The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-08-30
Special to The journal.

Tallahassee, Aug. 29.-Attorney Cen
eral Trammeli this morning gave ont
the following Interview relative to
Senator Finlayson's criticisms on his
initiative and referendum opinion fur
nished Secretary of State Crawford.
and which has been the means of per-
mttting the people to have a vote on
this question in the approaching gen.
eral election:
when this matter came to my at
tention and the responsibility rested
practically exclusively upon me as to
whether or not the people of Florida
should have the privilege of voting
upon the proposed Initiative and ref
erendum amendment to the state
constitution, I realized and knew
there was a difference of opinion on
the part of certain lawyers upon this
question, some contending that such
legislative action had been taken
thereon that entitled it to submission
to the voters, and others contending
that it could not be legally submitted.
Such differences of opinion among
lawyers are not unusual, however, and
1 fully realize the right and privilege
of any one to differ with me upon
this matter.
After careful consideration of
the Legislative action taken upon the
proposed anandasapt and the law ap-
plicab1e therSts SIS considered the
same, I felt unwilling to deprive the
voters of the state OF the privilege of
expressing themselves upon the pro-
posed amendment and entertained the
opinion that from the record and the
law, 1 was justified in advising that
the amendment be submitted to the
voters.
POPULAR VOICE PARAMOUNT.
''As I see it no harm can come from
allowing the people of Florida to ex-
press Themselves at the polls as to
whether or not they wish to change
their state constitution as proposed by
this amendment. While the constitu-
ton prescribes what shall be the
course of the legislature in proposing
an amendment, the action of the peo-
pie upon an amendment is the most
important feature connected Herewith
Our Florida supreme court has very
properly held that 'in changes of the
constitution the popular voice is the
paramount act" and in my opinion
if the proposed amendment is at the
polls adopted by the electors, it will
be sustained by the courts. II. upon
the other hand, 1t is rejected by the
popular voice,o then its submission has
worked no harm. 1t is true that some
who vote with the losing side may be
disappointed, but this constitutes nc
reason against the submission of the
amendment, or for changing the rule
| that the voice of the majority of the
people should prevail over a minority.
CAS- to the views of Mr.. Ffnlaysor
| upon my opinion rendered to the Sec
| retary of state, it is nothing more OF
less than a, technical criticism which
he has the right to make If he desires
I may or may not have expressed my
self Just as he would have expressed
himself, and whether / used the form
| or style he may have used is imma-
| terial. From the record he may draw
different conclusions from those reach.
/ ed by me, but whatever may be his
! views, prepared my opinion with per.
feet honesty and gave that construc'
/ ton and credit to the legislative rec
| ord and the law as I conscientiously
believed proper. I considered the leg.
| isIative record as an entirety"