The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1915-02-11
Why House Joint Resolution No.
Should be Passed by Legislature:

It allows all the people say whether they this amend
ment
urged BY the organized farmers and abornp men Of the
state It has been specifically recommended by the Governor
1t allows the legislature get definite decision from the PEG
Iple on doubtful legislation.
1t allows the people refer laws of general interest to direct
vote of the electorate.
1t keeps all vital interests Of the people separate and distinct
until decided Vital issues will be footballs polca
parties
Voters will learn take measures less in men
This will be bad for politicians but good the masses
This bill has been referred advocates Of direct
legislation in America and has their endorsement being the b
and yet there any criticism it IS that the
restrictions burdensome Too measures will be sub
United under it. rather than many
The people should take twelve Of the most important
measures out Of politics by voting directly
This will be wholesome for their mental development
their pocketbooks However under this and amendment only
of the vital interest people can be submitted
It much restricted be of general population grows
its mission.
The way for Willie learn to be allowed to 90 into
The water Give the electorate chance you really want
them to know how
Voting stimulates the growth of intelligence Vo
ling for party candidates stimulates prejNice
Experience demonstrates about * per cent of the pone take
Ian interest in the
Few will take active interest in all laws 2s pe cent take
ian interest rule only in party politics
The electorate will legislation that they have not
well considered Note we'll Not law that has initiated
by petition and adopted by the people Oregon elsewhere
been repealed
No legislative body has such record
This record shows that legislation adopted bv Deonle
better digesbd
The legislators in all have many laws to consider
and too little time in which to consider them Hence session
makes laws and the next session repeats of them
Twelve states have the l. and r. Oregon adopted them in
1902 Minnesota voted and amendment 4 1914
The vote was 10000 for and 4I57 against Mneotas
son cannot be amended except by majority of all
The highest for candidates for office was 100000
Hence the amendment lost ao approved four to one
It IS almost impossible for the people Minnesota to amend
their constitution owing to this absurdity.
The absuriy Of counting electors against when
they don't rngly emphasized by Abraham Lincoln in
his opinion the admission of West Virginia He said ct is
universal practice in the popular elections all states
give no legal consideration whatever those who do
vote as against the effect Of the of those who do
vote Hence 1t IS not the qualified but the qualified
choose to vote that constitutes the political power the
The Ignorant don't vote This is the rule
cepions only prove the rule
In 1908 in the notorious Sver Moon precinct in Cncin-
natl there 400 for president u for the
taxation amendment In Buckown coloret) were 3o8
votes cast for Taft and Bryan and the amendment
Judge Thomas Mcbride of the Oregon Supreme Court
ahmed every ballot i'll Mulnomah County which Portland
situated to determine disputed election Being in this
very question he took and found the gest
Tres in the Stun wards and foreign sections of city
This the testimony of similar observers throughout the
country The liquor question alone excepted
Oklahoma has the requirement amendment No
10 see 67 1913 session laws which provides maor,
OF all votes cast for Governor instead of majority of
the measure
Oklahoma has submitted five important measures which rece
ed maone ranging from 27o94 to 1888 but all
cause of this requirement
Idaho had but three amendments election
and the affirmative vote ranged from 10 per less
per
In 1910 it averaged 2oH%
In 1912 the referendum got the highest of any amend
nnt yet submitted and was 1868 out of Io5o5 for office
THE COMMITTEE FOR THE PEOPLE