The Detroit times., 1911-05-02
TO OlREf|
STATES AFFAIRS
UP TO PE0PL[
Voters Of California win Dstszuni
What They Want in LegisI61I1
Matters Regardless cf Any
Political Machine.
Gov. Johnson, in Fifth Article, ~
Story Of Initiative and
Referendum.
BY HIRAM w. JoflNaoN.


SACRAMENTO, Cal, My z.--Wzfn 1
the return Of the public service ~
the people accomplished, 1rSt In IL (,
matter OF appointments and then " (
summary removals OF those who hn(
divided their allegiance between ~ (
people and the Southern, Pacific c<<
tion of perpetuating the powers WIN
the people. N{
The determination Of the admlni1- (
tration TO accomplish Its desfGu xc1 7
furnished in the Anderson incideut, ~ .
such striking fashion that none coQ1 Z
longer doubt the effectuation Of ~
pledge made during the campaign-
The method Immediately sugRo115
ing itself, of enabling the people q +
protect themselves In the future anI
to perpetuate their power. was th1
initiative and referendum.
The constitution OF the state G.
California, in common with most cOu
stitutions, provided the mode of ]or-
islation, To give to the people tho;
initiative and the. referendum fho
right directly to legislate for theuI
selves, and the right directly To check
any legislation deemed inimical III
their interests-couId be accomp1Io1-<
led only by the amendment OF the Con-
stitution. Accordingly, constitutiono/
amendments were prepared, pron6 ~
ed to the two houses and with bu<
little opposition passed for subuio<
sion to the people. w 4, r,
A Great Step Ahead.
1t was believed that the Initiative
and referendum could be Conferred
Immediately upon cities over whicR
the legislature had Jurisdiction. and
upon counties themselves. Accordinr
ly bills conferring this power ware
passed and have now become laHn
We have, therefore. the initiative ana
referendum applicable TO the ccQrP
operating under charters that hayo]
been approved BY the legislatpre:
and We have submitted to the people
for their ratification, constitutlonaI
amendments according the Ike pox91
/ so far sssfhe snttrs state y leonc<
led r. S , \
The arguments that everywbSfs
have been heard respecting this oort
Of legislation were Of course made:
That 1t was populistic in charactef;{
that II was submission TO the rabbIo
for determination OF intricate LAWS
and that 1t was wholly at vAriapca
with representative government wcr4
among the reasons advanced By rs
dictionaries and the interests against
the system now proposed. But fovy
of these reactionaries, however, hn4<
the temerity when II came TO 0ae
final vote to vote against the propoC<
ed enactments; and notwithstaudIu1
the dire prophecies of the newoD1-
pers representing the 'intereetot
without great dificulty the laws W(ros
passed and the constitutional au1o66-
ments submitted to the people.
"Up TO the People" v!
The whole purpose was, az I hexo.
heretofore indicated, the c0nsund1er
ton OF definite plan and schorno-
first, by appointments to put the p1t
lie service In the hands Of the people,
by commissions having charge -
matters OF controversy between ~
people and the great ccrporationo -
secure a square deal for the peoplo
and then with the great weapon o.
the initiative and referendum to en-
able the people to legislate for theu<
selves or to prevent legislation which
would undo the good that hed beeo.
accomplished. &,
so far as the state II concerned
the perpetuation OF their power y uu
to the people themselves. IN the rn1l
fication of the constitutional amend
ments. When We have enabled X6>
people thus for themselves 70 doter-
mine Just what they want IN 1eGlnIa-
tive matters. we have done al tint
could be done by public servants 1n1
the consequences hereafter rest Win