Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-06-08


pamphlets will be found quite burden
some. In Oregon 1t would practically
prohibit the use of the initiative and
referendum. If you can get this
amendment adopted 1t will be possible
fore the people of Idaho to go very rap
idly forward towards the attainment
Of that economic freedom and equality
without which our alleged poll ical
equality is a delusion. Then there will
be no trouble with a swellheaded set
Of supreme court judges such as the
bench that imprisoned the editors and
publishers in your state for criticising
a rotten decision of the court. I en-
close herewith the clipping you sent
me and shall be glad to assist in any
way that 1 can.
Sincerely yours,
wv S. U'REN."
From Senator Borah.
Washington, May 10, 1914.
My Dear Massey:
have yours of the 18th. have gone
over the proposed amendment with as
much care as the pressure of time
would permit and so far as the first
several paragraphs are concerned
nave HO CEltlclsIl 10 I1ldhe.
There is one feature OF the matter
which is matter of detail that want
to discuss with you, although I cannot
do 1t in this letter. have written for
the data to several states and have been
unable thus far to get it. AS soon as
can secure 1t and can intelligently deal
with the subject l will write you. These
are matters, Massey, to which l cannot
get my consent to pass upon without
! full consideration. The general prin-
ciple is easily enough disposed of but
when you come to working out the de-
tails, while others may be able to work
tout these things through intuition and
without much trouble, ! cannot do It
| that way. I confess that law making
to be wise and effective requires vast
amount of labor upon my part.
One thing, however. with reference to
the matter as 1t now stands. l notice
that the provision provides for a spe-
cific number of signatures, 5000 or more
voters and three thousand voters, etc.
Do you think this is the wise method
/ Would 1t not be better to have a GER
tain per cent of the voters of the last
state election? You see our new state
will be constantly increasing in popu-
lation, very rapidly increasing, and you
would not want a number which woulo
be stationary while the population was
increasing. One Of the defects of the
iniative and referendum system which
/ has been most subject to successful at
tack in those states where 1t has been
used is that of permitting few per-
sons interested in particular question
or locality or faction to submit prop
ositions and to impose upon the people
an expense about a matter of minor OF
local concern. The system should be
protected against local interests, mere
sectional pride or sinister motives upon
the part of people having a particular
axe to grind. / do not think that the
initiative and referendum system ought
ever to be used or subject to use except
In matters of general interest and o.
such vital concern to the people thai
the people would be interested in the
question. Any subject matter which Is
of general Importance and OF universal
concern to a state would be supported
at once by sufficient and reasonable pei
cent of the voters. If you are not care
full in regard to this matter you are
going to load your proposition down
with burdensome issues with which the
people, in my judgment, will grow Out
OF patience. In one state which now
has the initiative and referendum they
are now having considerable agitation
for its repeal based upon that propo-
sftion, and some of those who have
been friendly to the system heretofore
are opposed to 1t now simply because
in my judgment 1t Is not properly pro.
4 tected against abuse.
There Ia another proposition YOU
should consider in connection with this
and that rs that the expense of govern.
ment In these days Is becoming un.
bearable and almost uncomfortable The
taxpayers have to pay for these things
in the end and therefore every safe
guard should be thrown around these
elections so as to prevent unnecessar,
burdens in the way OF taxation and un.
necessary expense. II you do not dc
this, Mr.. Massey, after short time
you are going to have the fight of your
life to keep the system in effect at all
am not speaking without some OBJ.
servation and with many facts before
me- II were going to make any sug-
gestion for your consideration. there
fore, worthy Of serious consideration
in my judgment 1t would be to protect
! your system against abuse In the wa,
of having 1t SO any one could put an,
issue before the people whether 1t con.
Germs any considerable portion OF then
or not. My opinion is that the rea
virtue Of the initiative is to compel tn,
enactment of laws of great and uni.
versal interest and the prime virtue Of