The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-11-22
STILL MUCH
WORK AHEAD
APPROVAL OF DIRECT LEGIS-
LATION BY VOTE OF THE
PEOPLE NO SIGN THAT BAT
TIE FOR DEMOCRACY is
WON.

Inc people nave voted unto them
selves the powers of the initiative,
referendum and recall despite advice
to the contrary of large portion of
the editorial and news service of our
large dailies, the saw dust ring, the
fish trust, railroad and other special
interests represented by the Civic
League of our state.
We would, however, caution those
who are of the belief that the task is
accomplished, the work done, for in
reality it is but begun. All the ele-
ments that opposed direct legislation
will continue the fight to discredit it
and prevent the submission of the
further amendments so essential
the right to AMEND THE CONSTI-
TUITION BY THE INITIATIVE and
the recall of the judiciary.
Again, legislative enactments are
necessary before the amendments
just adopted by the people are really
serviceable. Provision must be made
for publicity system whereby the
people will learn of the merits of mat
ters submitted under the initiative and
referendum, from a source that will
permit of a fair presentation of both
sides of each issue. Such information
is not obtainable through the columns
of the daily press. Voters must be in
formed if advanced legislation is to be
sought through the franchise.
The Oregon System" a pamphlet
containing the laws or amendments to
be voted upon together with limited
argument, for and against, mailed to
every voter sixty days before elec-
tion, seems to be the best system yet
devised. It's adoption by our state
will be bitterly opposed by special
interests" as they want only such
as favors their views, which
they, having the price, can always Sc
cure through the columns of news
papers of large circulation.
The present law provides for the
publication of constitutional amend
ments by one or more weekly papers
in each county for three months prior
to election. In compliance with that
law several papers in each county
printed the amendments just adopted
in a fine type in the advertising Sec
tion of the paper where no one seeks
information of that kind. We received
several hundred inquiries during the
campaign for copies of the proposed
amndments and were almost always
able to refer inquirers to newspaper
which they were subscribers for.
When directed to the fine type adver-
tising pages they found the amend
ments printed in full They almost
invariably found the same paper edit
orally condemning the amendments
which they were paid by the state for
publishing. Why? Governor Hay and
Secretary of State Howell selected the
papers that published the amendments
and only 'stand-pat' republican editors
were rewarded 1t will never be other
wise until the state adopts it's own
publicity system-either in pamphlet
or weekly news bulletin service.
We must not rest content with the
good work just accomplished while
our enemies are busy planning how
they can make same imperative and
prevent the completion of our pro-
gram. We must have a good PUB
LICITY SYSTEM, CONSTITUTIONAL
INITIATIVE, RECALL OF JUDIC-
larry, PREFERENTIAL PRESIDEN-
TIAL PRIMARIES, MOTHERS PEN
SION, MINIMUM WAGE, FIRST AID
AND MORE COMPENSATION, THE
CHILD LABOR LAW, BETTER MIN
ING CODE and many other needed re-
forms. Every one of these issues will
be opposed by the same gang-special
interests or dollars VS.. HUMANITY
will be the issue in legislative halls
this winter as heretofore and the de-
gree to which it is successfully COM
bated will depend upon the degree of
interest taken in these issues by the
wage workers of our state.
ACETATE, EDUCATE, ORGANIZE.
The battle is a daily one and we will
win in the degree in which we put
forth daily effort G. r. G.