Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-05-21
HEARsT-RoosEvELT POLICY.

some handwriting Is appearing on the polit-
zeal wall which spells an alliance between Hearst
and Roosevelt. Day by day the support the
Hearst papers giving to the Roosevelt vaga.
ries becomes stronger and more apparent This
week an elaborate defense Of the initiative ref
erendum and recall appeared in one of these
papers which is serving as a campaign document
IN the Colonel's war on all he once pretended to
respect.
AS far as the initiative is concerned. the
people have it now. Any little group of voters
can get some members of Congress or the state
Legislature to introduce any kind of bill they
wish. Legislative work is choked by the null
tiplicity of such bills. Mr.. Hearst knows this as
Wei as anyone, for he is responsible for lot Of
them. The proposed initiative would not be half
as simple or cheap as what we now have No
one need worry about the initiative II would be
impossible to have more of it than we now get
The referendum that the Hearst Roosevelt
aiilance advocates just is to be the panacea
Tor all our Legislative ills Its object is thus de-
fined IN the Hearst papers:
with the referendum in existence the GEN
tlemen In the legislature making laws or propos-
ing laws would be compelled to refer them or
carry them back to the people.
Under the referendum the people could
Keep to themselves, as they should do, the right
to pass upon laws started in Legislatures or in
Congress. And the laws referred, or carried
back to the people would be passed upon by the
people, and they would not become actual laws on
the statute books until the people under the ref
erendnm had given their approval
In other words with the referendum the
people supposed to govern. to own the nation and
the government would do for themselves exactly
what the owner of a big factory would do for
himself y
The referendum would complicate still more
our confused election system and would deprive
our government of its representative character
Moreover IT has been tested and found wanting
ha m Na, Il
asked to pass upon changes in the state constitu-
non In most cases says the Commercial these
changes are simple in character and form and
therefore easily understood; yet the voters take
httle interest In them. This is not due to their
lack OF Importance for some of them are vital in
their effects Only small part of the voters who
mark their ballots for the candidate of their
choice for governor will pay any attention to the
ballot containing the constitutional amendments
What better results do the Hearst Roosevelt com
bnatIon expect from the referendum
The referendum would be a useful tool in the
bands of politicians and the interests" Almost
anything can be done with a snap vote when a
solid combination Of practical men want some.
thing passed IN that way. In some places bonuses
are granted to new industries and these money
grants have to be sanctioned BY popular vote
generally nj a special election The total vote il
now large. and the bonus ordinance Is always ap.
proved # the workers for il get out ~ per cent
or even less Of the electors II i farce Would
the referendum work any betterf
The Commercial has dealt with the recall
several times recently. Il would make towards Of
our judges and all officials subject 10 IL An the
objections 20 the referendum such ~ lack II gen.
eral interest and small votes apply ~ a. Ii
judge offended . small element in the community
thoSe aggrieved could reeal him ~ snap vute
east BY less than onr-afth - the number reeis
tered a. the rewsslaF elections
tasnistlr comparisons ~ The ho,ly II electors
stth th~ - i.ei.s, ~. a.li.>lAi. bat uat
convincing II tie eWusfs r. fartories ana other
su~sns~s mes paid a lstle - ths attention 10 nnh.
n Affairs that epugeFn them that they - 81 their
'erseaal Interests The community wnuld D. better
aH A thtngs arr " have tao many eieetions
sHd 800 ltle Interest IS taken in most ~ thsm
Nvn he Hearst Roosevelt ds.trinairss favor the