El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-08

who have been the leaders in the SUI
rage movement, and some rather caus-
tic criticism by many of the men; but
the proposition was defeated inglOri-
ously. just as were other matters on
which IL was desired to have a, refer
endum vote. But since that time the
I women have been Increasingly active
and they have some pretty strong
friends in the legislature.
Republican Aids Suffrage.
Inc leader in favor Of the movement
is Kirk T. Moore, Of Pima county. a
Republican, and formerly superinten-
dent Of the territorial schools. Moore
drafted the bill providing for the
amendment granting suffrage rights to
all women otherwise qualified, the
qualifications being the same as are
leading the fight for the bill on the
floor Of the house He has strong
support both among those who are d.
rect advocates Of giving the ballot to
women and among those who, while not
advocating equal suffrage, yet believe
the question should. be submitted TO
popular vote
What is the sentiment IN the Iegfs-
lature regarding the Moore billy one
of the best informed senators was
asked today by The Herald representa-
tive.
There is so close a division that IL
is impossible to tell what the legisla-
ture will DO"
Makes Legislators Sidestep.
And in this connection. and in con-
nection with several other matters
which have recently come before the
legislature, il is noticeable that the
arguments against the referendum, in
dulged in prior 10 the adoption of that
principle by the constitutional cOnVen-
ton, are being demonstrated TO the
letter. One of these arguments was
that the referendum would have a
tendency to cause legislators TO shirk
their duty in the case Of necessary, but
probably unpopular, measures by side
stepping responsibility and putting the
legislation directly up to the people.
One instance OF that kind has been
noted recently. Some of the legislators
have expressed their intention of vOt-
ing for bills, OF whose improperly
they are convinced, on the ground that
there IS a demand for them in the par
ticulari sections they represent. A no
ticeable case Of this kind occurred
when the bill providing for the sub
mission Of a constitutional amend
ment giving to the state and to cities
the right TO engage In Industrial pur-
suits was before the house. Mr. Lynch,
floor leader Of the minority and the
leading member from Graham county,
declared that while convinced the biz
is vicious in principle and is a social
istic measure pure and simple, he VIII
vote for II in the legislature, because
he believes there is demand in era
ham county for its enactment Mr..
Lynch also said that should the meas
ure be passed he viii oppose IL at the
polls
That is the attitude Of more than
one legislator, particularly those who
accept in toto the referendum prin-
ciple and have tried honestly TO carry
out this mandate of the constitution
Billiard Overules Constitution.
But as has been more than once
noted. the referendum does not cut
much Of a figure with this legislature.
Take the stand Of George Purdy Bgl-
lard one legislator said to The
Herald correspondent today Mr.
Billiard, as attorney general OF
the state, has said in effect
stitutiOn is of no effect He has said
the courts are poWerless-that the
legislature alone has the authority 10
say what does and what does not con-
stitute an emergency II tnat be true
then any measure NAV be declared an
emergency and there is no such thing
as the referendum 1t puts the Demo-
cratic party here in an awkward posi-
ton; but the position in which M
Billiard finds himself will be still more
awkward. Mr.. Billiard. let II be re-
membered, will be a candidate for re-
election. Let IL also be remem oered
that the things he is saying now are
dramatically opposed to the things he
said in the campaign last fall And ,
when he goes on the stump the next
time he is certain 10 hear a few en-
barrassing questions. He Is certain 10
be asked about this opinion and how
he happened to switch
And IL doesn't take much OF a law
yer TO see that Billiards. construction
of the law will not hold water, con-
tinued this man, who is himself a DEM
ocrat He cited some cases from ore
gon and Oklahoma in which he said,
the court decided the legislature is the
sole judge Of what constitutes an emer-
gency. But il must be noted that the
rsa4A fIrrrrr
those cases. The court was not asked
to say whether that section OF the I
constitution had been violated
Much DOdging Is Doae.
There are also hints thaE the legis- I
lative majority, practically all OF I
whom II is well known, viii be candi- I
dates for reelection, VIII have some eA- I
planning TO do. 1t is not only that the !
action of the lawmaking body on the /
Worsley liquor bill is unpopular; there /
are many other bills that have been /
declared emergency measures and on I
which the voters will have no chance I
to express themselves. no matter now I
ardently they NAV desire to do So one 4
reason for taking this ground has been .
to eVade the routine work Of the legla- I
lature. Under the constitution, Dills
must be read three times in fun, eX-
cept they be emergency measure Inls 4
requirement has been evaded, in large
measure. by declaring manv Of the pro-
posed acts emergencies. Also. the rules
nave been arranged TO provide LLaL
bills may be killed by adverse reports
before being read more than once, or
before reading at all So that many /
proposed measures will never be read /
in the legislature at all The scheme
can hardly be said to be in exact ac-
cordance with the fundamental law, but
it is a great time saver. And If the let
ter Of the constitution had been fol-
lowed in the treatment of all bills
the legislature would probably have l
been in session this time next year, II
it had undertaken to do all il has now
mapped out and all that the governor
in his message.
Smiths and Ashurst's stand.
There is just a little doubt whether
The action of senators Smith and Ash
Irst, in introducing in the senate pro-
tests against the cOnfirma tiCn of Rich
lrd Z. Sloan viii, in the end. work for
The good Of the senators themselves /
30 far as the activity of any OF the
in Arizona is concerned
here may be no action, for the Repub-
leans here have been nOticeably slow
n taking advantage of their oppOrtu-
lities and there is not any too much
armony in the party in Arizona But
he former governor has some power
nj friends in Washington and there
las been an intimation that these
riends are willing 10 make strong
light in his behalf. II is said they are
prepared to put uD to the senate the
-.