The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-11
MINOR PROPOSES
NOVEL REMEDY TO
SETTLE UNREST
Would Enlarge Respon-
Sibilities Of State
Governors.
NOW HAVE ONLY
SM ALL POWERS
Should Be Full Head of Com.
monwealths as President Is Of
United States-Movement for
Initiative, Referendum and
Recall Nothing Less
Than Revolution.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch. ]

New York. y. y. December TO-
Professor Raleigh c. Minor. head OF
the law department. OF tho University
OF Virginia. stirred up n hubbub of
discussion when he stated. In his ad
dress on some Political Problems' be-
fore more than 800 members of the
Southern Society Of New York and
their guests At the Waldorf Astoria
Hotel tonight, that the movement
throughout the United States for the
Initiative, the referendum and the
call amounts TO nothing less than revo-
luton.
The voters, through The powers
conferred by the initiative. the refer
endum and the recall he said. will
bo enabled TO disregard all the con-
stitutional checks and balances f n the
protection of tho minority that have
been so painfully built up by history
and experience OF mansind."
He diagnosed the POLITICAL unrest APP
parent among tho people of the United
states. at present, and found the evil
TO be in dissatisfaction with existing
governmental machinery and practices
'.hc remedy, however, that is popular
ly sought in such nostrumS as the
initiative ard recall, he declared to be
worse than the disease itself He pro-
posed remedy as novel, perhaps, as
any OF the popular ideas. and at the
same time one that is based upon rea-
soring and in harmony with the Do-
lttical experience of this and other ma
lions.
Causes of Proposals.
Tho inehlciency of the States in their
executive administration, and their
lack OF responsiveness To public opin-
ion. particularly ~ the legislative and
judicial departments said Professor
Minor. are undoubtedly the cause OF
most Of the revolutionary poli'ic.'l pro
posals Of The day"
1T is n curious fact" he said, that
the inefficiency or State administration
is due in large measure to tho very
same departure from the principles OF
representative government that is now
urged as the remedy. Our political
doctors are seeking to enforce the old
adage that the hair of the dog is good
for the bite. In the effort to give the
people moro direct control, the States
have deccntralized themselves and, con-
fusing local self-governmcnt with cen
trail authority, have provided that gov
crnmental functions pertaining TO the
whole State shall be exercised by Of
ficials locally elected and, therefore,
responsible only to their local consti-
tuents, not to the state at large. nor TO
the central authority.
Harvest of Inemcicncy.
From such soil what can be rcaped
but n harvest of incfficcncy? No sim
gle State has followed the example set
by the Federal Constitution In creating
a strong executive. with full powers of
appointment and removal and with full
accountability for the due administra-
tion of the laws. Perhaps no plan
could be devised better adapted to de-
stroy or conceal all official RESPONSE
bility for maladministration than that
which has thus been habitually fol-
lowed by the States. Is il to be Won
dered at that the people. conscious OF
tho inefilciency, but ignorant where to
lay the blame. either turn to the ef-
iicicnt general government for relief,
or seek. through the recall or other
wise. 10 fix responsibility which does
not now exist? submit that the proper
remedy is not more democracy, in tho
form of the recall, but q return to the
true principles of representation. which
demand the wedding of responsibility
TO power.
Give the chief executive the power
ncedful to make him such in reality
as we'll IS in name: make him the full
and complete political head OF the
State. as the President is OF the United
States. and then hold him to strict
account for tho administration of pub
lie affairs.
lie declared that the typical State
Constitution solcmnly proclaims the
Governor the chief executive, and then
denies him all but minor powers
Thus. the whole field of State revenue
is entrusted to officers locally elected
who. for political reasons. are more in
clined to let their constituents off with
a minimum OF taxation than to give
the state IL square deal In Virginia,
for instance. Of 100 counties. II re-
ceivc more this year from tho State
Treasury than they pay into 1t. Were
these officials appointed and removed
by the Governor. who can doubt that
the results would be different"
But the clamor for the initiative,
referendum and recall is perhaps due
more to lack OF responsiveness to pub
lie opinion on the part OF the legisla-
tive and judicial departments of tho
States than to the ineniciency of the
executive department. The failure of