The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-13
Declares Himself Against the
Initiative, Referendum
and Recall
WILSON REPLIES TO
ALABAMA EXECUTIVE
He Declares Any Governor
Should be Dignifled and
Glorifled to Go to
People


Governor Emmett O'Neal. of Alabama.
prectpltated a stormy debate at the
first session of the Conference of Gov
ernors which opened here to-day by
declaring the initiative, referendum
and recall movement TO be nothing
more than an 'insidious popular va
gary"
AS soon as the reactionary Cover
nor from the South finished his ad-
dress, in which he denounced all re-
forms which give more power To the
majority, the chief executives OF half
a dozen other States were on their
feet clamoring for recognition. Prom
inent among these were Wilson, OF
New Jersey. Aldrich. of Nebraska:
MeGovern. of Wisconsin,, Hadley. of
Missouri, and Shafroth. of Colorado.
1t was made clear before the dis
cussion finally ended that those in
favor Of the reform We're in the ma
Jorlty.
Governor Has No Power
Governor O'NeaI said In part:
There is a movement which seems
10 be gathering strength in certain
sections Of the Union which tends
To weaken rather than strengthen ex-
ecutive authority. and that is the sys-
tenn OF initiative. referendum and re-
call 1t is manifest il the people can
frame and enact laws without the aid
or Intervention of tne governor. then
the governor has no power to vote a
law initiated by the people and adopt
ed by referendum.
If the law is in violation of the
constitution and invaGes vested rights
or destroys individual liberty, the only
remedy can be found in the courts,
and where the system of recall OF
la N +Xracr 70
does the Independence of the judtci-
AIRY, the courts would no longer fur
nish bulwark of defense against ar
oifrary power OF the tyranny OF the
majority. but would degenerate into
tribunals organized chiefly to regis
ter popular judgment on all legal
questions"
Insidious Popular yagary.
continuing along this line, Cover
nor O'Neal took the ground that this
insidious popular vagary' would meet
with almost universal opposition from
the American bar He said that the
recall would destroy independence OF
character and loyalty to principles and
would convert the public officer into a
spineless and serpiie h!reling,
Governor Wilson's reply To O'NeaI
was that in his opinion any governor
should be dtgnified and glorlhed to
81 ~ hAN FSbpiS LbE power. tie SAID
IN part:
One of the most interesting gov
ernments in the world and the gov
eminent that is the most free gov
! eminent. except our own. is based
upon this very principle The exeeu-
i've or Great Britain undertakes to
formulate practically all Of the leg
isiatfon' OF the hlngdoln. When the
legislature refuses to follow 1t, it dis
solves the legislature and goes back
TO the people and says, VIII You send
US men who viii follow us, or viii
you not -.
The consequence OF this is that
Great Britain has the stronges, gov
eminent in the world. Not only that
out 1t Is the most direct democracy
In the world
Giichrist Furnishes, Laugh.
Governor Gilchrist of Florida, fur
nlshed laugh by reminding the dele
gates that every man present owed
MS position to a caprice of the ma
Jority. Governor Aidrich. OF Nebraska
got the floor long enough to say:
In my opinion the governors have
all the power the people want them
to have" He added that he thought
the convention should devote its at
tentlon to something else.
Governor Kitchen, OF North Caro-
INA, caused another laugh by telling
that MS executive authority was limit
ed to granting pardons and drawing
his salary. The governor of North
Carolina has neither the veto power
or appointive power
Governor Hadiey, OF Missouri, was
strongly In favor OF the initiative
referendum and recall.
DIR. Shaw To Speak.
Before the close Of the session of
the day Governor Shafroth, of Col
orado, announced that he had re-
ceiVed letter from DR. Anna Shaw.
the woman's suffrage advocate, asking
Tor an opportunity to address the
governors, Governor Hay. of Wash
lngton, made motion that DR.. Shaw
De heard tomorrow. but Governor
Wilson, of Kentucky. entered an OBJ
lection. which he was IA moment later
compelled to withdraw as everybody
else was against him. 1t was finally
decided that DR.. Shaw should he per-
mlted TO address the convention
Thursday morning at 10 O'Clock
Governor Corey. of Wyoming, said
he was extremely glad the suffragists
were Interested in what the COVER
nors We're doing and was anxious that
they take up the position of uniform
divorce law such as he favors.