The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-05-22
DON'T LIKE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

)ONT LINE INITIATIVE AND RtFehENoOm
That the initiative and referendum is having
ome aard experience and failing to ingratiae itself
nto the hearts of many is evident from daily ex.
ressions the subject That Ex-Presdent Taft
S not alone is daily becoming more apparent The
Jeserct News is the latest to give it broadside.
n its issue of Monday it says
Ex.President Taft has recently character
ICED the initiative and referendum the work
of political cranks and directly contrary to the
spirit Of the Constitution"
This may sound harsh, but it is to be fear
ed that no matter how solid the theoretical ba-
sis of that structure appears, when applied to
the test of practice it crumbles, and the build
ing falls.
In this State we have initiative the
question Of wet or dry territory and repre-
sentatives have taken advantage OF 1t and cir
culated petitions In almost every dry" town.
Everywhere it has been found that men and wo-
men who are opposed to licensed liquor traffic
were induced to put their names on the paper
presented to them, not knowing what they were
doing. We have no doubt that hundreds of
names secured in this way, in the various
communities. But if citizens be taken in
easily on simple proposition like this, by
smooth tongued agents. how can they be expect.
ed to act ntelligently when questions of Il more
complex nature are presented to them? Presi.
dent Wilson may have had this very fact in view
when he said: "A government can no make
laws through its voters than it make laws
through its newspapers. What I mean to say
is that popular initiative is an lnconceivable
thing"
In oregon the initiative has been appl ed,
sometimes with startling results. One measure
the Los Angeles Times tells us, had to be re
jected because the enthusiasts who insisted that
only the people should make laws forgot to in.
sert enacting clause Two initiative laws
We're submitted to the people at the same time
in regard to catching salmon in the Columbia
River. One law to prohibit the use of nets was
promoted by the companies which used wheels.
The other law to prohibit the use of wheels was
urged by the companies which used nets. The
people voted for both laws, As a result, until
the regular legislature came to the relief of the
public and Strengthened out the tangle by repeal.
ing both laws, the salmon in the Columbia were
safe Among the initiative antics in Oregon is
an amendment to the State Constitution so crude
ly drawn that there is n serious question whe-
Their trial by jury has not been abolished by it,
Having seen the practical working of the mi.
tiatve and referendum, the Portland Oregonan,
once in favor of these additions to our political
The whole of this modern scheme of
setting aside Constitution and laws, and OF
forcing legislation without debate or opporun.
ity of amendment turns out badly because 1t
gives the cranks OF the country an opportun-
ity which they have not self restraint enough
to forego. II was not intended that represen-
tative government should be abolished by the
new system; but It has been abolished by 1t.
The situation is the cranks paradise"
Gov. Vessey Of South Dakota has come to
a similar conclusion He is quoted as follows:
Don't think for minute that this sys
TEN is cure for all evils. II may cure some
old evils, but certain am that II brings on
new evils which are very harmful to the state
end rs neople. II helps the scalawaG Of
ten as the good citizen If not ofener Every
time law is passed to improve moral condi
tons II is referended back to the people by the
rag-tag element and eighteen months must
elapse before It goes into effect even II nv
of the delay its opponents are no' able
TO bring about its defeat"
In theory it Is al! very well 10 regard the
people" as the cou;t of last resort, but in many
instances it is found that the people have not
the detailed knowledge of laws that enables them
to Judge correctly, The builders OF the Republic
realized this They, therefore, made the gov
eminent representative. They provided that the
people should select men to represent them in
law making, as we'll as in the nterpre alton and
execution of law and this IS, really, the only
practical method When a man wants 20 build
house he employs an architect because he
himself is not an expert in building II he needs
somebody to run his auto for him he employs
a chauffeur who knows all about the machine
II h needs medical help he calls in a physician
who has studied the subjects pertaining to aiq
calling. In every individual need. we turn -
expert assistance, and there is no initiative and
referendum except as to whose advice and So.
vices TO employ. When that is decided the mi