Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-06

ether three. His excuse was that hav-
| ing been out of the State a long time,
he did not know or understand about
the questions he evaded. But Mr..
| Bourne is a statesman and publicist.
He has also posed as an authority on
| a great variety of issues. and If he
| failed, how could the average citizen
expect To succeed with the problems
presented for his decision?
Mir. Lewis, the Indianapolis editor
evidently is doubtful. for he says that
the truth of the assertion that the
people are wholly unable to prepare
themselves to vote intellgently on
many of the long and complex pro-
posals submitted (seme of which are
Ella borate reconstruction schemes for
taxation and State goYernment seems
beyend dispute" And yet in Oregon.
Of which he is speaking, at the begin
ming of direct" government in Ore
gen in 1902 only one legislative propos-
al was before the people: in 1901 there
were two: in 1906. IL; IS III 1908; in 1910,
81: in 1912, 40 Gncluding two amend
mcnts to statutory laws); and this
year a special election is to be had Oh
referendums alone, So the task
grows, and with this growing n visible
increasing reluctance of the citizens TO
vote. They are overloaded. and they
got rid of a good share of the load by
leaving it on the side of the road. A
great many voters go farther even
than Mr. Bourne, and vote on none of
the questions.
OF the State of Washington Mr.. Lew
is says:
THE use of the recall and the refer
ence of many questions to the people
are causing such multiplicity of cleo
tons that the people are already in
cIined to be weary. For example, in
the last year and a half Seattle has
had almost constant series of cleo
tons. Last year in February came
the non partisan municipal primaries,
then in March the municipal election
then between March and September
school election and constant and Wig
orous agitation for the recall of the
newly elected mayor; in September
came the State wide primary, in Mo-
vember the State and National cleo
ton, in December a port of Seattle |
election, and in June this year again
another port election.
THE question naturally arises: How
long can people stand this? One of
the most important elections in this
list was the last election, in which the
people were called to give approval t.
or reject different proposals on the
$40 00o000 harbor work. Only 20 per
cent. of the people went to the polls"
The test of any political or govern
mental mechanism is found in the way
it works. And We call the attention
of those well meaning but not entire
1y thoughtful persons who want initia- |
tives and referendums and recalls add
ed to the Massachusetts machinery
that they are not working very we'll in |
the States in which they have been
adopted. The same story which Mr..
Lewis has told about Oregon and
Washington is told about every other
section in which the experiment is be-
ing made. Nor, apparently. is any
better government secured than was
had before. Men engaged in certain
lines of political activity-mostly pro-
fessional-have rather more to do, and
the expense To the public has mounted
amazingly But there is unmistak
able popular WEAKNESS and no more
satisfactory government. 1t seems like
making a vast amount of needless
trouble to little benefit.