The Detroit times., 1911-01-06

On the business OF mining, and the ems
petsnt inspectors 10 enforce the proyis-
Ions OF this Nv.
Inftiatfve and Referendun.
IL Il evident that resort 10 the initia-
tive and referendum cannot be practical
ton has been recently revised by a
non partisan convention OF strong men
and their work has been Endorsed In
However. doubt whether the people
would have Endorsed the constitution
section by section. Consequently. ! am
to suggest an amendment making IL
practically possible for the people 10
initiate laws and amendments 10 the
constitution independent OF the legisla-
ture and have them submitted 10 the
direct vote OF ..ie people
the constitution declares that all po-
section /. article III. Section of article
xvii practically nullifies this declara-
20 per cent OF all the electors voting for
secretary or state at the preceding
election amendments TO the constitu-
less their petition is vetoed by a ma
jority vote of the legislature In Joint
session. This section might just as
well never have been written into the
constitution so far as recognizing the
practical rights OF the people is con-
cerned and Is an evidence OF the dis
| trust OF the people felt by those who
did II. The constitutional convention
contained many good men. In fact.
there were few exceptions. However.
shrewd corporation lawyers l do not
say these men are not as honest and
patriotic as they are able. but do
contend that in the very nature OF
things. by temperament. special pur-
suit, environment OF occupation and
other cumulative influences their atti-
would prevent them rom seeking and
| taking the peoples point OF view. This
Is not intended to be, and is not. a re-
Election upon their character. The bal
| lot box is the safety valve OF govern
mept. The easier IL is OF honest access
the greater the opportunity OF the peo-
direct is the responsibility upon the
people. Resp onsibility breeds sobriety.
BY giving them every right and oppor-
tunity to go TO the polls, the direct re-
| sponstbility or the people Is fixed until
1t becomes matter OF individual con-
sideration. With this will come the
holder indeed, and concerned in the
| government. This will make him eau
desire to know that he is right before
he goes ahead The oregon law re-
quires petition by per cent OF the
voters to initiate. / recommend the
submission OF an amendment to the
/ constitution making IL possible for 10
per cent of the voters TO initiate
mission and doing away with the veto
| privilege OF the Legislature
| / would also recommend that the
right 10 direct recall be included. When
the people have the right 10 discharge
those public officials. who are derelict,
notorious public shortcomings will be
| infrequent. There will be a finer reali-
zation that the public officer is a pub
lie servant In truth and the very exist
ence OF the right OF recall will make for
conditions under which there will be
| a lessened necessity for the exercise OF
the power. complete trustfulness OF
the people awakens in them a true de-
al n I'm n n
peaple become more and more
each decade the jury. in reality
before which all public questions
tion of this will lead to greater con-
fidence upon the part of all. II the
game of government shall be actually
played with the cards all face up with
out Juggling or shifting the cut the
way VIII be made for better under
standing between all classes that Will
persistently improve.
Regulation OF Liquor Traffic.
Temperance is a matter OF personal
social problem than political The
regulation Of the liquor traffic Is
Lar gely a political function. The up
heaval and interest I'm Michigan and
over the country along these lines are,
I'm my opinion, aimed more at the liquor
traffic than at the temperate use OF
alcoholic beverages. Ii appears that
temperance Is handicapped unless those
who believe even in rationalism become
excited and militant. The saloon OF
today Is social saprophyte. Always
II has been a breeding place OF law
lessness and culture ground of vice.
So arrogant had ii become that gov
eminent by saloon and rule by brew
candidate who did not bow to the Joint
keeper and the local official who did
not recognize the political power OF
alcohol as manifested through low
groggeries were n for a fight all of
the time TO save their political lives. |
Breweries were not contented with a |
distribution to such saloons as might |
ar artificial policy of starting saloons |
at all convenient places where the con- |
sumption of their product would be |
increased. There Is intense competi-
ton between brewers for the installa- |
ton and control OF saloons. Conditions |
became intolerable. The people broke |
out In contag Gus rebellion, all invoked !
by the exaggerated commercializing of
alcohol
4 desire for better conditions exists
In the heart OF every good citizen. The |
average man does not wish TO be fanat- |
ical or intolerant. He does not wish |
to apply sumptuary laws that abridge |
personal liberty beyond the point of |
public good. But government by sa-
loon and brewery must go and artificial |
stimulation OF the traffic I'm beer and |
whiskey must be discontinued. In a |
degree IL is true that the saloon Is the |
poor mans club. But the rich mans |
less few, while the poor mans club, IL
low in character and degenerating In |
influence, Injuries the useful many. |
Society can stand crumbling at the |
top. for that Is the natural spot OF
decay, but II cannot survive necrosis |
Of its foundation masses. The local
option policy Is good. and out OF IL can
come improving conditions. In COM
munites where saloons exist there
should not be more than one to thou
sand population. and breweries should |
be divorced from their ownership The |
license should be higher, but more at
tention should be paid to the character
OF the saloonkeeper and the conduct |
OF the saloon than TO the amount OF |
license. i would suggest a law provid-
ing for fuller state supervision OF |
saloons. The state dispensary system
is ideal. but proved failure In South |
Carolina. In Russia. where alcohol Is
a government monopoly. the dispen-
Pennsylvania the courts regulate the |
liquor traffic, give and revoke licenses
In Canada the hotel system prevails
/ would like to see the question |
studied for Michigan by an honorary
commission TO be composed OF some OF |
the most noble, courageous and unsel- |
Ash citizens OF the state.
This is an age OF stimulation. The |
physical tensity OF our civilization |
makes for IL. The quantities consumed !
I'm this country alone or alcohol In /
fee and tobacco are startling and |
transhx with horror when contem-
plated, commanding the interest OF !
every person concerned In the welfare /
OF society DISCRIMINATION Is the /
source or disease pauperism ana crime |