The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-03-15
BRYAN BOOSTS
THE INITIATIVE
as Holds Il Of More importance
Than The Referendum
ALSO FOR LATTER AND RECALL

uon, primaries ana a%ation RHoro
Other Subjects For the Eloquent
Nebrsskan, Who Makes Lenthy
Address to Members Of the Ohio
Constitutional OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Of the Speech.
Columbus, o., March 12.-Before an
audience that more than filed the
hall Of the house of representatives,
William j. Bryan, Democracy's great
srator, this morning offered advice to
kha delegates to the Ohio constltu-
ton convention. Problems now be-
tore the convention afforded themes
Cor the noted Nebraskan's address.
Throughout he commanded close at
tentlon and on divers occasions drew
hearty applause from his auditors.
Mr.. Bryan assured the convention
he was sensible Of the great honor it
had conferred upon him In inviting
him to address 1t. He declared the
delegates had been intrusted with a
work Of great Importance. the prepa-
ration OF a constitution, which, he
said. could be appropriately termed
The Peoples Law" Mr.. Bryan pro
ceeded:
The preparation OF the constitution
az q great state Is q serious under
taking. and those who are engaged in
Il bear a grave responsibility. The
hao
American institution and its hold
apon the people is not likely to be
shaken; It's claim to confidence is
seopardlzed, however, when one gen
Dorati0n attempts to fetter the free
Com of succeeding generations by
provisions that prevent a majority Of
them emending their constitution.
The state constitutions bear wit
nass TO a growing confidence in the
people; they are much more easily
amended, as rule, than the federal
constitution, and the later state con.
.stitutions are more easily amended
than the earlier ones.
Initiative and Referendum.
! The latest step In advance Ia EN-.
Aodied In what is known as the ini-
tiative. For some years past the ini.
tintive and referendum--they are usu,
ally linked together, but are not de.
pendent upon each other-have found
increasing favor among those who
are seeking to make the government
responsive to the peoples will. OF
= Tho two. the initiative is by far the
more important. While the referen.
r &um enables the people to veto a pub.
Nc measure before 1t becomes a law,
rahs Initiative not only enables the
. people to repeal any law which 10 OBJ
fashionable to them, but, what is more
vital 10 their welfare, permits them
N enact directly any law which they
desire. without recourse to the legis.
lature. Through the initiative they
can secure vote of the people upon
~ The initiative Is the most effec-
!, dive means yet proposed for giving
fhr people absolute control over their
government. With the initiative In q
eoasutution. a constitutions defects,
either OF omission or commission be-
come comparatively harmless, for the
people are In q position to add any
erovsslon which they deem necessary
and 70 strike out any part OF the
constitution which they dislike.
The Initiative and referendum do
not overthrow representative govern
nent-they haze not come to destroy
Nat 10 fulhli The purpose of repre-.
sentative government is to represent,
and that purpose falls when represen-
tattves misrepresent their constitu.
satn. Experience has shown that the
defects OF our government are not
Ia the people themselves, but In those
who. actins as representatives OF the
people, embezxle power and turn to
thetr own advantage the authority
given them for the advancement OF
tAa public welfare.
The initiative and referendum do
'mSt decrease tho importance OF legis-
lxtive bot.es. nor do they withdraw
authority from those who arc elected
To represent .he people: on the con.
trsry when the people have the ini.
fintiys and the referendum with
which to protect themselves. they can
safely confer larger authority upon
their representatives. When the con.
sHltution ombodles tho initiative and
reorondum the representative Is not
ecmpoiied 20 vote for any measure
which he feels II his conscientious
&aty To oppose. but he Ia constrained
% oxAmine the measure carefully be
sanse his action In opposing the meas
ere can be n'l)ifled by the people
through tie initiative. And 80, the
representative is not compelled tC
vote against any measure which his
conscience bids him support, but he
Il ccerced into a serious considera
tion OF tho merits OF the measure b,
The fact that the people, through Tho
refcrendum. may veto the measure 4
they do not like II.
The fact that the people can nc
Through the initiative and referendum
makes II less likely that they WI
nssd to employ the remedy--ther,