The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-10-13
Popular Government League

Popular Government League
Stirred by common motive, a
number of earnest men met in Wash
ington the other night and consum-
mated movement which has been
under discussion for many months.
They formed "The National Popular
Government League" and appointed
Committee of SO" whose member
ship numbers some OF the best
known men in United States.
The meeting voiced fear and ut
tered promise. The fear was that
popular government which was
spreading with such rapidity two or
three years ago has been checked by
its enemies, not in Washington, but
out through the states. The promise
Of the new organization is not only
that it will work for the perfection
and extension of the instruments of
popular government among the
states but that its chief aim will be
to extend the initiative, the refern-
dunn. the recall, direct primaries and
elections. the preferential ballot and
the other means which the people
are using to wrest power from the
hands OF the special interests. to ma
tional politics and national govern
ment. r..
This latter the League proposes to
do by means of constitutional
amendment called by name which
is bound to become familiar in the
next few years-the gateway
amendment" It is a gateway because
1t open UP the gate for the easy adopl
ton OF the reforms in government
which the people are demanding.
The gateway amendment provides
for new methods of amending the
federal constitution. It provides that
a constitutional amendment may be
proposed (a) by majority vote in
both Houses of Congress, (b) by a
majority of either House alone, pro-
vided the majority of the other
House has twice rejected the propo-
sal. and (c) by any ten states, Rati-
acation Is not by state legislatures
as at present, but the proposition is
submitted directly to the voters. Ra-
LITIGATION is by double majority
lie. the majority of all the voters in
the United States must favor it. and
also the proposition must carry q
majority Of the states by majority
vote In each case. This amendment
has. been introduced in the Senate
BY Senators Owen and LaFollette,
and In the House of Representatives;
w. NJ. Chandler, Of New York.
Think of the difficulty now in
amending the federal constitution.
Only seven amendments have been
adopted since 1871. It took IS years
OF fighting to get the income tax
amendment. Thirty-three senators
out of 531 members Of Congress can
prevent the submission OF an amend
ment OF the states The 13 smallest
states In the Union, with only one
fortieth of the population. can re-
jeet an amendment. DR.. Charles Nc
carthy, director Of the wisconsin
Legislative Reference Library, says
Of the gateway amendment:
Without it the people can never
realize complete liberty. Without it
we are in constant danger OF having
the guarantees which have come
down to us from the Magma Charta
construed by hostile forces and not
by the viii Of the people
Judson King. writer and lecturer
on popular government, who has
been elected secretary OF the new
organization, believes that popular
government in the states Is in dang
Or OF being discredited through In
effective laws purposely made weak
by the enemies Of direct government
IA most astute and successful
campaign is being waged against
these great reforms" he said. If
they are not to be stripped Of their
effectiveness % they are adopted
from now on they must receive
powerful support and expert guild
ance.''
The a4w orsaaisatioa aims to *