The Detroit times., 1911-04-18
(From . stan Correspondent).

Get them the better II will be for
the legislature"
(From q Stan CorrespondenO.
LANSING, Mich, April 1s.-Initia
tive, referendum and recall. are
destined not to go to a vote Of the
people through the action Of the leg
islature OF 1911, but they have at
least had the favorable vote OF the
house OF representatives, and two Of
the measures, initiative on constitu.
tionAl amendments and initiative and
referendum on legislation were saved
oblivion In the senate committee OF
the whole.
Motions by Senator Cartier to
strike out all after the word "Resclv-
ed" were defeated, and both went
TO third reading, but lacked the
necessary two-thirds' vote. Cartier S
motion was successful In the case OF
the recall.
Both initiative and referendum res
olution failed In the senate this morn
Ing. or the Wayne Senators Lee, Mil.
Ter and Smell voted favorable and
Murtha and Scott against.
The only speech was made by Sen
ator Moriarity this morning. He said
the people had not submitted the nee
essary 20 per cent Of petitions, ask.
Ing for q submission of the question
and the measures should not be al
lowed to pass.
The Hahafa tha xxrnnnoiffnpa
showed clearly that public sentiment
toward the reform measures Is grow
Ing and that another session 10 apt To
see them presented to the people by
force OF the popular will
The tone OF fiippancy with which
Cartier, after succeeding In killing
the recall, tried the same tactics on
the constitutional initiative, was re-
bnked By Senator L. whitney Wat
kins OF Manchester. So. 3 go
This Ii not a matter TO be laughed
out Of the senate. ne insisted. III
is thing that will come sooner or
later. The arguments used against It
are the arguments against the prl-
mary law. They are backed only by
professional politicians. The history
OF three sessions OF the legislature
shows the growing wave OF popular
demand In 1907, the propositions
were laughed out OF the legislature.
and were not even reported out Of
the senate. In 1909, they were re-
ported out and killed. This year,
they have been passed by the house
By an overwhelming majority
They should be treated with can
dor and dignity. Do the people elect
30 men to come here and laugh a.
their demands? II the people wan.
these things. they should have them,
and they should have the right to say
whether they want them.
The laughing part was when the
house passed Them" said Cartier.
Senator Guy A. Miller here created
surprise by recommending the pas
sage OF the resolution. His argument
was that Of foe of popular govern
ment who saw that IL was coming.
II believe what Senator Watkins
says Ia partly true" he said. ''lf not
passed now, they will be passed IN
1913, and approved by the people. IL
We pass them now, we can go out TO
the polls and beat them there. As
matter of policy, say, vote for
them here, and then 60 to the polls
and work against them and have IL
settled once for all"
Senator Lee spoke for the resolution
partly az matter Of party pledge.
Never till I came here did I hear
that the people were foolish and need
cd TO be saved from themselves he
said. We are not here to vote our
own private opinions, but to vote az
our constituents want"
Senator Charles White attacked the
resolution, asking how any senator
could vote for It In the face of his
constitutional oath Of office TO do his
duty and vote as his convictions told
him. He pointed to the provision OF
the present constitution, allowing
electors to initiate amendments, sub
jeot to the veto Of the Legislature.
Who says the people demand itT'
he cried belligerently. why have
they not come here with a petition OF
20 per cent The resolution is subyer.
Awe or representative government
When has one single thing been de.
manded by the people OF the state
that they have not been given by the
legislaturef The past 10 years have
been spent OF legislative growth. Cor
porate interests have been driven out
Of politics," he continued In a golden
yision. Large business interests have
ceased TO lobby for the last two ses
sions." And no one laughed.
The senator asks who wants it.
replied Watkins, Il might cite him
the state grange, the state association
Of Farmers clubs, the New Era asso
citation. the State League for Direct
Legislation, and the governor OF Mich
iEnn. Who don't want Il"
Tho proposition takes away the