Evening journal., 1912-01-27
SATURDAY. JAN. 27, 1912
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDuM.

THE enthusiasm of certain men possessed of
\ an idea is inspiring TO behold. Some of the
most enthusiastic men about town today are the
advocates of the initiative and referendum and re-
call as specific for most of our political ills. They
believe it is thspotent force that is going to bet
ter our politics and to restore the government to
the hands of the people" from whom it has been
snatched according TO them, by the interests.
They think it would apply to Delaware as well
as to other states and they arc confident that the
next legislature in this state will favor the Init
iatIve, Referendum and Recall. Candidates for
the legislature will be asked whether they will vote
for such a measure, and il not they may expect
the opposition of the league advocating the reform
in Delaware.
1t the opponents of the Initiative Referendum
and Recall we're to organize and threaten the de-
feat of any candidate who supported the measure
the candidate would be in a pickle. But the oppo-
nents are not likely to organize The average
man doesn't know much about the Initiative, Re
ferendum and Recall and doesn't care much al
though this is the time when he should give at
tenton TO such matters, for when the baseball
season hsgins. s.surely no one can expect Mr. Aver
-age Man to pay mHch attention to anything besides
the scores.
The Initiative, Referendum and Recall from a
practical point Of view assumes that the public
will vote to better purpose and more intelli-
gently than men whom they may elect to repre-
sent them under the present system. This raises
the question of whether the average member of
the Legislature represents the average intelligence
and sound sense of his community. Considering
the last session of the legislature in this state we
believe the members represented the average in
tehgence of their respectatve communities to say
the least The members of the legislature were
welnformed as the average man in their dis
trcts
The question then arises, What is the legislation
which the public demand in this state that cannot
be secured at present but could be secured by the
Initiative and Referendum? Doubtless those so
earnest for the reform have in mind certain leg
islaton that is needed which they think they can
not get at present but which they could get under
the Initiative and Referendum. This brings up
the question to what legislation the people have
shown that they have earnestly desired We can
not think of anything during the last few years
excepting temperance legiSlation-for which the
people have shown widespread determined and
persistent demand, such a demand as would re-
suit in we'll attended mass meetings and in a
thoroughly aroused public opinion, for we fancy
that under the present system the legislature is
responsive TO a clear and aroused public opinion.
In other words il strikes The Journal that dur
ing the last few years at least legislature has
not been thoroughly tested. The first step in
Delaware is to arouse public opinion so that pro.
per interest will be taken in legislation for the
good of the state. That public opinion may not
need the Initiative, Referendum and Recall as
means through which TO express itself regarding
state legislation. If it is shown that the .egsla
ture is defiant Of public opinion then the lnitia
tive, Referendum and Recall may be taken up as
means necessary to enact into law the will OIL
the people