The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-04-21
SENATOR WORKS
AR|z0NA'S FRIEND
Californian Warns Republicans Against
Refusing to Heed Public Demand
For Initiative And Recall.
BY Associated Press.

Washington, D. c., April 20.-Ari-
zonas right to statehood under the
constitution which it has presented,
found a strong advocate on the floor
baef the United States senate today IN
the person of Senator Works, Cali
fornias new member of the upper
house of congress. In defending the
Arizona constitution he took occasion
to warn the republican party that un-
less it should heed the demand made
upon it for an endorsement of the in
itiative, referendum and recall, earn
estly demanded by an overwhelming
majority Of our people of all political
parties" the party would go down ito
defeat and final destruction and obliy-
ion"
The real objection to the constitu-
ton, he declared, was zone phase of the
struggle that has been going on in this
country between the common people
and the privileged, self-seeking inter
ests, affecting the right to govern the
nation. the state and the municipali-
ties" The initiative, referendum and
recall, provided for in the Arizona
constitution and already in force in
some states of the union, was one
method the people were taking, he
asserted, if trying to blot out corrup-
ton in politics With the exception OF
recall of Judges, he said he was heart
ily in favor of this way of getting rid
of incompetent or corrupt public SER
wants.
The senator touched on the LoI1mer
case in connection with his plea for
honest politics. Senator Works was
named in the resolution introduced at
the present session by Senator La
Toilette calling for another investiga-
zses'&on of the Lorimer case, as chairman
of the committee of investigation.
"This widespread uprising against
the corruption that. If persisted in,
must eventually overthrow our repre-
sentative form of government" he
said, sis founded upon the most con-
vincing evidence that corruption is
eating at the very vitals of the re-
public and threatening the perpetuity
of our free institutions We need not
60 outside of this chamber to find evi-
dence of this fact. The pages of the
Congressional Record of the past few
months will disclose condition that
has brought the whole nation to shame.
It was charged that the election of a
memh er of this body was procured by
corrupt practices and the bribery of
votes in the legislature. I need not
enter upon a discussion of the evi-
dence in that case. 1t is enough to
say that it was clearly and sufficiently
shown that corrupt practices had been
resorted to in the election and that
+. some votes had been purchased.
81 have cited the case" the senator
continued, ito show why the people OF
this country may justly claim a larger
share in the election of their officers
and the control of legislation. 1t is
one out of hundreds of cases where
corrupt and illegal influences have
been brought to bear to control elec
tions and the enactment of legislation
detrimental to the public at large.
ct there no way" he asked "by
.ywhich such evil influences may be met
e and overcome? Some senators here
seem to think not. When the people
attempt to limit the power of theil
representatives and assume some OF
that power themselves by ignoring the
unfaithful representative and acting
directly at the polls, or by recalling
him and substituting an honest and
faithful representative in his place
the cry is raised that this effort tC
control their own representatives ant
their own government is a violation
of the constitution of the United
States and an encroachment upon the
principles of our representative form
of government.
lndI Is LHG loSuc WHICH SOhAAOht'
us today. The proposed constitution
Of Arizona provides for the initiative
referendum and recall. Objection il
made to the admission of this terri
tory as a state on this ground and thii
alone"
Senator Works then attempted t.
o-oxa hxy rofaranooc from cunrem,
court decisions, and other legal ant
political opinions that the people o
Arizona have right to decide TO
themselves what form of republican
government they will live under 81
long as it does not conflict in any wa.
with the constitution of the Unite'
States or the principles of the Declar
alton of independence. AS ''republi
l.. - !