Pocahontas star herald., 1916-10-13
ACT NUMBER Z AND
AMENDMENT NO. 13
Mr.. Editor;


ef Randolph county, TO some Of the
dangers lurking in the proposed
Initiative Act No, 2-so'oalled
"Looal Option" measure.
Ia the first place desire to say
that, m my opinion, all "inltiatiye'
measures should be subjected by
the voters to close inspection and
investigation as TO the motives
prompting same-to ascertain II
some individual or group Of Indl'
viduals may not have some "ax Ia
grind
lam aware OF the fact that the
predominant idea Of Initiative legs.
lation Is that II Is thoroughly dem.
ocratio, giving the people the pow
er Of direct Legislation, In theory
tins Is true La practice, It u a de,
lusion. Practically every iuitia-
tive measure originates in the brain
of one individual, and is prepared
by him for submission to the vote
of the people. OF course, the peo
pie have an opportunity TO vote on
the question OF adoption or rcjec-
tion of such measure, as whole;
bat they can not vote to amend or
modify it in any particular. In
other words, the people only pos.
sess the right OF veto. They cat
either say that 1t shall or shall not
become a law, just as It is fret pro-
posed by the party initiating it.
The people IN this regard do not
poses as much power over such
legislation as does the governor 0f
the state over measures passed by
the Legislature; for, in some IN
stances, be may, aud does veto some
parts Of measure while the re
mainder may stand.
Now, tins 50 called Local Option
measure ID fathered by those only,
who are interested in the liquor
traffic, and this is true notWith.
standing the fact that some Of
themImay be membera Of religious
organizations. They have their
"ax to grind
The adoption Of this measure by
the people al the November elec-
ton, means the undoing Of all the
legislation enacted during the past
forty years for the regulation or
suppression of the liquor traffic
IL means once again the open saloon
with all the crime, trouble and ex-
pense incident thereto. Il will be
far worse than It has been before
for the reason that the proposed
law would not contain many Of the
measures Of protection to the gener-
al public contained in former laws
which would be repealed.
Should this measure be adopted,
and the sale Of liquors be author
IEed IN a gwen community by vote
Of the people as provided for in
said measure, then, no matter how
obnoxious such business might be.
come, nor how anxious minority
Of tue people might be 10 have such
traffic cease, under the provisions
of this proposed law, there would
be no power to stop such sales, for
4 period OF two years (See Section
10 of said proposed act
On the other hand, should a ma
jorIty of the votes cast at such elec- ,
uOn be against license, then do the
liquor interests have TO wait two
years before making another at. |
tempt? Not at all. They have pro-
vided for just such an emergency
IN this proposed measure. Said |
measure provides that within ten
days after the filing Of a petition |
The county judge shall call an cleo
ton for the purpose Of voting on
such question; that SAID election
shall be held not carrier than thirty |
days, not later than sixty DAYS. |
Thus 1t will be seen that those who !
are opposed to the sale of liuuCr
cannot vote on the question oftener
than two ye r., when license have
been voted, those who favor the
liquor traffic can force a vote every
seventy days at most, and should the
county judge be favorably inclined
their way, an election could be held
every thirty days until the liquor
interests win. These elections can
be forced on the taxpayers by ire
sPonsble parties, who may not pay
one penny of tax other than a poll
tax; while the substantial citizens
must bear the expense,
Again: under our liquor laws il
force prior to the adoption of the
estate Wide Law" the giving of
liquor to any one was prohibited.
Under the proposed act this would
be materially changed Section I3
OF said proposed act provides: or
SHALL NOT BE UNLAWFUL