Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1914-05-22
A COMMUNICATION

;ndped aShlhe
, I'm. TO not be blinded by preju-
n .."sd men or any article which mis-
represents facts.
This league has nothing to tell you
y. nlain facts. They are not tell
'r YOU how to vote, but do ask you
0 etop before signing any petition;
look and study each of the initia-
w. and referendum measures before
,,sning any petition; to listen to both
.ides of the important measures be-
fore you as voters.
The stop-Look-Listen league
.n,hodies the development of an idea
hat originated at the time the in
4iative and referendum were adopt
- # was recognized that the UNI
.ostricted and irresponsible applica-
.ion If a system of direct legislation
ould lead to the abuse of a power
-,hich is designed in theory to be APP
.rod nv the people in an emergency
and only as a last resort, in case
,boir duly elected and accredited rep
,osentatiyes should fail to carry out
,oma thoroughly formulated and
f,llv crystalized demand of the gen
eral public.
Not until concrete evidence ap-
roared of the dangers likely to arise
upder the operation of the initiative
and referendum, has it been either
practicable or possible to form such
an organization. Now that the bills
which have been formulated for sub
mission to the voters next fall are up
for consideration, the idea has taken
form in the creation OF the Stop
Look-Listen league.
The work of the Stop-Look-Lis-
ten League is primarily educational.
It is designed to give full informa-
ton concerning the proposed laws,
an ANALYSIS of each, and the obvious
and probable results that would fol
low their adoption in case they
should meet with popular approval.
Mr.. Goodyear says: Its real pur-
pose is to defeat the Seven Sisters. y
and other proposed initiative meas
ures" Look for the alli-
ance between the liquor dealers, the
fish trust, the INSCRIPTIONS promot-
ers of wildcat schemes, the selfish
employers of labor, the grating en-
ployment agencies, the machine poll
ticians and the enemies of direct leg
islation."
AS to the liquor question, these
are the facts: The Stop-Look-
Listen league is dealing with the
measures of an economic nature only
and has no intention of considering
those involving purely social prob
lens such as the prohibition bill, re-
specting which the league is main
tanning neutrality, neither advocat-
ing nor opposing it's adoption. The
prohibition bill is initiative measure
No. 8.
All advertising and literature of
this league has been concerned only
with measures No. to 13 inclusive.
Nos. l. 2, and 8 simply have been
mentioned without any comment be-
ing passed
In regard to the cost of 5000"
to initiate each measure, as stated
by Mr.. Goodyear, Mr.. Goodyear
failed to give you any information re-
garding where or how he arrives at
this figure of $4,000.
1t has been estimated that it will
cost the people Of this state about
Sl,O68,000 to vote upon the proposed
Initiative measures. That is about
$4,000 for each measure, exclusive
OF the state appropriation of $780,
100000. The elements of the cost
being $500 for checking signatures
by cities and towns; $500 for paper
printing and binding 100 pages of ar
guments for the benefit of the vot-
ers; $4,000 for printing and circu'
lating petitions; and about $4,000
Which individuals would contribute
AS this estimate of the cost is based
Oh an estimated vote of 100000, il
probably is too low, for there prob
ably will be fully 100000 qualified
electors who will have to be reached
under the terms of the law, which
Authorizes the submission of these
initiative measures.
The cost of legislative session in
washington is about 100000.
The taxes which will be raised up
on the property of the state during
the year 1914 amounts to $3S,31A,.
lsO.7O or $31.44 for each MAJ
woman, and child in the state. The
taxpayers of this county have been
continually complaining about the
nigh taxes you pay. Listen, Is it not
better to have the men you elect tc
the legislature and pay to do this
work make your laws. Your sigma.