Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1914-11-20
Intended Use is all Right.

davenport lrlDune.)
The vote cast on the initiative
measures proves the worth of the mi.
tiative law, also proves it's efficacy
when used as it is intended to be
used. Initiative measure No. 8, be.
ing the prohibition measure, and
measure No. 8. prohibiting employ.
ment agencies from collecting fee
from the laborer, were the only ones
that carried. These questions had
been up before the legislature re-
peatedly. especially the liquor Ques-
ton, and the legislature had repeat
eddy refused to act. The measures
were then placed before the people,
both being carried, showing that
there was public demand for them.
Time for the other measures was
not ripe, and perhaps should not have
been brought before the people. AS
we understand the object of the mi
tiatfve law, 1t is for the PURPOSE OF
appealing to the people onlya after
the legislature refuses to grant what
the people want. So long as we have
"a legislature any proposed law
should first be brought before that
body for its consideration. II there
is public demand and the legisla.
ture refuses to act then the initiative
may be invoked If the public de-
mand is not clear enough to the leg.
islature that 1t considers itself justi.
fed in enacting law, and yet it feels
there Is some merit to it, the matter
may be referred to the people under
the referendum. This was done in
referendum measures numbers one
and two, the teacrehs' pension meas.
ure and the Quincy Valley irrigation
measure. The teachers pesioA was
showed under deeper than anything
voted upon, comparatively few of the
teachers themselves being in favor Of
! it, judging from the vote, yet such
pressure was brought to bear upon
the last legislature that it is likely
that 1t would have passed it had the
state had no referendum law
The initiative and referendum law
Is all right if used as it was original.
ly intended to be used.
A Good Sign.
douglas Co. Press.)
The rejection of SO many initiative
and referendum measures by the peo
pie shows that they are not going te
be rash and that in future petition
chasers and referendum legislation
will meet with cool reception by the
voters of the state of Washington
The more the people studied these
measures and their manner of pre-
sentation the less inclined were they
to vote for them. Had the so-called
"seven sisters" been voted on six
months ago the chances are they
would have run much stronger. But
the more the people studied them the
less inclined were they to give theil
sanction to this class of legislation
but to let it take It's regular course
This attempt to cut across lots look
ed to the people like too much ill-di.
gested matter. They concluded when
in doubt to vote no, and did 1t on
these measures.
The eight-hour law was particular.
ly obnoxious and got the hardest rap
Some of the measures, like the blue
sky law, had some merit in them but
had best be LETT to the regular course
CT legislation, which will give the
people time to study and digest the
matter. When the public becomes
educated up to any of these demands
legislatures will provide for them
The one constitutional amendment,