The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-02-21
Former Governor Says Idaho
is not q Government
Under the Law
LOBBIES A NUISANCE
Public Utilities Bill Commended and
Proposed Marriage Law Condem-
ned-Potatoes are Going Fast
Alfalfa Controversy With California
Settled.

Connell in a letter addressed to SEN
ator ]. Frank Hunt, OF Bannock
county, holds that If the amendments
submitted to the people at the last
election are admitted to have been
ratified then Idaho is no longer a gov
eminent under the law. Attention is
called to the provisions of the state
constitution providing for the amend
ment of the organic law. Section
of Article 20 says: "if majority OF
the electors shall ratify the same, such
amendment or amendments shall be-
come part of the constitution" Sec
ton of Article defines the meaning
of "elector" as follows: Except as in
this article provided, every male or
female citizen of the United States 81
years old, who has actually resided in
and in the county where he or she
offers to vote, so days preceding the
day Of election, if registered as pro-
vided by law, is qualified elector'
Our former Governor contends that
none of the amendments submitted al
the last election received the approval
of majority of the electors, hence
they were not adopted. He asks that
some member of the legislature intro
duce resolution requiring the gov
ernor to have the validity of the ad-
option OF the amendments voted upor
at the last election submitted to the
supreme court. The contention arises
from the fact that a great manly cleo.
tors did not vote on the amendments
at all. Governor Mcconnell con-
tends that is was the intention of the
trainers OF the constitution that ar
amendment to the constitution must
receive the approval of a, majority oil
the voters of the state.
In as far as the intention of the con
stitutional convention is concerned we
think that Governor Mcconnell is
right However, we believe that the
state supreme court has held that a
failure to vote at all express acquies-
cence in the proposed amendment
and that only majority of the votes
cast on the amendment or amend
nlents is not necessary for it to carry
The question arose over the amend
nent giving the right OF suffrage to
the women. A majority of the vote
on the amendment was in favor OF
woman suffrage, but in this case as in
many others, a great many people did
not take the trouble to vote one way
or the other. OF course the supreme
court of the state might take a diff
ferent view than it did twelve years
ago. However, we think that the
court was justified in the opinion held
at that time. 1t is certain that those
who do not vote or are Indifferent. ar.
in practically. every case perfectly viii.
ling that the amendment be adopted
That they do not vote is no particular
credit to them as citizens and reflect.
on their intelligence. It also give!
the lie direct to those who claim tina
there is widespread popular demand
for the initiative, referendum, recall
and other systems which give the peo
pie chance ito rule" It is.safe (
say that 60 per cent of the peopl
would not even register for genera
election If they were not persuaded
cajoled and otherwise prevailed upoI
to do so by the candidates for Office
and others. OF those who registere,
not over 50 per cent would vote If !
were not for party workers.