the peo-
pie, for the sentiment is overwhelming
but solely in the state senate-is sufficient
| to prevent the submission of this amend
ment.
! Whether the senators who oppose the
initiative and referendum represent the
wishes of their constituents or not, is really
immaterial so far as the public is con
cerned. If those senators do not represent
their constituents, then the liquor interests
are responsible for compelling the misrepre
sentation of these senatorial districts If
however, the senators represent their con
stituents, then we must face a more Sc.
rious proposition.
The reason given by most Of the senators
who opposed the initiative and referendum
was that their people are opposed to county
option and opposed TO the initiative ant
referendum because II could be used fol
the submission of the question of county
option. In other words. IL those senators
represent their constituents, the men op
posed to county option insist upon making
II paramount issue. AS the initiative
and referendum are intended to give, the
people a chance to vote on public questions
the defeat of this proposition by those who
are opposed to county option means tina
rather than have county option submitted
they will prevent the submission of an!
question.
If the liquor question must be disposed o
before we, can secure the Initiative anC
referendum, then the sooner we dispose o
1t the better. for we have no assurance tina
the liquor interests will be any more will
ing to have the initiative and referendum
submitted by the next legislature than the!
are to have It submitted by the presen
! Legislature. We might as well prepare 70
the conflict and settle now the question
whether a special pecuniary interest cal
control the policies of the parties of tn
state. silence conventions on importan
issues and then set up legislatures b!
secret manipulation. l for one am no
willing that the democratic party shall g
into the present campaign as the open an,
avowed representative of the liquor inter
ests. applause. voice; Amen)
/ do not know how many of the demo
Gratis may agree with me There Is no wa
/ of finding out where our party stands un
, less a fight is made, and l am willing t
be counted as one who protests whethe
[ those who agree with me are few or many
: believe they are many; in fact, | believ
that IL the matter can be fairly presentes
to the democratic voters a large majorit
) will record themselves as 'unalterably op
/ posed to the domination of our party by tn
? liquor interests, At least | will not ADM
c until We are voted down in the conventlp
Z or at a primary that majority of tn
democrats are willing to take orders fror
| the liquor dealers who have a pecuniary IN
r terest in opposing all restrictions and VIII
| have in the past opposed every importah
a effort TO limit the evils OF the saloon.
The liquor interests have no politics The
e are willing to act with any party they ca
n control and against any party they ca
5 not control.
4 a situation something like the preser
: presented itself once to Andrew jackson
S When he was president he had fight wit
o the national bank of that DAY. and 20
l. will remember that Nick Biddle, the pres
c dent of the bank, called upon him and tol
c him that the bank had the power to cleo
n him to the presidency defeat him, an
y what was Jeckson's answer? Was IL tha
j. he would see that 1t was not put in IN
g platform? Was Il that he would dorC III
question? No. Jackson said to Mr.. Biddl
Il III your bank has that power IL has
y blank sight more power than II ought
9 have and more than 1t will have II l ca
l. take IL away from YOU" (Applluyel Thi
II is what he said then and every Jacksonia
> democrat. ought to be willing Ia raw IN