The Green Forest tribune., 1912-09-20

soue Of the amendments adopted will be referred to the courts for an inter- pretation of the initiative and refer- endum machinery.
 While it is not expected that any acts will pass, the formality of declar- ing them part of the law would be simple The returns must be can yassed officially by the state board of election commissioners, composed secretary of state. Then the governor issues a proclamation stating that these acts have been adopted by the people and are laws of the state.
 These amendments will not be in. corporated in the constitution until the legislature convenes. The legisla ture when it convenes in joint ses- sion to deleare the result of the cleo ton, will declare the votes on the amendments also, and they will be of ficially adopted. Attorney General Norwood, who circulated the petition for the 60day session amendment, says this will save the state $200,000 biennially. It will be adopted by the incoming legislature and will apply to it's session.
 Attorney General Norwood declares that he is not sure at present whether the amendments 1aust have majority of the highest vote cast for any state office, as he has not made con- plete investigation. Some lawyers hold that the amendments will require any state office, while others, in- cluding Mayor Chas. E. Taylor, who has consulted several attorneys, says that only a majority of the votes cast on that particular measure is required.
 Attorney General Norwood still holds to his oringinal opinion, how ever, that Amendments Nos. IA and 15 had no place on the ballot, and are not legally adopted, and says this will probably be tested in the courts by someone interested. MT. Norwood says that the constitution specifics that only three amendments may be submitted at any general election, which in this case would bar all ex- eept No. II, 12 and 13.
 Need Simple Counting Plan.
 The first election under the initia- tive and referendum has brought forth many complaints about the time re- quired to canvass the returns, and many political economists have been laboring upon patents to improve the present mode of counting the vote. Some of these probably will be sub- mitted to the next legislature, and some better system may be adopted The long time required to count the ballots causes greater work and eX- pense to newspapers and worry to the people who are particularly interested in the measures. It is also said to give opportunity for fraud. Charges of fraud were made last week on some of the measures in which the people were interested, but no proof was shown.
 Prohibitionsists Lose Ground.
 The fight over the prohibition meas. ure was perhaps the most interesting The result in many counties was a surprise. Not only did the state-wid- CTS lose on Act No. 2, but 21 counties that are now dry" voted wet" while only one "wet" county voted dry" The one county formerly ''wet" and voting dry is Cross. It was thought Lee county had voted "dry" but later returns indicate that this county will remain in the wet column. Dry counties voting for license this year are: Arkansas, Bradley, Carroll, Cle- burne, Crittendon, Calhoun, Madison, Newton, Searcy, Stone, Hot Spring. Jackson, Poinsett, Monroe, Woodruff, Lonoke, Polk, Sevier, Miller, Ouachita, Perry and possibly Yell. This will make 33 or 34 wet" counties instead of 12 as at present, although special acts will keep saloons out of Hot Spring and Ouachita countIes, and pos sibly four others, and the net result will probably be 15 "dry' counties ad- ded to the wet" column.