Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-02-22
A WORD TO VOTERS.
Attention Called to Proposed
Constitutional Changes Which
Are TO Be Voted Upon at Town
Meeting.

NtSStiHB.
Proposals Of amendment to the
constitution Of Vermont have been
printed in the recent issues of our
local papers; these proposals are to
be in print at the coming town meet
ing for the vote of the people. Every
voter should have copy OF the
Constitution of Vermont and b,
looking up the references given in
the proposals, in the original articles,
can easily note the changes, and make
up his mind as to how he should
vote,
If you approve of the change pro-
posed put your cross in the . yes T"
square, if not then in the square
marked "no."
1t is possible that many voters
have not noticed these proposals in
the papers, and il so do not know
that they will have the privilege of
voting directly on them at the com
ing March meeting; therefore this
notice that you may be prepared.
1t is worth while to note that this is
the fo,m OF the :" Referendum, = and
MS all the principal parties had the
''Initiative, Referendum and Recall"
plank in their platf rms in the last
campaign, it will without doubt be
the method of lawmaking sometime
IN the future. As soon as the peo-
Pile recognize the importance OF this
method, in relation to their direct
influence IN lawmakIng, the demand
will be SO strong it will soon be in
force. Now one lawmaker repre-
sents thousands of the people, and
it is fact in many cases he repre-
sents but small percent of them;
the whole people of the State must
be governed by laws which in many
cases represent the interest and
prosperity of small number of peo-
pie, and laws are in force at present
which if submitted to popular vote
by the people would be put out of
existence.
III Article II, the proposal is that
| if "a bill has passed both Houses and
been vetoed by the Governor, it may
become a law it it is again passed
through both houses b, two.tl,irds
vote of those "present. Why should
it not require minority or two-thirds
vote of all the members OF each
house to pass it? The word pres
ent =" weakcns the power Of the
Governors veto and makes it posi-.
BILE Tor minority vote to represent
the people.
To illustrate the value of IS Ref
erendum" law with subject familiar
To nearly everyone in the State and
especially so in this and neighhoriug
towns, the deer law could be taken.
This law has been freely criticised
for Yeas past and has undoubtedly
been unpopular with most Of the
people. Some Of the laws which
we're in force for several years proved
to be unconstitutional. tits reported
that as a redress people IN different
parts of the State formed secret
clubs with an agreement to kill deer
at any time Of year and if one OF the
members was caught, to apportion
To each member his share of the ex-
pense. This would be called "Direct
Action" and is opposed by I'll pe,-
pile who give it careful thought. A
sensible remedy would be nv s.Polit-
ical Action" lie, these people who
would like different laws to or a3ize
POLITICAL, and peacefully and de-
ma nd laws that would serve larger
number of the people more to their
satisfaction. With the "Initiative
and Referendum in force there is
no question as to tie satisfactory re-
suits to be obtained on this and many
other subjects.
F. ]. Perkins