The Devils Lake world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1911, 1911-01-20
THE INITIATIVE AND REFEREN
DUN.

uVM.
No more important matter will come
before the legislature now in session
than the question of the initiative and
referendum, and there has already been
introduced legislation upon this
subject. 1t is in harmony
with the political thought of
the past few years and the two
questions may be spoken of in the
singular, as wherever either has been
adopted, so far as we know, both have,
and the "initiative' and "referen-
dunn have gone hand in hand, the
one being considered as the counter
part of the other. The demand for the
initiative and referendum, like the de-
mand for the direct primary, the re-
call, and kindred legislation, has grown
out OF the widespread belief that our
representatives were not in point OF
integrity or capability, or both, the
best that could be desired and that
the interests of the common people sui
ferel as a result and that few bene-
fitted thereby. That there has been a
decline in the ability Of our latter day
statesmen but few will deny and that
bad legislation or failure of any legis-
lation where needed has allowed to
grow up in the nation economic and
sociological conditions that are unjust
and contrary to the American idea Of
equality before the law, we think few
if any will deny, and beyond any
doubt, there WAS and is just grounds
for All awakening on the part Of the
people Whether that awakening has
set in motion the proper political ma
chinery for the solution of the pres
ent problems is a question that will b,
better answered by the future histor-
ian than by any contemporary writer.
There is no doubt that modern politi-
cal ideas are drifting away from those
held by the founders of the Republic.
The old idea of our government as ex-
plcSScu III IuC CONSTITUTION was luttC Vi
Republican form of government or
government by representation. The
modern idea is or seems to be rapidly
drifting towards democratic or direct
form of government. We will make no
attempt at this time to DISCUSS the
merits or dement's of the two systems,
more than to admonish the partisans
Of either that there Will be many dis
appointment and failure in either sys-
TEN. We are also convinced that little
is to be obtained by the one that can
not be as advantageously obtained by
the other and that good government
is dependent on the last analisys upon
the people who constitute that govern
ment and that much more will be gain
ed by an awakened sense of patriotic
duty than by the change in the method
of legislation. AS an example, man
who is too Indifferent to attend par
ty caucus or to 60 to the polls and vote
for the election of men of ability and
character cannot we'll be trusted to leg
islate directly or pass with any great de-
gree Of intelligence upon the laws when
submitted to him for his approval or
rejection, but as the sentiment in North
Dakota would indicate desire
on the part of the people to have the
initiative and referendum, it becomes
not a matter of theory but matter of
practical-politics and p question~ef aobs
tanning the most desirable legislation
The World believes that we shoulG
gain somewhat from the experien
Of other states, who have had the init
iative and referendum in force for
years, and that the legislature should
carefully study the results and avoid
as far as possible the defects where
shown to exist, and the unnecessary
burdens imposed upon the people as a
result Of this law, for we must bear in
mind that the initiative and referen.
dunn is an expensive luxury, running
into the tens Of thousands Of dollars at
every election, and there should be sui.
fcient restriction placed upon it's use
to prevent a very small number, who
from selfish motives or otherwise wish
to continue an agitation at the expense
of the masses. As an instance, we
might refer to the question of county
option, which was voted upon in South
Dakota under the initiative in 1908 an6
was defeated by a majority Of approx
imatcly $500 votes in the state The
advocates of the same Immediately go
out petitions and initiated and submit
ted to the people the same law again
with the result that it was beaten tn
second time by four or five times a
large majority as the first time sub
mitted. These laws all have to b.
printed and published in the newspa
pers for the enlightenment of the elect
crate and have to be printed on tn
ballots, all of which amounts in the to
tai cost to a great sum of money. I
seems to us that where legislation ha
been once initiated and defeated by
vote of the people that there should b
restriction placed to prevent such leg
islation being again attempted for
reasonable specified period. There ar
many other questions which might b
pointed out and which it is the duty o
the lepislature tn thoronphlv investi