The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-04-20
Senator Works Declares Initiative,
Referendum and Recall are
Popular Measures With
People
WANTS POLITICS PURIFIED
CALIFORNIA; New Representative in
Upper House Warns Republicans
That Voters Earnestly De-
msnd Measures.

Washington, April 20.-Arizona's
right to statehood under the consti-
tuition which ii has presented found
a strong advocate on the floor of the
United States Senate today in the
person of Senator Works, California's
new member of the upper house of
congress. In defending the Arizona
constitution he took occasion to- warn
the Republican party that unless it
should heed the demand made upon il
for an endorsement Of the initiative,
referendum and recall. earnestly de-
manded by an overwhelming majority
Of our people of all political parties"
the party would go down "to defeat
and final destruction and oblivion"
The real objections to the constitu-
ton, he declared, was "one phase of
the struggle that has been going on in
this country between the common peo-
pie and the privileged, self-seeking in
terests, affecting the right to govern
the nation, the state and the munich
palities" The initiative, referendum
and recall, provided for i'm the Arizona
constitution and already in force in
some states of the Union, was one
method the people were taking, he as
serted, of trying to blot out corruption
I'm politics. With the exception of re-
call of judges, he said he was heartily
in favor of this way of getting rid of
incompetent or corrupt public servants
Cites Lorimer Case.
The Senator touched on the Lori
mer case in connection with his plea
for honest politics. Senator Works
was named in the resolution intro
duced at the present session by Sena-
tor LaFollette calling for another in
vestigation OF the Lorimer case, as
chairman of the committee of investi-
cation.
"This widespread uprising against
the corruption that. If persisted in,
must eventually overthrow our repre-
sentative form of government" he
said, 'is founded upon the most con-
vincing evidence that corruption is eat
ing at the very vitals of the Republic
and threatening the perpetuity of our
free institutions. We need not go out
side Of this chamber to find evidence
of this fact. The pages of the Con-
gressional Record of the past few
months will disclose a condition that
has brought the whole nation to
shame. 1t was charged that the cleo
ton of a member of this body was
procured by corrupt practices and the
bribery Of votes in the legislature. Il
need not enter upon discussion of
to say that it was clearly and suffi-
ciently shown that corrupt practices
had been resorted to in the election !
and that some votes had been pur-
chased.
Must Overcome Influences.
'T have cited the case" the Sena
tor continued, ito show why the peo-
pie of this country may justly claim
q 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
elections and the enactment of legisla-
tion detrimental to the public at
large.
"Is there no way" he asked, "by
which such evil influences may. be met
and overcome? Some senators here
seem to think not When the people
attempt to limit the power of their
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 to con-
troll their own representatives and
their own government is n violation of
the constitution of the United States
and an encroachment upon the prin-
ciples of our representative form of
government
Defends Popular Measures.
"That is the issue which confronts
us today The proposed constitution
of Arizona provides for the initiative.
referendum and recall. Objection is
made to the admission of this territory
as a state on this ground and this
alone"
Senator Works then attempted TO
prove by references from Supreme
Court decisions. and other legal and
political opinions that the people OF
Arizona have a right to decide for
themselves what form OF a republican
government they will live under so
long as Il does not conflict i'm any way
with the constitution Of the United
States or the principles Of the Decla-
ration Of Independence. AS 'repub-
lican form Of government is not de-
fined by the Constitution, he declared