The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-03-07
DIRECT

DlftEOI
AS this is written word has just
come from Bismarck hat the Ploy-
har-Blakenlore bill. providing for the
initiative, referendum and recall. after
being passed by a bare majority Of the
senate. was reconsidered and defeated
in that body. and that the house
threatens to defeat all the senate bills
on the subject which have come to ii.
If MS is lone that puts an end to such
legislation for some years, because no
new proposition for an amendment on
this subject has been done by the leg
islature at this session. Everything
will he wiped off the board. and it will
be necessary to begin all over again.
The usual steps must be followed,
namely. a new resolution must he
passed by the legislature Of 1915. sub.
mitted by that body to the legislature
Of 1917, passed by that body, and sub
United to the people at the ext cleo
ton. which, unless a special election
Is called, will be the election Of No
vember. 1918.
1t will be unfortunate if his is the
result of all the agitation for legisla-
ton of this character. There are grave
questions as to the wisdom or unwis-
dom Of the initiative and referendum
in various forms. There are grave
questions as to the usefulness of the
recall. But there is a strong demand
for some legislation which will give
the people a closer and more effective
and intimate connection with matters
of legislation, and a wide demand that
at least the subject be submitted to
the people for their decision. There
is eason to believe that il there were
submitted to the people the question
of adopting the initiative and referen-
dunn with reference to the passage OF
statutory law alone that proposition
would carry by &. majority SO large that
the vote would appear to be almost
unanimous. This being true there will
be a very keen sense Of disappoint-
ment all V the state that no OPP
portunity is to be afforded to vote N
this question for nearly six years.
There will be charges of bad faith. and
a lot of unpleasant feeling. all Of
which could have been avoided by the
submission Of the question at this
time.
On the matter Of constitutional
amendment sentiment is not so we'll
defined. There are nan who oppose
this form of amendment solely be
cause Of the fear tina. its adoption
would lead to the early resubmission
Of the prohibition question. There
are others who give little heed to this
feature, but who believe that the
amendment of the constitution is now
as easy as sensational amendment
should be for the safety and sound
ness of our institutions. Had the
question been submitted the vote
would have indicated what the people
really want. and, after all, have we
not had it preached to US in season
ind out Of season. that the sober,
well-considered judgment OF the peo-
pie is always to be trusted? And if
not on a, matter so widely discussed
as this. on what are the people cara
O@ W JNOS IlIcIlI.
The recall is another feature Of the
lately defeated bill which is the sub
feet Of widely varying objections. The
advantages and disadvantages of the
recall have, we believe, both beer
greatly overstated. The hope enter
tanned by some that the recall would
weed out all the bad officials and in
sure the election of retention Of none
but good ones. has not been realized
in actual practice in the states that
has adopted this plan. And the fears
entertained by the opposite party that
the recall would result in filing Of
fees with a lot Of incompetent LENA
gogues who were more intent on cater
ing to the public whim Of the mo-
ment than to the honest and fearless
performance Of their duty have also
been proven groundless. A very con-
sentative estimate Of the recall, based
on past experience where it has been
adopted. is that it may do a little good,
and tina it will not do very much
harm.