Evening journal., 1911-03-09
INITIATIVE And
REFERENDUM
Sen. Bourne Discusses Popular
Legislation Before Joint
Session OF Legislature
GETS VOTE OF
THANKS FOR SPEECH


DOVER. Del. March 9.-United
states Senator Jonathan Bourne, Jr.,
of Oregon, yesterday afternoon made
an interesting address to the Legisla-
ture In joint session in advocacy Of the
proposed initiative and referendum
amendment 10 the Constitution bill
providing for which, introduced by
Representative Moore, has been re-
ported to the House on its merits.
There was a large attendance of Wis
itors from all parts of the State, who
are interested in the initiative and
referendum propaganda Senator
Bourne and United States Senator
Harry A Richardson of Delaware, are
third cousins. The subject OF popular
legislation is one that the wealthy SEN
ator from Oergon has given deep study
In support Of his plea for the initia-
tive and referendum he cited illustra-
tons of the working of the law in Ore
gon, and he also exhibited a sample
ballot voted at the last election It was
larger than the Australian ballot of
Delaware, and contained a summary OF
each proposed law referred TO the
people for adoption or rejection.
Senator Bourne was spplauded at
the close of his speech, and he was
rendered q rising vote Of thanks on
motion OF Senator Finn, seconded by
Senator Marshall. In the course of his
address Senator Bourne said.
One OF COuntry's Great Issues.
The great overshadowing issue be-
fore this country Is whether popular
Government, with general welfare its
vitalizing force. shall save and de-
velop this nation, or delegated govern-
ment, with selhshness the destroying
force, shall bring the nation TO newt
able anarchy
Any successful and permanent gov
ernment must rest primarily upon the
recognition OF the rights of men and
the absolute sovereignty Of the people.
Under popular government. mean
ing IN Its present evolution the initia-
tive and referendum, an efficient direct
primary, corrupt practices act and re-
cal and presidential preference laws.
general welfare must be the basis of
every law and goal OF every public
servant
In name, we have a Government in
which II was intended that public Of
hcials should represent the wishes and
promote the welfare Of their states
and districts. In reality. we have a
Government In which many public Of
meals secure their positions. alwsys bv
consent and generally through the Sc
lection of party boss who maintains
political machine with funds con
tributed by individuals or corporations
having selfish interests to protect or
promote.
Tho people Of Oregon have evolved
enacted and demonstrated system of
popular government under which the
people control legislation and ALI their
public servants are accountable direct =
" to the people. because the peonle
nave the right Of their selection. or
nomination
When the people Of any State have
tne initiative and referendum thew
nave IN their own hands power To Sc
cure such other legislation ss thew
desire. Adoption Of such an amend
ment should therefore be the frst
step IN governmental reform IN every
State
Adoption Of the Initiative and ref.
ereudum Is important, not only be.
cause II gives the people power To
control legislation, but because it. has
a developing influence upon the peo-
| pie themselves
nus LuucduOn1i Enect
furthermore. the initiative and
referendum has an educational in-
huence upon the people Opponents
OF direct legislation argue that the
people cannot understand measures
submitted to them. and, therefore,
should not be given power to enao:
laws. As we'll argue that a child
should keep out of the water until he
had learned TO swim Give the people
! power to legislate and they will dem
onstrate not only a capacity to under
stand public questions, but a willing
ness to study measures submitted to
/ them
In oregon, the study of measures
submitted under tho initiative and
referendum Is made convenient by the
publication Of a pamphlet containing
a full copy Of each measure Submit
ed, together with arguments pro and
con.
-Four months of discussion in
which all the people participate, IS
far preferable to forty days of con-
sideration I'm a Legislature, where
much OF the discussion takes place in
the secrecy Of a committee room OF
the private apartments of a paid