Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-02-02
Not All Good

The Aberdeen Herald always re
CARDS as absurd objections - any
thing il advocates. The Herald be
heves now in the initiative and re-
ferendum, or processes so 10 believe
Therefore all virtue rests in the
scheme and opposition 10 il is not 10
be tolerated. or even considered
The Herald is inclined 10 think that
the Yakima commission bill. which
provides for the invocation Of the
initiative and referendum on all or
dinances, other than for public health
and safety and emergencies, upon 4
petition OF 25 per cent OF the register
ed voters. is almost ideal. To the OBJ
lection that this system could hold
up the entire legislative program OF
the commission. The Herald answers
by saying that il does not believe that
the initiative and referendum would
be frequently invoked. II also points
out that elections more than once
every six months are prohibited. The
answer is insufficient. a minority OF
voters could hold UP all legislation,
were they so minded. An election once
every six months is no check against
any such operation. for there is moth
ing in the law 10 say that only one
ordinance can be held up every six
months. Oregon, moreover. furnishes
a vivid example OF the fact that the
initiative and referendum is frequent
" used. Its use in Oregon, besides.
has grown greatly within the past .ew
years. Thirty-two measures We're
voted on al the last election.
The Herald is not inclined 70 re-
gard the recall as an effective check
on the commission. saying thai eX-
rerienee has shown that !. Is diff
cult Of operation. But i is proposed
to make the recall simple and easy OF
operation, and there is 10 question
but that that Will be done The re-
call will answer all the purposes q
the initiative and referendum. oo-h
OF them being but clubs. and Will 10;
al the same time extend such wide
opportunities 10 the disgruntled and
diSaHected minority = ! b : : & Z
World
Detected in an untenatle position
the evening paper seeks escape BY
disappearing The attitude Of the
Herald. This paper does not claim
that the initiative and referendum
will remedy all The evils that tese.
governments. bur i does hold ,LeTu
10 be capable OF checking many Of
them.
The article criticized b. the Her
aid vas the height Of aosurdi,y II
SO far as il eoptended that the il e.
ligence al Aberdeen. was OF such
low average tina, Il lis citizens were
given the right 10 enac. o. refuse
laws direc, they would be con-
stanuy al i and -ha. eternal
turmoil would result and in the rext
paragraph insists that they are pos
sessed of sufficient Intelligence 10 Sc
lect men 10 do their legislation who
are competent, intelligent, honest
and public spirited" The Herald
submits the position is so absurd as
10 amount 70 Al insult 70 the intelli
senoe Of its readers
This absurdi,y is repeated above.
when the Yakima bill is quoted as per.
hitting the referendum OF all bills.
ether than FER public health ano
safety and emergencies. and then the
statement Is made tia; s minority OF
voters could hold up all legislation
were they so minded The proyis.
ions Of the bill introduced by Senator
Allen. q Yakima leave the commits.
sioners absolutely untrammelled in
matters q urgency. and is checks
are only sach IS the experience Of
every CITY under his Plan Q. severn.
ment has determined 10 Il wise y
plan q CONN .ssion soye-umen- for
municipalities aas yet beer trt4d with.
out The initiative, referendum and re
call. and il IS safe 70 bet hat Aber.
deem Vii MOI become the pioneer il