Imperial Valley press., 1913-10-15
Political Leaders
Plan Big Move

(By Congressman Clyde H, TavenneG)
Washington, Oct. 15.-Stirred by a
common motive, a number of earnest
men met in Washington the other
night and consummated a movement
which has been under discussion fOr
many months. They formed "Tne
National Popular Government Lea
que" and appointed COMMITTEE OF
fifty" whose membership numbers
some of the best known men in the
United States.
The meeting voiced fear and ut
tered a promise. The fear was that
popular government which was
spreading with such rapidty two or
three years ago has been checked ny
it's enemies, not in Washington, but
out through the states. The promise
Of the new organization is not only
that it will work for the perfection
and extension Of the instruments Of
popular government among the states
but that its chief aim will be to eX-
tend the initiative, the referendum,
the recall, direct primaries and elec-
tons, the preferential ballot and cleo
other means which the people are US
ing to wrest power from the
hands of the special intrsts, to ma
tioual politics and national govern
ment.
! This latter the league proposes to
do by means of a constitutional
amendment called by a name which is
bound to become familiar in the next
few years-the gateway amend
ment." 1t is a gateway because it
opens up the gate for the easy adoo-
ton of the reforms in government
which the people are demanding
The gateway amendment provides
for new methods Of amending the
federal constitution. 1t provides that
a constitutional amendment may be
proposed (a) by majority vote in
both houses of congress, (b) by a
majority o feither house alone, pro
vided the majority of the other house
has not twice rejected the proposal,
and (c) by any ten states. Ratifica-
tiOn is submitted directly to the vot
ers. Ratification is by double ma
jority"-i. e., the majority of all the
voters in the United States must ia
vOr it, and also the proposition must
carry a majority of the states by a
majority vote in each case. This
amendment has been introduced in the
senate by Senators Owen and LaFol-
lette, and in the house of representa-
tives by W, NJ. Chandler of New
York.
Think of the difficulty now IN
amending the federal constitution.
| Only seven amendments have been
adopted since 1791 1t took Is years
of fighting to get the income tax
amendment. Thirty-three senators
out of 531 members of congress can
prevent the submission of an amend
mont to the states. The Is smallest
states in the Union, with only one
fOrtieth Of the population, can reject
an amendment Dr.. Charles NJ
Carthy, director of the Wisconsin leg
islative reference library, says of the
gateway amendment:
without it the people can never
realize complete liberty. Without it
we are in constant danger of having
the guarantees which have come down
to us from the Magma Charta con-
strued by hostile forces and not by
the will of the people"
Judson King, writer and lecturer IN
popular government, who has been
elected secretary of the new organi-
zation, believes that popular govern
ment in the states is in danger of be
ing discredited through ineffective
laws made purpously weak by the en-
emies of direct government.
"a most astute and successful cam
paign is being waged against these
great reforms" he said "If they are
not stripped of their effectiveness as
they are adopted from now on they
must receive powerful support and
expert guidance"
The new organization aims to eX-
tend its membership throughout the
United States. Any citizen can be-
long by payment of the membersh:p p
fee of 81. Headquarters have been
established in the Munsey building in
Washington. Senator Owen of Okla
homa is chairman Of the committee
Of Gf+1y which ;pcluJoc Sapotorc A oh