The Stanford interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1911-1912, 1911-05-19
The INITIATIVE AND RersReN
DUN.


ional Monthly contains an interest
ing and instructive article by Governor
John +. Shafroth Of Colorado, on the
Initiative and Referendum" which
will give TO the readeys or the Interior
Journal a clear conception of the
actual working Of ynis progressive
democratic measure that has proved
highly satisfactory in a number Of the
western states.
The article of Governor shaforth is
as follows:
The two most important measures
that have been devised by men TO com
pei true representative government in
states and cities, are the initiative
and referendum laws. The principal
upon which they are founded are those
which ind expressions in the declara-
ton of Independence in the state
meut that the just powers OF govern
mcnt are derived from the consent of
the governed.
The initiative law is that which
gives to the people the right by pc
tition to compel the submission of
proposed ordinances and laws to the
voters o fthe city or state, and makes
them effective by "a majority vote.
The law in Colorado provides that citi
zens to the number OF eight per cent,
OF the vote cast at the last preceding
general election may sign and file in
| the office of the secretary of State
four months before a general cleo
ton, a petition for the passage OF any
law, setting forth In full such proposed
law. Thereupon the Secretary OF
state, shall publish bne proposed law.
with notice that question OF its adop-
ton will be submitted at the next gen.
eral election to the voters, who shall
by a short designation printed on the
ballot, vote for or against the same.
Ii the law is approved by a
majority of the votes cast, the measure
becomes a law of the state. AS il is
laborious and expensive 10 procure the
signature of the requisite number OF
voters to the petition. the legislature
is always appealed to first to enact
the measure.
Under our own form of Government
all laws are supposed To represent
the will of the majority. Then
by what line OF reasoning can people
object to the will of that majority |
being expressed directly by the
people who constitute that majority?
True reprhsentatiyp government
does not exist at the present time.
The corrective of retiring legis-
lators from office at the next gen.
eral election is too remote TO be eff
fective. The law of the initiative re-
moves the temptation of the legisla-
tor to vote against the will of the peo-
pie, because it removes the interest OF
those seeking special privileges, or
the defeat OF popular measures in his
vote. The great corporate interests
will not spend money in endeavoring
to get legislators, or memeers of coun-
cils to vote against measures desired
by the people, when they know that
the people can, at their own initiative,
present for passage before the voters
Of the city or State the same meas
Ires. The only effort OF such inter
ssts then will be in the attempt TO
,ribe the people and it VIII be found
hat it is impossible to corrupt the
majority of an entire city or State.
even If this could be done they would
ind that it would be too expensive,
nd consequently, would not be under
AIKEN.
Under the initiative the appeal in
ehalf of measures must be TO the
eason and not to selfish motives, and
ence is a great educator OF the peo-
lie. Experience demonstrates that
he electors do vote on measures sub
lifted. and that they vote intelligent
!, upon he same. For instance, in
he State of Oregon the vote of 1904
pom the direct primary law, with di.
ect selection OF United States Sena-
,rs received 56,2O5 votes in its favor
, 1884 votes in the opposition upon
1854 votes in the opposition; upon
le local law in that State, 1876
Dtes against the measure In 1908.
the same state, the recall power
a public officials was adopted by
1te Of 5S,3S1 to 3l.0O2, and the cor
lpt practices act. governing elections
the same time wac adopted by
1te OF 54,O42 to 31,301. When IL was
,nsidered that the total vote in the
late OF oregon in 1904 was $685. and
1905, ll0.590 can be readily seen
at grea. interest is taken by the
,ople in the measures submitted by
e initiative law.
The submission of measures by the