The log cabin Democrat., 1910-09-07

had iioPCu AVE-
10, providing for the rule of the peo-
pie by means of the initiative and ref
endum would be adopted without Sc
rious opposition, especially after being
endorsed b ythe Democratic state con-
vention and organizations of our most
patriotic citizens. Its provisions are
so fair, SO genuinely democratic and
American that it seemed to me no
man who believes in majority rule
could oppose it. l did not think that
the tactics used in other states to kill
the initiative and referendum would
be employed in Arkansas.
Bnt opposition has arisen and many
honest voters are likely to be misled
under the delusion that the amend
ment contains a dangerous provision,
which will work harm to our people.
By quoting single passage and pay
ing no attention to the rest of the
amendment, its opponents are able to
reach conclusions as misleading as the
metaphor of the distance between
the poles" By their method of rea-
soning | can take the Bible and prove
anything | set out to prove.
When it is remembered that under
the provisions of Amendment No. 10
no law proposed by petition of the
people can be adopted unless a major
ity of the people vote in it's favor, it
is as clear as daylight that either
these men have no confidence in the
people or else they have some other
reason for denying our citizens the
right to rule their own state.
In all the criticisms on the subject,
| have noted that the objectors fail to
find any GOOD features in the amend
ment at ALL They make no prophecies
of GOOD THINGS PEOPLE WILL
DO when they have chance, and one
who reads between the lines can plain
ly see that they are against the initia-
tive and referendum itself, and would
be against any amendment that might
be framed. This type of men will al
ways find something wrong, and if the
people wait to get an amendment that
will satisfy them, they will be wait
ing still when Gabriel blows his horn.
|, for one, might have had more conf
dence in the sincerity of these pro-
tests had they been made long ago in
stead of RIGHT BEFORE ELEC-
| TION.
There can be no "legalized anarchy"
under this amendment unless major
ity of the voters of Arkansas are an
| archists. No dreadful things can hap
pen, such as are predicted, unless they
are indorsed by a majority of our cit
izens. Only fools or knaves would do
such things, and l resent the impli-
cation that our people are fools or
knaves.
now wish to call your attention to
the important and vital features of
| Amendment No. 10. These are:
THE INITIATIVE ON AMENDMENTS TO
THE CONSTITUTION.
At present the legislature, by ma
jority of quorum of 135 men, can
propose amendments to the constitu-
ton of the whole state, and the people
naay not cote on What the legislature
proposes. Amendment No. 10 gives
not less than per cent-or about l5,-
600 voters of the state-the right to
petition for an amendment of the kind
THE PEOPLE WANT, place it on
the ballot, and pass it by majority
vote. Such a provision is necessary
to our complete liberty, and it will en-
able us to make any changes we may
need in this very amendment from
year to year for all time to come, and
to preserve the amendment from inju-
rious changes.
THE INITIATIVE ON LAWS.
If the legislature fails, for any rea-
son, to pass any law demanded by the
people. the citizens can have law
by per cent of all the voters of the
prepared and when it has been signed
state (about 5000 now it must then
go to vote of the people at the next
general election. If indorsed by ma
iority of the voters, it becomes law.
For example: In Oregon the legisla-
ture killed bill to compel the cor
porations to pay their just share of