The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-20
REAL, NOT ARTIFICIAL, PUBLIC
OPINION MUST DECIDE.

itiaAL, NOT ARTIFICIAL, PUBLIC
OPINION MUST DECIDE.
The people of Columbus, Ohio. have
| Just declared by a vote OF three to
ono for the formulation of n new munl-
cipal charter securing a larger mea-
sure of local self government That
| is one way of stating tho outcome of
| tho referendum, but if VIC go behind
the record we find that more than
three outtof every four qualified voters
in the city felt so little concern over
me issue at stake that they did not
vote at ALL Barely 10000 votes were
poiled from population of more than
100000, despite the fact that the news
papers OF tho city long and ardently
urged upon the electorate the import
ance of the decision to DO rendered
at the ballot box.
Nor did the matter put squarely up
to the voters by this referendum jus
tify such popular Indifference. The
formulation of city charter is the
highest Legislative act of which the
people OF a municipality arc capable
Tho city charter is tho supreme local
law of the city. which no ordinance of
Council can contravene. 1t is the fun
damental and organic law of the city
The charter is to the city what the
Constitution is to tho state It out
lines the future policies OF tho city and
largely shapes for "A considerable
period the welfare OF It's citizens. The
adoption of n new charter may in
volve radical changes IN the conditions
under which the people OF a city live
and work
Yet a minority OF about one voter
in six has ordered the drafting OF
now charter for the capital city Of
Ohio. The chances are that the in
strument. when framed. will be adopt
cd by like minority
A light vote is interpreted by com
mon renson rs evidence of an unn-
terested and indifferent electorate. n
the people do not vote. then the people
are not concerned over the Issue to be
determined ut the polls. \ popular
referendum does not justify itself un-
less 1t expresses n real interest, and a
real interest must exist before 1t can
be expressed. II the law governing.
a referendum should require really
significant vote in order TO make the
result valid. the forces favoring the
popular approval OF the Issue to be
referred would be forced by the dan
ger OF failure TO make a vigorous pre-
liminary campaign for the develop
ment ana crystallizatlon of n sub
stantial public sentiment.
The menace OF the referendum lies
in It's easy manipulation by dcma-
gogues. by special interests ana by
the sinister forces of invisible govern
ment. Political machines. in many
cases. would not find ii difficult to
mold the referendum TO their own
private ends a referendum clectio
Is just as easily controlled aa any
other sort OF election, If popular IN
terest Is not at white heat at the hour
of balloting.
The result OF referendum par
ticipated in by small percentage OF
the qualified vote Is artificial public
opinion; the result OF referendum
In which large percentage OF tho
qualified vote participates Is genuine
public opinion. No referendum ought
ever to be ordered unless those who
are to take part in 1T have had time
to inform themselves thoroughly. The
referendum should require of the pco-
pie an intelligent decision and not
a mere horseback opinion.
Is the referendum upon annexation
contemplated by the City Democratic
Committee necessary. expedient or
wise? DO the people really desire
the Issue to be referred to them? What
evidence is there to prove that they
distrust their regular legislative agents
in The city Council to such an extent
that the latter cannot be allowed to
dispose Of the question?