The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-03
THOMAS ARGUES
FOR REFERENDUM
DECLARES COUNTS HAVE STRIP
PED LEGISLATIVE BODIES
OF THEIR POWER.
RULE BY DECISIONS
PUBLIC POLICY DICTATED NY Ju-
DIcIARY TO THE END THAT
PEOPLES REPRESENTATIVES,
NO LONGER GOVERN.

Tho first argument ever heard In
the hall OF the House Of Delegates in
iasor OF tie inll,atlse, refel eiuuiii ana
recall whts niaae yv-,eruay ai.efiiovA
nrioIe the 5iodse SointiiiLtec on fil.-
iieees ana Efee,lcns Ny Ieiher senator
"a A.. 4aDiitas, Oh ,aIiIpo-n coun,y.
ne ex-oelaalor maze nis speech af-
ter Inc uihcuSSaon nau peen cviiple.ed
on lhe con&fessa0nai re-appoftioiititeht
fnataet, bukpUrtiAs the saarlIn Dill pro-
wang tor q conslitutnnai amsnu-
ment ensratting inc initiative, reter-
euapn and recall upon the Iopstitu-
uon OF virginia.
Mr.. honias declared that the two
hundred tnousand voters OF Virginia
~ere the real representatives OF the
people. some one mnnon, eight hun
dieu thousand OF whom had no right
OF suffrage, These real representa-
tives OF the people delegated their
powers to Representatives in the AS
senibly. The principle OF these meas
ures was no attack upon representa-
tive government. but pcrrvcrinE or
the system.
Dozen Men Control Country.
He Declared that the time had CONS
In the affairs Of the nation when a
dozen men ~A:pntrolled the credits Of
the country. Even a hidden hand was
felt in the State OF Virginia which.
while unseen. was potent in the at
fairs Of governmental policy. Under
subtle influence million and a half
dollars year were being taken out
of the state which should remain In
it. Mr.. Thomas did not make his
point clear along this line.
He declared that the initiative gave
the people an easy avenue Of express
sion and, while the great mass OF
the people would never initiate legis-
lation, the best results would be OBJ
tanned by giving the public the great
eat facility for the expression of its
aspirations.
The principle OF the referendum, he
said, wGs no new thing. 1t was as
old as our government. The militia
tive and referendum as proposed but
extended the application OF the princi-
pie. 1t was now applied In many in
stances, bond elections, read elections,
school elections. and local option cleo
tons.
Seathino Arraisnn,ent of judiciary.
Mr.. Thomas arraignment of the Ju-
dietary OF the country, while couched
in moderate terms courteously express
ed, WAS the most drastic ever heard
before a committee OF the Leeisla-
ture
He declared that the judiciary Of the
country had taken from the legisla-
tive bodies of America the control of
the policies of the State. A man could
be hanged without the courts granting
| an appeal, but II the rights OF rail-
| road corporation were involved there
| were appeals innumerahle. The peo-
| pie need to take the railroad attorneys
| OFF the bench Of Virginia, and OF the
United States by recall. NO stuffed
prophet goes with me-" declared the
speaker. and he declared his views
| we're in line with the common sense
of the people.
| He declared that he would open
| avenues to the people to make their
| wishes effective. He declared that the
| principles OF the Initiative, referen-
| dunn and recall were fundamentally
! Democratic, and that the spirit Of
| Democracy is Illuminating the entire
world. He declared that. while Eng
| land was q rponarchical country, there
| was no court that could declare UNI
constitutional an act Of parliament
while in this country five judges of the
| Supreme Court Of the United States
| had the power to undo the acts of the
| representatives OF the people. and
| thereby to declare and control the pub
| lie policy OF the country. He declared
| that Notwithstanding the freedom of
| the English parliament from the con-
troi Of the courts there was no coun-
| try on earth where property or prop
erty rights were safer.
He closed with declaration that
! the final arbftrament upon matters of
public policy shohld rest with the
people.