The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-06-23

recognize It and regard its force and
effect.
I cannot believe that the State Su.
perintendent OF the Anti-Saloon
League understands this provision Of
the Constitution of Missouri or he
would not have misquoted II nor given
1t the Interpretation which his letter
to me indicated.
The referendum provides that all
laws upon the petition Of certain
per cent of the voters from certain
number of Congressional Districts lex.
cept as to laws necessary for the i'm
mediate preservation of the public
peace, health or safety, and laws max
ing appropriations for the current ex-
penses of the state government, for
the maintenance of the State institu.
tons and for the support of the public
Schools shall be referred TO the peo-
pie and shall take effect and become
law when approved by majority of
the votes cast thereon and not other
| wise. This provision Of the Constitu-
ton Is far reaching, 1t transcends the
legislative and executive branches of
the State government. The Governor
may veto an act of the Legislature,
but the veto power of the Governor
does not extend to measures referred
to the people by the referendum. The
Legislature may pass laws over the
veto of the Governor, but referen-
dun vote of the people supersedes the
act of the Legislature.
The exceptions to the referendum
For the immediate preservation of
public peace, health or safety"--are
not meant to appiS to laws passed 10
relieve conditions such as may arise
in the event of war, pestilence, plague,
instruction, or similar extraordinary
conditions. 1t is meant to apply to
condition where the damage done
pending the reference to the people
would be irreparable.
Suppose the champions of the single
tax (amOng whom there are many able
and sincere mem should get control
of the Legislature of Missouri and
pass acts looking to the carrying out
of their theories and should add the
peace, health or safety" clause to
such acts, it could hardly be said that
the Governor would be justified in at
tempting TO prevent the submission Of
such acts Of the Legislature, by refer
endum vote, to the people Many good
people are sincerely in favor of the
single tax, as are many good people in
favor of prohibition 1t is possible
that some day the champions of these
theories will be in the majority, If so,
the Constitution of Missouri provides
ample and fair methods by which laws
may be enacted to carry out the will
Of the majority.
The question of whether the State
should attempt to promote the sale of
intoxicating liquors or content itself
with regulating such sales, was consid-
cred by our forefathers long before
the modern propaganda began to take
form or gather force. 1t is question
az old as the State itself, and one upon
which wise and good men have diff
fered, and yet Mr.. Shupp wants me to
commit myself secretly to a program
which would prevent the people from
having an opportunity to express their
will in respect to this great question
He seems to think it is solely within
the prerogative of the Legislature and
Governor to determine whether a law
passed by the Legislature shall fall
within the xception-"necessar for
the immediate preservation of public
peace, health or safety''-provided in
the Constitution. If he is correct in
this, it certainly places a very grave
responsibility upon the Legislature and
| the Governor, and one that should be
| considered with great care lest an at
tempt be made to deny the people the
| very prerogatiye which they sought to
reserve in themselves in making this
amendment to the Constitution. If the
Governor should undertake to deny
| the people the right to submit by refer
endum acts of the Legislature which
clearly do not fall within the eXcep-
| tons which are ordinarily enumerated
by those who are best able to construe
this constitutional provision, he would
be assuming a position of arrogance
wholly inconsistent with his oath Of
office to support the Constitution Of
this State and to demean himself faith
fully in office.
If am elected Governor | shall take
an oath to support the Constitution
not to disregard it. | coyet the sup
port of all good men.
| | have no disposition to thwart the
will of the majority, nor have | any
desire, as Mr.. Shupp has suggested, to
prevent an expression of their will 1t
would be dangerous thing for Gov
ernor of Missouri, even under the d.
rection of so sincere an organization
as the AntlSaloon League to attempt
to deny the people their constitutional
rights. l don't believe the people of
Missouri, including the vast majority
of those who are In favor of prohibit
tion would want me to commit myself
to proposition that is so unfair, I'M
wise and unconstitutional as the at
tempt to deny them the right to sub.