El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-13

Organized Propaganda Met
by No Effective Opposi-
ton, He says.

special telegram to the San Antonio
Express from Washington says that
senator Bailey of Texas predicts the
organized fighters for initiative, refer
endum and recall, whom he has con-
spicuously opposed, will succeed in es-
tahlishing such form of government
IN this country as a result of the idle
ness and Indifference Of the opponents
of the change.
Tt Is just as certain they will ulti-
mately succeed as it is activity will
overcome inaction," he said
1t was in response to a question from
the Express correspondent as to his
views of the anti-Bailey caucus re-
Gently held in Austin, detailed accounts
Got which have just reached here that
senator Bailey issued a statement in
part as follows:
L began, this contest against the
initiative and referendum when they
were advocated by the old Populist
party nearly 20 years ago. I then de-
clared them to be subversive of the
fundamental principles Of this govern
ment, and 1 believe them to be even
more dangerous when advocated by
senators Owen, LaFolIette and Bourne
in the senate of the United States than
they were when advocated by Harry
Tracy. Jake Rhodes and Cyclone Davis
on the stump IN Texas. I did not op-
pose those measures then because the
Populist party had proposed them. but
because l believed them to be at war
with Democracy, as understood It,
and I will not stultify myself by ac-
eepting them or by offering only per-
functory opposition to them 4
There are some good men and some
T0TT able WIN have m MY
imize the Importance of this question
by declaring that after all it is one for
the states and not for the general gov
eminent. but those men have given
little attention to the persistent and
systematic propaganda which the ad-
vocates of the initiative, referendum
and recall have been conducting in this
country or else they would understand
that the aim is to apply it to every
smallest Of our Incorporated towns to
the general government itself
The old Populist party, which was
the first to propose and to advocate the
initiative and referendum, incorporated
a declaration for it IN its national plat
form in 1892, and there is today a ma
tional association organized for the ex-
press purpose of securing the adoption
CT that governmental system, with the
iSteli dOOeG, Tot OILY Dy the states ana
their subdivisions, but also by the gem
crcl government, and that association
numbers among its members several
United States senators and representa-
tives in congress.
Indeed, there are really two organ
izations Of that kind, one claiming to
be Democratic and the other claiming
to be Republican, but both working in
cordial unison for this very radical
change in our form Of government
With these men working day and night
and with the opponents Of their system
idle or Indifferent, It IS just as certain
they will ultimately succeed as il is
t5at activity will overcome inaction. I
intend no criticism against my Demo-
cratic colleagues, for 1 have accepted
their assurance they did not intend b.
their votes to approve those dangerous
innovations and that they believed the
wore simply voting to admit Arizon
without committing themselves to til
peculiar provisions of her constitution
but the proponent and the advocates
Of the initiative, referendum and recall
understand exactly what they were do
ing, and they were trying to force the
congress of the United States to ex-
pressly approve that Arizona constitu-
ticn, for the amendment offered by SEN
ator Owen, though it contained some
other matters by way OF recitation re-
duced the vote itself to the single and
naked approval of the Arizona consti-
tuticn."