Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-12
Senator Owen Speaks for Ini-
tiative and Referendum.
DECLARES 1T A REMEDY
Says Tammany Hall Is Limit of Pc.
litical Dishonesty.
DISCUSSES RECENT FILIBUSTER
Oklahoma Statesman Tells Univer-
sity Club Members He Is in Favor
of Direct Nominations.

Il think Tammany the limit; / do not
regard it as democratic organization,
but as band of political bandits carry
ing the democratic flag" said Senator
Owen of Oklahoma, himself a democrat,
in an address he delivered on the
initiative and referendum" at the Uni
versity Club last night He declared
that by the initiative and referendum
the people would be able to rid them
selves OF just such practices as those
carried on by Tammany.
Eve have allowed this country to go
through a period of decay so far as our
politics are concerned" continued Sena-
tor Owen. Good men are wondering
what is to become of our government in
view OF the corrupt practices which have
been SO widespread.
When Sullivan in New York gives
away 700 pairs of shoes to the poor 1t
is not charity, but the purchase of votes
for Tammany. Tammany takes care OF
its poor. It binds its votes in that way"
BY the adoption Of the initiative and
the referendum the country is gradually
shaking off the corruption which has
government Of the states, said Senator
Owen.
Thought Oklahoma a Town.
when was in New York not long
ago." said Senator Owen. IT was taking
luncheon at q table with q we'll dressed
and intelligent looking young man. He
asked me where my home was and
told him Oklahoma.
I'm what state is oklahoma7' he
asked.
II remarked that in view Of the ques-
ton he probably was not citizen Of the
United States.
"'Oh, yes he replied, am. I've al
ways lived in New York city,
1T is possible that some OF you gentle
men may not be informed in regard to
try to explain. The people Of Oklahoma,
by means Of the initiative and referen-
dunn, retain the right to vote on a pro-
posed law directly, without reference to
the state legislature, and also the right
to vote by means Of a direct vote any
law which may be enacted by the state
legislature. II petition is signed by y
per cent OF the voters at the last cleo
ton asking for a vote on a certain pro-
posed law, the people are allowed to vote
yes or no on the proposition at the
next regular election. II per cent OF the
voters sign a petition to vote on any law
which may have been enacted by the
legislature the people have an oppor-
tunity to veto the law in question. Pend
ing the vote the law Is suspended.
Adopted In Switzerland.
1.-THE Initiative and referendum is not
new. Fifty years ago it was adopted In
Switzerland, where corruption in the gov
eminent of the cantons was rife.
1.-THE initiative and referendum permits
the people to raise one issue at time
and pass on It Tho platforms of the
political parties contain a great number
OF Issues, and a man has to accept them
all If he votes the party ticket. He can
not say I approve this plank, but dis
approve that He must stand for them
all. This has left many great problems
unsolved in this country.
1.-The people in this country do not rule
in fact. If they did. these problems would
would have been reduced. the trusts
would have been curbed.
when Senator Bailey proposed during
the closing days of the last Congress to
pass the House resolution for the ap-
prevail Of the constitution Of New Mexico
and her admission to the Union as a
state, without giving similar approval to
Arizona and her constitution. because
the constitution Of Arizona contained
the initiative and referendum. I deter
mined 1t should not be-
Senator Owen spoke briefly Of the
f1libuster he led against this proposition
and his success in defeating Senator
Bailey.
Constitution of New Mexico.
1.-THE constitution Of New Mexico"
said Senator Owen. provided that the
suffrage be free and open. This meant
that there should be no educational
qualification and that it might be pos
sible to bar the Australian ballot be-
cause Of its secrecy. This would be
playing directly into the hands of the
special interests, which might flood the
state with uneducated voters.
Senators Bailey and Hepburn term
ed the initiative and referendum
hereSy and q socialiStic evil Yet Ore
gon adopted 1t a few years ago and
stamped out the corruption which held
sway there"
Senator owen cited the many instances
in which graft and political corruption
have gone hand in hand in this country
He mentioned the case Of San Francisco
and the corruption exposed in the recent
Investigations there; the graft cases in
St Louis. Harrisburg. Pittsburg. Adams
but not least, the Jackpot" in the Iegis-
lature Of Illinois.
He said that the direct nomination for
Senate and House was another means OF
safeguarding the people.
Boss Tweed said that if he could Sc
lect the candidates he did not care who
did the electing." said Senator Owen HE
was right II special interests select the
Candidates In both parties, 1t matters lit
tie to them which party elects its candi-
date.
Part of Political Revolt.
Senator Owen declared that the adop-
ton of the initiative and referendum
and the direct nomination was part of
a political revolution which would safe
guard the people Of this country from
another kind Of a revolution.
Unless this peaceful revolution is
brought about, the time Will come when
human passion will explode in this
country as it did in the French revolu-
tion." he said.
''It has been charged that the
initiative and referendum will over
throw the representative form of gov
eminent. But we deny this. We want
representative government, but we want
a government that represents the people
and not the special interests. If a rep
resentative in the legislature knows
that the people can pass a law over his
head, he will more likely give ear to
the requests of the people. No corpo-
ration will bride a legislature to enact
law which it knows the people can
themselves veto.'
Haperstown Man Murdered