The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-06-15
Is Position Taken By The
Two State Committees
At The Joint Meeting Held
At Columbus Friday

4. Columbus, O., June 12-Holding i'm.
proper the calling of referendum by
political party except on purely par.
ty measures, the Democratic state con
trail and executive committees in meet
ing here decided against referendums
in general, but enthusiastically decid.
ed in favor of a referendum on the
law which deplives the Democratic
party Of fair congressional representa-.
ton. This decision was coincident
with resolution upholding the plans
and work of President Wilson, and be-
cause the permission to stand unques-
toned of the unfair gerrymander would
be taken as a slap at the national poll
cies. The following resolution was un.
animously adopted:
''In considering the matter of invok.
ing referendum on the major measures
of the Eighty-first general assembly
this is the sense of the Joint meeting
of the Democratic state central and
executive committees regularly as
sembled:
I'VE reaffirm our support of the last
Democratic state platform and of the
progressive Democratic laws hereto
fore written into the statutes of Ohio.
1--WE stand unalterably opposed to
the destructive program of the Repub-
lican Eighty-irst general assembly
Pledged to the present wise laws of
the state and opposed as we are to all
major changes adopted; with the un-
broken opposition to change by the
Democratic minority in the present
legislature, aided as it was in saving
by the presence in the state constitu-
tion of the referendum; we believe
that submission to the people of any
measure in referendum sponsored by
a political organization would be i'm.
proper, except that act which deprives
the Democratic party of it's fair repre-
sentation in congress.
"The initiative and referendum prin-
ciple was advocated in every Demo
cratic state platform for years until
finally adopted by the voters. 1t was
intended to give the people weapon
ofdefense against extraordinary wrongs
by legislature, and is not properly
a means for party argument, the bien-
nial election system providing for sub
mission of party program every two
years.
1--WE believe that many of the acts
Of the Eighty-first general assembly
are altogether bad, but that the mat
them, except the gerrymander, should
them except the gerrymander, should
be left to the people. The months to
come will show the utter failure of the
program of the present state admin
istration, when the opposition of the
Democratic party in regular order will
be effectively voiced in the campaign
provided under our laws"
Here is the resolution adopted by
the Democratic state committees en-
dorsing the policy of President Wood
row Wilson. 1t was prepared and in
troduced by state and national commit
teeman E. H, Moore and was adopted
by unanimous vote:
Resolved, That the Democratic state
central and state executive committees
in joint session assembled unqualified
ly endorse our president in his efforts
to maintain the strictest neutrality up
on the part of this nation in the Eu-
ropean war; and that as loyal citizens
of this Republic, we earnestly COM
mend his broad craftsmanship and pa.
triotic Americanism as evidenced in
hiS corrasnnndanon with the p0Varn.