Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1916-06-22

vi luc Will Vi e,
In order to prevent such an act from
becoming law and remaining in
force, the people Of this State amend
ed the constitution at the general cleo.
tion In 1908 by adopting the constitu.
tional amendment, commonly known
AZ the initiative and referendum.
II is not for me to discuss the mer-
its or dement's Of the initiative and
referendum. II 10 now the organic
law Of the State Of Missouri by virtue
of its adoption by the people. and 40
long as It ia a provision Of the Consti.
tuition OF this State. It certainly Is In.
cumbent upon the Chief Executive to
recognize It and regard its force and
effect.
l cannot believe that the State su.
perintendent OF the Anti.Salo,n
League understands this provision Of
the Constitution Of Missouri or he
would not have misquoted It nor given
It 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 a 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
a law when approved by a majority Of
the votes cast thereon and not other
wise. This provision of the Constitu.
ton is far reaching. II 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 tn"
veto of the Governor. but ret"rcu-
dunn vote OF the people suprrsedes the
act of the Legislature.
The exceptions To the referendum
For the immediate preservation Of
public peace, health or safety"
not meant to apply to laws passed "a
relieve conditions such as may ar5s-
In the event OF war, peStilenCe. pla. IT,.
insurreCiiOn. or similar eXtraordluaIy
conditions. 1t is meant to apply 20 a
condition where the damage done
pending the reference TO the people
would be irreparable
Suppose the champions of the single
tax tamonG whom there are many able
and sincere mem should get control
of the Legis lature of Missouri and
pass acts looking to the carrying uu'
OF their theories and should add ,a"
peace. health or safety" claus 90
such acts, ii could hardly be said r1a.
the Governor would be justified in at
tempting to prevent the submission 0l
such acts Of the Legislature by refer
cndum vote, to the people. Many good
people are sincerely in favor ~ the
single tax. as are many goo people ~
FAVOR OF prohibition 1t is ra.sibI.
that some dty the champions OF III Gel,
theories will ne i'll the majority. Ii -a.
the Constitution OF Missouri provides
ample and far methods by which Law.
may b" enacted 10 carry ont the viii
Of the majority.
TIL" question OF whether the S'a',
should attempt to pro.wu'c the sal" ul
Intoxicating liquors or content IFS, 10
with regulating such sales. WIS cuns.i-
cred by our iorciaIh'rs long h,tur"
he G0dern propaganda bean To- take
Inn or gather force II is question
as old as III" State itself. and one ~ ga
which Wis" and good men have dif
fc' i, and yc, Mr. Shupp wants m" TO
commit my cli secretly to Z, pguErA..
which would prevent the people from
ha'i''" an opportunity to cNp"u heir
VIII in respect to this great Question
II 3',!.s to think L r. sOl"l, within
II ne 3sative of the Legislature and
G Hr 10 determine wh'th a @"
pass, d by the Legislature shall fail
within the eXCeptiOn-"nrCrssa t'r
the immediate preservation Of puhU
peace. health or Safety'-pruyid, in
the Constitution If he is correct n
this, ii certainly places a very crave
responsibility upon The LcEislatur a1d
the Governor. and one that should be
considered with great car" lest al at
tempt be made TO deny the people TIN
very prerOgatiVe which they sought 10
reserve in themselves in max ~ this
amendment to the Constitution. II tho
Governor should undertake. to dp0N