Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-06
Initiative and Referendum
Attacked and Upheld
at Capital.
HAS PASSED IN SENATE
Believed Measure Will Reach a
Vote in Lower Branch of
Legislature Thursday.

Springfield, Ill, May 6.-The initia-
tive and referendum was assailed as
opposed to popular control of govern
ment by Charles H. Hamill of Chicago
and William J. Butler OF Springfield,
and landed as a means of promoting
popular legislation by Carl Vrooman
OF Bloomington, Fred G. Kep OF Belle
vile. Samuel Alschuler ot Aurora,
John Fitzpatrick OF Chicago. and Dan
iel L. Cruice of Chicago, before mem
bers of the house today sitting as a
committee OF the whole
SPEAKER IS I'LL.
The members for a period of sew
eral hours listened TO arguments for
and against the proposed constitution
al amendments. The vote on the res
olution, which has passed the senate,
probably will not be taken by the
house until Thursday. In the 40
sence OF Speaker Mckinley, who is i'll
in his apartments in ST Nicholas ho-
tel. Representative Rapo OF fairfield
called the house TO order todly, and
presided until that body resolved IT,
self into a committee of the whole
Representative Rapp asked Represen-
tatiye Karch OF Belleville. chairman of
the house judiciary con,mi:tco, to pre-
side during the debate.
CITES SWISS ExPEaiIINCE.
In opposing the proposition Charles
Charles H. Hamill of Chicago said:
The initiative and rsle endum is not
cure for political ills. Observation
of the Operatives an other communi-
ties indicates IL is itself defective.
On federal referendum the Swiss
refused TO vote a salary for the sec
retary' of their Legation at Washington.
In Zurich they rejected q law Feduc-
Ing hours OF work in factories and pro-
tecting women ana children; they also
refused to sanction q law for compu!-
sorry insurance for workingmen.
"The I,itiativo was used to prohibit
the slaughter OF Kosher meat and the
orthodox Swiss Jew now has TO i'm
port his meat. In the last election
Oregon cast 1850 votes for presi-
dent Illinois cast 1,146.173 In 1908
the single 'aX was rejected: in 1910
il was approved In 1912 the amend
-ment OF 1910 was repecled-all by the
initiative.
GOVERNOR ROUND.
AT the instance Of Portsmouth, on
the upper Rogue river. an initiative
bill was adopted b. minority Sin
fort:dding loo farmers in small
county below to earn a part OF their
livelihood by fishing with the Seine.
The legislature repealed the act. but
the governor vetoed tho repeal on the
ground that he was bound by the in.
itiative. President Lowell Of Har-
ward said in speaking OF the initiative:
The conception is a bold one. and the
idea OF direct popular government is
attractive. but in practice the machin-
cry is at best TOO imperfect to be OF
any real value. il indeed. il is not like
" to be source OF harm in the hands
OF extremists and fanatics
VIEWS OF WILSON
Before becoming q candidate for
president. Woodrow Wilson said: The
vote upon most measures submitted is
usually very light There is not much
popular discussion, and the referen-
dun by no means creates q quick in
tevc-t in affairs which its 'originators
dulled the Fcnsc OF responsibility
among legislators without quickening
the people to the exercise Of any real
control OF affairs. 1t has not promised
either progress or enlightenment.
leading rather TO doubtful experiment
ant reac.ionary displays OF prejudice
than to really useful legislation
After becoming candidate VIII
son has appeared 70 favor what he De-
fore decried. bat in none of his u.
teranoes docs he reverse his old con-
viction and do more taan speak with
kindI'ss OF those who favor the init
ative and referendum.
REsPoNSIBILTTN HEAVY.
1T is not the duty OF the legislature
20 sit here as a body Of puppets and
submit. contrary TO their own juGG,
ment. 10 any sort of amendment which
can be made TO appeal 20 be temporar.
fly in popular favor. Change in or
ganic law is of vast importance 70 all
people and legislative responsibility is
heavy. We are all here to promote
government by popular will. but We
must be sure that the means is good
and not some forgotten method, long
ago proved useless or dangerous.
RACK TO OUR FATHERS.
Attorney Daniel l.. Cruice OF Chics
70 in emphatic advocacy Of adoption
OF the initiative and referendum reso
luton. said. This entire proposition
goes back 20 the men who fought foI
and created this republic in the days