The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1914-10-09
AND REFER
ENDUM IN INDIANA
This Popular Legislation Can Be
Adopted Here Only Under New
State Constitution

There has been a pronounced tend
ency in recent years t0wars the aD-
plication OF the principles OF direct
legislation, otherwise known as the
initiative and Referendum, and the
recall, TO state and city government.
Unquestionably there will be agita-
ton for the recognition OF these prin-
oiples in a new state constitution for
Indiana. IL is important, therefore.
that the voters have accurate infor-
nation as to their purpose In mod
ern government and how general their
application in the country
Disappointed in the work OF their
legislative reHrasentatives; their in
-rees too oft-r gaored; openly be-
-rayed a, times, the people of many
tees have been searching for some
9teet'cal m7@ns 10 secure a more di-
rect ccLirti &, their law making and
to prcviie sane elective check upon
IL r law mixers. Many believe that
tac remedies have been found in the
Initiative and Referendum and the
Recall
|
In operation in varying forms in
seventeen states and nearly three
hundred cities. They are pending
issues in seven other states The
Recall, is in effect in eight states and
IN large number of cities. hey
are contained in practically all the
newer city charters. The. Initiative
anu Referendum have had the wild
est application AID met with perhaps
the most conspicuous success in
Oregon, which adopted this legisla-
ton in 1902. Michigan is the last
s&ate to adopt this principle to IT'S
organic law. in 1913 Ohio Joined the
procession the year before Wiscon-
! sin and Minnesota, of the nearer
states, Will vote upon this question at
/ the coming November election; Iowa,
in 1916.
Now in the briefest language pos
sible, what are the Initiative and Ref
erendum and Recall?
The Initiative means simply that the
people may, when they believe the
situation requires it, initiate, or start
something" 1t frequently happens
+ that a legislature fails, or fatty re-
! fuses, to pass a law that the majority
of the people seem TO want. In such
situation in Indiana, that ends
it. The people have no recourse. In
states where the Initiative is in op-
Grafton, the people, by filing peti-
ton containing a certain percentage
Of the voters may compel the legis-
lature to adopt the legislation desired,
or to refer it to the people for q
direct vote at the next election. Then,
IL adopted by majority of those vot-
ing on this measure, 1t becomes faw.
Referendum is another name for
reference. When a question is re-
ferred TO the people. that is a direct
application OF the principle OF the
Referendum. The people in every
state except little Delaware have al
ways had direct voice In determin-
ing constitutional amendments. The
Initiative enables the people by direct
vote to enact into law desired meas
ures which have been ignored or
done to deatlT' by the Legislature.
The Referendum enables them by the
same means TO veto undesirable enact
ments of their legislatures.
The chief benefits claimed for the
Initiative AID Referendum are that
they have notably diminished 4og roi-
! ling in legislatures, vastly restricted
the power of the bosses and the DO
litical rings to control legislation and
made the representatives more re-
sponsive TO public opinion. The value
OF the system in educating the voters
on public questions and in arousing
their interest in matters OF govern
ment is strongly emphasized.
Actual experience with the Initia-
tive and Referendum in the states that
have given them the most thorough
test appears TO clinch the following
facts:
That the people take an active in
terest in it, as shown by the large vote
on measures, the average OF ten
states at the 1912 elections being 10
per cent OF the vote on candidates.
That they show keen discrimination
in their voting. evidenced ~ the fact
that in the same ten states Jnly fifty
ty-three of q total OF the ninety-four
measures subm. ted were adopted
That they are conservative In their
action, as shown by the character q
the measures adopted and rejected.
The Recall fu-u ishes the people ne
power TO remove unfaithful otfisials
without waiting FOR the expiration Of
their terms OF cIice. II has been tn
voked relatively but few times. a1a
then only in city jurisdictions.
The people o. Indiana should have
tie right To determine vhethw, or
Lot they want 10 apply the princ1ples
OF Initiative and referendum anAs 1D-
call to local and state governnent<A
constitutional convention In 1S1b
would submit these propositions. - -
determined uDon their own merxA -
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