Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-18
Would Invoke
The Initiative

meFCidi Hstu cOnSlueTdDiS 10 sdy III last
Saturdays issue of the Commercial. in
regard to the dissatisfaction of many
of the Republican voters in that vi
entity over the Republican State Con-
vention at Augusta not inserting a
plank in its platform for the two-cent
mileage over the railroads within
Maine, and great many threats OF
boiling, kicking and joining other par
ties and doing all sorts of political
contortions.
Now, it seems to me that these en-
inent gentlemen that are working
themselves into frenzied heat could
be Of much more value in remedying
existing conditions by sticking to the
party to which they have always be-
longed and always stood by. l am
a Republican and hope that 1 shall die
in that faith yet / can see the short
comings of the party to which / owe
allegiance as well as l can see the
errors of other political parties, but.
it does not seem advisable or right
to try to relegate it to oblivion simply
because some few of the self-appoint-
ed leaders have arrogated to them
selves the right of dictatorship without
putting their ear to the ground and
listening for political disturbances.
I owned a horse a few years ago
that was pretty fair kind of horse.
One of its many troubles was that 1t
would kick. l got up one morning and
decided that something had to be done
with that horse and / consulted my
self very carefully to see what it was
whether it was breaking or trading
and l decided on the former course,
took a whip and broke her and she
was pretty good kind of horse
after that. Last Saturday l started
out on an automobile ride and went
to run a hill that I had always been
running and found my auto would not
go up. I laid it first to the driver
always lay your troubles to some
body else if you can-then | took the
wheel myself and i could not do as
we'll as he could.5 / turned the car
and came back and decided to trade
the auto and get a new one. The
next morning the boy said. II found
out the trouble with the automobile,
the gas was only partly turned on"
So am going to ride in that auto for
while longer Now some of you fell
look around and see if the Republic
can party isn't safe party to ride
with for while longer
And even so humble a citizen as
am, can, l think, point out several
things that the Republicans. have done
to say nothing of what the other par
ties have done that looks slightly ir-
regular and that should be remedied
1 can see no reasM for the Republi-
cans of Maine to5 kMesa 'gentiemena
agreement" With fffeS representatives
of the Maine railroads. Why cannot
we have a plank IN our platform to
that effect and notsrely upon gen
tlemen's agreement and go to the
people squarely upon that issue. 1
see no reason to dodge it. Would not
here be a grand chance to invoke the
initiative and referendum?
was somewhat instrumental in
drafting the initiative and referendum
when it was first presented in 1905
and at that time its advocates asked
the Hon. Barrett Potter and myself
to discuss it, through the press, as
he was opposed to it, which we did,
if you will recall, and it's advocates
at that time suggested it to meet just
such situation as confronts us now
upon the two-cent. mileage.
Now, Mr.. Voter, listen to me, You
seem somewhat aggrieved, and, in my
opinion, righteously so because yo,,
cannot secure a two-cent mileage law.
You are also disturbed because the
Republican party did not put plank
to that effect in it's platform and in
that grievance l am also with you.
Now, what is your remedy? Here
is the best place that l have seen
since it's passage to invoke the initia-
tive and referendum. You have the
power in your own hands. You need
not ask the Legislature not to bow
to the dictates of any political pro-
phets, and whether you are Democrat,
Progressive, Socialist or Prohibition
list. you can join in initiating legisla-
ton The substance of the initiative
and referendum is as follows:
It provides:
Public Acts of Legislature Of 1907,
Chap 121, Sec. 1S.--The electors may
propose to the Legislature for its con-
sideration any bill, resolve or resolu-
ton, including bills to amend or re-
peal emergency legislation but not an
amendment of the State constitution.
by written petition addressed to the
Legislature or to either branch there
of and filed in the office of the secre-
tary of State or presented to either
branch of the Legislature at least 80
days before the close of its session.
Any measure thus proposed by not less
than 10000 electors, unless enacted
without change by the Legislature at
the session at which 1t is presented
shall be submitted to the electors to-
gether with any amended form, SUBJ
stitute, or recommendation of the
Legislature, and in such manner that
the people can choose between the
competing measures or reject both. If
the measure initiated is enacted by
the Legislature without change 1t
shall not go to a referendum vote un-
less In pursuance of a demand made
In accordance with the preceding Sec
ton.
Now, the preceding section provides:
Upon the written petition of not less
than 10000 electors, addressed to the gov
ernor and filed in the office of the secre-
tary OF State within 80 days after the re-
cess of the Legislature, requesting that
one or more acts, bills, resolves or reso-