The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-09-22

Spring Lake, N. j., Sept. 16-Gov.
Woodrow Wilson, of New Jersey, and
Gov. Emmett O'Neal, of Alabama,
measured swords over the initiative
and referendum before the confer
ence here this week. Gov. wilson, as
champion of the measure, replied to
Gov. O'Neal, who had previously de-
nounced them as an 'sinsidious popu-
lar vagary.' The Southern execu-
tive was on his feet in moment
with an impassioned defense Of his
position.
Gov. O'Neal spoke vehemently for
ten minutes, bowed and without a
word walked through a easement
window to the piazza fronting the
ocean.
Stays Away Fifteen Minutes.
He did not re-enter the convention
hall for fifteen minutes, and took no
further part in the discussion.
When the conference ended, Gov.
Wilson grasped Gov. O'Neal by the
hand and remarked that he did not
wish to be misunderstood. Gov.
O'Neal later said that he sad stepped
to the piazza to meet Mrs. O'Neal.
There was no mincing of words in
the Alabaman's denunciation of the
initiative, referendum and recall.
There is movement which seems
to be gathering strength in certain
sections of the country" he said,
"that tends to weaken rather than
strengthen executive authority; and
that is the system of initiative, refer
endum and recall. The governor has
no power to veto or amend a law
initiated by the people and adopted
by referendum.
Courts Only Remedy.
eff the law is in violation of the
constitution, invades vested rights or
destroys individual liberty, the only
remedy can be found in the courts;
and where the system of recall of
judges prevails, overthrowing as it
does the independence of the judic-
larry, the courts would degenerate
into tribunals organized chiefly to
register popular judgment on all
legal questions
1t was pleasing to know, he added,
that this 'insidious, popular vagary"
will meet with the almost unanimous
opposition of the American bar.
Gov. Wilson did not reply until
several Western governors had
spoken.
Source of the Law.
cit seems to me- he said, ''that
on the question of the initiative and
referendum it is necessary that we
carry the analysis little further
than it has been carried.
IA very important thing, funda-
mentally important thing, is the
source of the law. Some of the laws
that we have are bad laws and they
are bad because there is suspicion
as to their source. The people of the
United States want their governors
to be leaders in matters of legisla-
ton, because they have serious sus-
picion as to the source of the legisla-
ton and they have serious distrust
of their legislature.
Ideas Not Inconsistent
What I would urge as against
the views of Gov. O'Neil is that there
is nothing Inconsistent between the
Strengthening of the powers of the
executive and the direct power of the
people,"
He then spoke of the caprice of the
majority. II have known of in
stances of the caprice of the mob, y
he said, ''but have never known Of
an instance where the vote of the
population was spoken of as a cap
rice.
81 don't believe there is any dis
trust of the fundamental principles
of democracy. l believe we are all
democrats If we use small d.
| O'Neal Reiterates Position.
AS Gov. Wilson sat down, Gov.
O'Neal sprang to his feet and reiter-
ated his belief.
II would rather stanu with Madi-
son and Hamilton ne concluded,
after outlining what he believed the
menace of the measures, .'than to
stand with some modern prophets
and some of our Western statesmen. y
The discussion following Gov.
/ O'Neaps address consumed the after
noon session. Gov. Cruce, of Okla
homa. occupied the chair and those
who spoke included Governors Gil
christ, McGovern, Aldrich, Kitchin,
Burke, Hadley, Shafroth and Haw-
ley.
i On motion of Gov. Sanfroth, of
Colorado, the delegates voted to meet
half an hour earlier on Thursday to
allow DR.. Anna Shaw to address the
meeting on woman suffrage.
GOVERNOR HAY SPEAKS
/ ON COMPENSATION ACT
With Gov. John Burke, OF. North