The Harrison times., 1912-06-22
Little Rock Letter.
LITTLE Rock, June 18th, 10

Arkansas VIII very SOOH nave a
judicial decision on the greatest puz.
zle in government ever propounded
in this state. The various and di-
verse interests and issues involved in
the construction and application of
Amendment No. 10 in conjunction
with the Enabling Act were sub
mitted to the supreme Court yester-
day for determination. Court will
adjourn for the summer recess July
10Th, and this being a matter of
urgent public concern will be ad-
vanced and a decision rendered be-
fore that time.
A new way must be blazed by the
Supreme Conrt, as there are no pre-
cedents here to be followed, and at
least in one point, that of a county's
right to propose and enact laws,
there is nothing in the worlds his
tory of direct legislation that is
comparable to it. There are two
radically divergent views on the
subject Of the Initiative and Refer
endum. Its opponents contend that
it will lead to confusion and chaos,
even to a destruction of our repre-
sentative form of government. On
the other hand, its advocates con-
tend that it will bring the govern
ment closer to the people, and there
by realize a genuine democracy.
The subject is inexhaustible, and
whole libraries have been and will
be written on it.
In its direct application to Arkan-
sas affairs, however, it is not ques.
toned that the law under which the
people propose to operate is loosely
drawn, ambiguous, uncertain and
inconsistent. Ashley Cookri!l, pres
ident of the Arkansas Bar Associa-
tion, declares that its literal inter
probation would mean political
chaos, and that such haphazard,
careless method for amending the
Constitution of the State is criminal
negligence, mayhem, murder" He
is answered by other members of
the bar in the words of Bryan, that
revolutions never move backward,
and if there is anything wrong with
the system it can be corrected after
it has been adopted"
That there is something radically
wrong with it is evident from the
confusion that has already arisen
in the efforts Of the people to act as
amateur lawmakers, The problem
Of whipping it into some form in
which it can be made practicable is
now in the hands Of Justices Nc
Culloch, Wood, Frauenthal and
Kirby, Of the supreme court, as JUS
tice Hart is i'll and will not be able
to sit in the presentation,
There are five local and one gen.
eral measure submitted to the court,
involving questions that should set
tie practically all the issues in,
volved, although other questions
will arise later as TO construction
and methods of procedure, One i'm.
portant question that is not submit
ted is that of the number Of consti.
tutionol amendments that may be
voted on at one time, which has
been raised unoficially by the attor.
ney general
The proposed acts submitted are'
For the removal of the county seat
of Dallas county from Fordyce TO
Princeton; to permit Sunday base.
ball in Little Rock; TO remove
county seat Of Montgomery county
from Mt, Ida to Womble to permit
horse.racing and betting on horse.
races in Garland county, to place
certain county officials Of Sebastian
county on salary, All Of these
proposed acts are held by Gen, Nor
wood to be in violation of the gen
eral laws, and therefore not subject
to initiation, Upon his advice the
Secretary of State refused TO Ger.
tify them out for publication, but
that official Was compelled to do 50
ON mandamus,
The only general act directly in
yolyed is the statewide prohibition
bill, initiated by the Anti.SNloon
League Two local prohibition
leaders brought suit in circuit court
10 enioin the Secretary OF state from
certifying It out, because of uncer.
tainities regarding its validity, but
the court decided it has been prop.
erly submitted, could not be with.
drawn, aud must be voted on, This
has been appealed 70 the Supreme
Court, In the meantime the l}x'
eeutiye Committee of the League
had repudiated the measure, deelar.
] 4 "A.