The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-10-20
WOULD DESTROY
RIGHT OF PETITION
(From the Veto Message of Governor
Lister)


comparing it with section l of article
2 of the state constitution, leaves no
doubt in the mind of the reader that
the intent of the bill is to restrict
rather than to facilitate the opera
ton of the initiative. One of the pro-
visions of the bill in reference to
initiative petitions is the requirement
that only legal voters shall sign such
petitions and that the same shall be
signed only in the presence of and in
the office of the registration officer
in the precinct in which a voter is
entitled to register.
The title of the act is deceptive in
that the word facilitate" is used
when the very purpose of the act is
apparently to obstruct.
II makes the signing of initiative
petitions SO burdensome that 1t seems
to me it will be impossible to secure
the required number of signatures for
the submission of any question IN
volved, to the people.
The language of this act is such
that a registration officer would nave
the power-should he desire to use
ito hold back the signatures OF
many voters from petitions by taking
advantage of the provisions of the act
allowing him to question a voter on
1.
every detail in relation to his or her
right to sign a petition; particularly
for the reason that the great majority
of voters wait until the last few days
allowed by law for registration or for
the signing of petitions, which "oulu
result in a congested condition In
almost every registration office, es-
pecially in the larger cities OF the
state.
Unwarranted Court interference
Finally, after having made ample
provisions in House Bill No. 12O for
signing initiative petitions under the
most careful supervision of registra-
ton officers in their office and making
it improbable that signatures Will be
obtained in any great numbers to such
petitions, the statute providing 1or
review by the court has been amended
so as to give jurisdiction to the Su-
perior Court of Thurston County to
inquire into and pass upon the validity
of signatures certified to by such reg
istration officers.
1t is clearly indicated that every
effort has been put forth in this bill
to hamper and obstruct the voter IN
his or her constitutional right to sign
petitions for the purpose of submit
tina at a general election to the voters
of the state any question deemed OF
sufficient importance for the voters
to express their views, by the use OF
the initiative and referendum allowed
by the constitution.
Country Voter Is Hampered
In conclusion, might call to your
attention the situation which would
exist in country precincts. 1t is prob
able that oftentimes, after having
travelled several miles for the purpose
of signing petitions under the pro-
visions of this law, the voters would
find that the petitions were not yet
on file in the registration offices of
their respective precincts, or that the
registration officer might not be
found at the registration office. ed
This is exactly what happened to our
initiative petitions in the country dis
tricts last spring, under the universal
registration law These trips on the
part of the voter would be necessary
in addition to the trip required for the
purpose of registering under the pro-
visions required in the quadriennial
registration bill, and it does not re-
quire any stretch of imagination to
convince us that these legally reg
istered voters will not make frequent
trips covering long distances for the
purpose of ayailing themselves of their
constitutional right covering initiative
and referendum provisions.